Round-the-world girl sailor, 16, found safe in international rescue

Battered by storm: Abby Sunderland was thousands of miles from land

A 16-year-old girl who sparked an international rescue operation when she went missing while trying to sail solo round the world was found safe and well today.

American Abby Sunderland was located in the Indian Ocean, thousands of miles from land, after her yacht was battered in a heavy storm with waves up to 30 feet high.

Her father, Laurence, told of his joy that she had been found alive after emergency beacons on board her boat, Wild Eyes, were triggered and communications were severed. He said she was spotted from a Qantas jet sent to search the area. Wild Eyes was drifting dismasted but upright.

"Knowing that Abby's alive and well means far more to me than any sailing record," said Mr Sunderland. "It's just a huge, huge relief.

"She's fine. The boat's not taking on water. The weather conditions where she is were abating, so she's going to have to sit tight until she can get rescued. But this is probably the best news that we at home base could have wished for. Knowing that she's alive and well is a huge answer to a prayer here and we're all ecstatic."

Rescuers from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority have managed to contact Abby, but the nearest vessel, a French fishing boat, is not expected to reach her until midday tomorrow.

Australian, American and French rescuers were involved in the operation to find Abby, who ran into trouble more than 2,200 miles from the coast of western Australia. She set out in January, only months before Australian teenager Jessica Watson sailed solo, non-stop and unassisted round the world and took the unofficial title of being the youngest to do so.

Jessica was also 16 when she set sail, five months older than Abby, who started out amid criticism from some in the sailing community that her itinerary was too risky because it would place her in the Indian Ocean during the turbulent Southern Hemisphere winter.

Abby's older brother, Zac, completed his own round-the-world voyage last year. He sailed back to California last July to a hero's welcome after 13 months. Zac was also 16 when he set out, turning 17 during his journey in November 2008.

Jessica, too, began her voyage amid criticism, with many saying she was too young to cope with such a long and arduous trip. However, she arrived safely back in Sydney last month.

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