16 Year Old Leaves on Circumnavigation

[camaraderie]

Zac Sunderland has departed on his attempted youngest single-handed record circumnavigation. He seems better prepared than some other recent attempts but the voyage certainly carries a lot of risk. Thought it might be interesting if we start a thread to follow along and comment as he makes his way.
His blog is here: Zac's Blog

More background on his website: Zac Sunderland

[marty9876]

Just amazing to undertake such a task at 16 years old. I was just trying to stay out of jail at 16!

Thanks for the update, will be interesting to follow.

[sgkuhner]

I had gone to Zak's website a few days ago and then sent him an email suggesting he get a Monitor Wind-Vane and an external alarm buzzer on his radar so that when he goes to sleep at night he can put his radar on watch guard and if it sees a target the buzzer is loud enough to wake one from a really sound sleep. He wrote back immediately thanking me for the alert on the external buzzer and also said that he had been talking with Hans at Scanmar about installing a Monitor. I saw Zac leaving on TV this morning and noticed that he now has a monitor on his stern. I hope he was able to get the external buzzer as well (I also noticed that he does have a radar on his mast).

[Freesail99]

From his blog:

"Lots of interviewing and a last tweek of the rigging before heading out for an awesome sea trial".

Hmmm.....

[arbarnhart]

I thought it sounded pretty crazy at first, but with all the sponsors and publicity I think he has solid equipment and more than a few watchful eyes on him. He will probably be contacted more often than most voyagers and be highly scrutinized for a possible scrub of the mission at every port as well as in between to some degree. He appears to be a better sailor than me and wih the right equipment I could probably manage a crossing. He could still have a stroke of bad luck, but I don't see any reason not cheer him on. I hope he makes it around in good time.

[sailbear50]

May your seas be kindly and your winds be favorable. SB50

[82sabre]

This is very impressive to me, just imagine how it would feel to say you were the youngest person to single hand around the world, that to me is just awesome.

[sailingdog]

He sounds far better prepared than some of the more recent attempts at a circumnavigation—Ken Barnes, Heather Neill, David Vann... I wish him luck.

[camaraderie]

Here's a video clip from ABC of his departure and a short interview. NOTE...starts 40 seconds into the clip!
abc7.com: Marina Del Rey teen to take off on sea adventure 6/15/08

All appears to be well from his blog this AM and he has his sailmail working.
SGKuhner...you may want to send some tips on the onitor as he seems to be struggling with that a bit.

[tdw]

Hey look, good on him.

Better chance than the aluminium s__tbox that barely cleared port and apparently saner than the mad hippy drifting around the pacific.

No, not you Simon.

Mutton head in the schooner.

Who, amazingly enough has now been out there for well over a year....