Next up for Abby: driving *

Abby Sunderland told her news conference in Marina del Rey this morning that, now that she's home, she'll concentrate on school and getting her driver's license. (She's 16.) Sunderland also described how a rogue wave smashed into her boat while she was below deck, tossing her around violently and causing her to hit her head and black out momentarily. When she came to, took stock and saw that her mast and rigging were broken and that she had lost her satellite gear, she triggered the emergency beacons that brought rescuers her way. Outdoors blogger Pete Thomas says the storm that spawned the rogue wave is still sending giant swells through tjhe oceans, including to Southern California shores this past weekend. Next up after this morning's news conference, says Thomas, is a flight to New York for the "Today" show on NBC. From Thomas, who sailed with Sunderland and broke the news June 10 about her boat being disabled:

"I'm happy to be home but very sad that things didn't work out," she said. "But I'm proud of my achievement and what happened is definitely not going to stop me from sailing--not for a minute....

"I'm living proof that things don't always work out the way you planned, but you can only plan so far in an adventure. You can reduce risk but you can never completely eliminate it."

Updated post


More by Kevin Roderick:
Lakers acquire Steve Nash from the Suns
Journo jumps from Daily Journal to Warren Olney
Protester who smacked LAPD cop sentenced to jail
Michael J. Ybarra, journalist was 45
Andy Griffith, actor was 86
Recent Sports stories on LA Observed:
Lakers acquire Steve Nash from the Suns
Felix to run 100m in London; Dara Torres retires
Jim Drake, father of windsurfing was 83
Summer of Stanley Cup joy about to hit the road
Former LA media scribe announces a game at Fenway

New at LA Observed
Follow us on Twitter

On the Media Page
Go to Media
On the Politics Page
Go to Politics

LA Biz Observed
Arts and culture

Sign up for daily email from LA Observed

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner


Advertisement
LA Observed on Twitter and Facebook