Newport Beach Teen Zac Sunderland Accomplishes Global Trek

Source: http://www.sailzac.com/faqs.html http://cbs2.com/watercooler/sailor.17.youngest.2.1082843.html

Date: July 12, 2009

Jul 12, 2009 4:54 pm US/Pacific

Newport Beach Local Sailor arrived in Marina Del Rey becoming the youngest sailer to sail the entire globe.

Zac Sunderland set sail June 14, 2008 from Marina Del Rey in his 36-foot sailboat "Intrepid," a vessel he bought with $6,000, all his savings, and with the help of his shipwright father, who retrofitted the Islander for the circumnavigation trip.

"His progress is good so far. He's doing well," Laurence Sunderland said, talking by cell phone from his car. "I've got loads of thoughts going through my mind. It's been an incredible journey that I've been able to support. It's been so exciting."

"It's hugely exciting. Any father would be proud," he said. "He's left a boy and come back a man. It's been a huge inspiration for many people, young and old. I think Zac would agree with me that he would like this to serve as an example for young people to continue doing great things."

Zac is off the Baja California Sunday, headed upwind.

In his latest blog, Zac wrote: "I am still fighting the tight winds on my way back to Marina Del Rey. The weather has warmed up a bit. I guess I have passed out of the cold current I was in. It's been really nice to not be so cold.

"As I get closer and closer to home it is getting really exciting to be finishing up this yearlong adventure. It is going to be strange getting back but awesome to see my friends from Southern California. Just a few more days."

Zac's Web site, updated daily with his trials and tribulations, has had more than 150,000 hits a day, his father said.

Wiki on Zac:

When Sunderland decided to attempt the circumnavigation, he purchased a 36' Islander for $6,000, using all of his savings. With the assistance of his father, he retrofitted the yacht for the trip.

Sunderland planned to complete his voyage in April 2008 with a maximum time of 18 months.

He continued his schooling while on his trip, saying, "I have all my books with me. I have one more year to finish at high school and I have to send back my tests (via e-mail) to my mom. She's going to grade them and make sure I am doing well."

Sunderland’s voyage began on June 14, 2008 in Marina del Rey. The Intrepid featured the logos of Shuman’s RealSweet, Mastronardi’s Sunset Produce, and his sponsor Produce for Kids, promoting healthy eating and produce consumption for children.

On June 14, 2008 set sail from Marina del Rey. On July 11, Zac made his first stop at Ala Wai Boat Harbor, Waikiki, Honolulu, Oahu, off Diamond Head. He left Hawaii headed towards the Marshall Islands (about 2,500 miles), on July 16 2008.

On August 4, 2008, Marshall Islands President Litokwa Tomeing (a sailor in his youth), formally welcomed and congratulated Zac in the President's Office, on Majuro: "And how is your boat?

He has made only 3 stops since his departure and his next stop is Darwin, Australia on September 18, amid a faulty bilge pump and fuel problems forcing him to land in Papua New Guinea.

Pirates: Zac suffered his first pirate encounter on October 7 after leaving Darwin. Locking himself in the bullet-proof glass of his cabin, he escaped.

Zac had endured 25-knot winds and 10-foot seas for more than 24 hours on October 13. Amid continuing engine and fuel problems, snapped boom, and a broken tiller, needing repairs, Zac Sunderland reached Cocos Islands (a.k.a. Keeling Islands) in the eastern Indian Ocean on October 14.

Zac turned 17 on November 29 2008, while still at sea.

Zac arrived in Durban, South Africa on December 14, after a delay of around 10 days because of a lack of wind.

Sunderland then sailed short hops to East London, Port Elizabeth, Mossel Bay, then finally get to Cape Town, where he had a completely unplanned, chance meeting with Mike Perham, who is also vying for a record as the world's youngest solo-circumnavigator, and Minoru Saito who at 75 is making his eight solo-circumnavigation and holds the record as the oldest solo, non-stop circumnavigator.

After 13 months and 2 days at sea, Zac Sunderland completed his solo-circumnavigation by entering Marina del Rey on Thursday, July 16, 2009. At 17 years old, he is the youngest person to sail around the world alone; nobody under 18 has set this record before.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zac_Sunderland

Get Stoked google docs: I liked Zac's story. I bought my first sail boat in Marina del Rey. It was a 25' Coronado. My last boat was a 30' Newport I bought near Canada and sold in Portland, Oregon. Today as we look around at sooo many of this generation following the dark side Zac encourages me. It takes personal discipline to accomplish this. Its easy to have a good day or even a good week but Zac held it together for 13 months. I hope his DVD is very popular and profitable he deserves it. Americans are getting soft.

Pirates Destroying Freedom Globally

http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=F.ea06a33c-6e28-474f-8018-2a5f49282523&hl=en