Sometime ago, they showed an interview with the parents of Abby and even though the journalist asked over and over how could it be possible for them to be okay with their teen girl to sail around the world ALONE, they insisted they were fine because she was highly trained and had everything necessary for any situation.
Well, her emergency beacons began signaling and communication was lost. The good news is that the beacons were deliberately turned on rather than set off automatically.
Three vessels were sent from the French territory of Reunion Island and an aircraft was to depart from Perth on a four-hour flight to Abby's location more than 2,000 miles from both Africa and Australia. It may take up to 2 days.
Source 1
Abby Found
A family spokesman says searchers have contacted Abby Sunderland, the 16-year-old Southern California girl trying to become the youngest person to sail alone around the world who was feared lost at sea, and she is alive and well. Ref. USAToday
Sea of criticism for adrift young sailor Abby Sunderland's parents
LOS ANGELES - What were her parents thinking? Many people were asking that question as a 16-year-old girl sat adrift and alone in the frigid southern Indian Ocean, her ship's mast dashed along with her around-the-world sailing effort. Ref. Source 6