Abby Heads Into Port

Just seven days after leaving Marina del Rey in a bid to become the youngest solo circumnavigator, Abby Sunderland announced on Saturday that she’s bound for Cabo San Lucas. In her blog, she noted that the charging system aboard her Open 40 Wild Eyes isn’t keeping up with her power needs, and that she’s running out of fuel for her alternators. Two wind generators, five solar panels and two alternators can’t keep up with her energy usage? Is this girl emailing and watching movies all day? That’s a silly question — she is 16, after all. Perhaps instead of adding more batteries and fuel, Abby’s "team" should teach her some energy-saving techniques instead. Nah, that might put a damper on her social life.

All ribbing aside, this "miscalculation" is serious cause for concern. If her team couldn’t figure out her basic energy needs before her departure, what else was miscalculated, neglected, or just plain forgotten in the rush to get her out the door?

Meanwhile, Jessica Watson — who seems to be getting by quite nicely on two measly solar panels (one of which was damaged during her 180-degree knockdown), one wind gen and a little engine — is less than 2,000 miles from the Cape of Good Hope aboard her seemingly better-prepared S&S 34 Ella’s Pink Lady.

The differences between the two wannabe record breakers continues to mount. As noted in the February issue of Latitude, while Abby’s blog postings are about what one might expect from a 16-year-old, Jess writes with a surprising maturity. We even opined that if she doesn’t make a career as a sailor, she could as a writer. Lo and behold, it was announced on Friday — long after the issue went to press — that her book Around the World will be released Down Under in August!