California teen girl in trouble on solo world sail

LOS ANGELES - A 16-year-old Southern California girl attempting a solo sail around the world was feared in trouble yesterday thousands of miles from land in the frigid, heaving southern Indian Ocean after her emergency beacons began signaling and communication was lost.

Australian Maritime Safety Authority spokeswoman Carly Lusk said three vessels were sent from the French territory of Réunion Island and an aircraft was dispatched from Perth on a four-hour flight to Abby Sunderland's location more than 2,000 miles from both Africa and Australia.

It was not clear when the vessels left, but it would take a day for the nearest ship to reach the area. Réunion is off Madagascar, the very large island along the east coast of Africa.

"We've got to get a plane out there quick," said family spokesman Christian Pinkston, adding that the teen's family in Thousand Oaks was asking for prayers for her safety.

Her brother Zac, also a teenage solo sailor, said Abby was prepared and mentally tough. "I really wish I could see her and hope she gets through this one," he told reporters outside the family home.

Abby last communicated with her family at 4 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time, and reported 30-foot swells but was not in distress, Pinkston said. An hour later the family was notified that her emergency beacons had been activated, and there was no further communication. Pinkston said the beacons were manually activated.

Zac Sunderland said the boat was most likely not completely submerged because another beacon would be triggered at a depth of 15 feet.

Information on her website said that as of Tuesday she had completed a 2,100-mile leg from South Africa to north of the Kerguelen Islands.