abby sunderland

UPDATE: Abby has been found alive and well.

Back in January, we first told you about Abby Sunderland, the 16-year-old from California attempting to become the youngest person to sail around the world.

Now, the young girl is feared lost at sea.

A rescue effort was initiated off the coast of Madagascar early this morning after officials reported that the emergency beacons on board Abby’s boat were triggered after the young sailor hit 50-60 foot waves.

Sunderland is thought to be hundreds of miles from land with the nearest vessel about 400 miles off.

The rescue effort is being headed up by the Reunion Islands and Australia.

Young Abby Sunderland set sail in January despite criticism from many that her route was too perilous due to the fact that it placed her in the Indian Ocean during the turbulent Southern Hemisphere winter.

Laurence Sunderland, Abby’s father, says he lost contact with his daughter during a satellite phone call Thursday.  he was later notified by the Australian Coast Guard that both of his daughter’s emergency beacons had been triggered.

“Everything seemed to be under control,” Laurence Sunderland said. “But then our call dropped and a hour later the Coast Guard called.”

Abby gave up on trying to make the voyage non-stop back in April when faulty equipment forced her to stop for repairs.

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