Abby Sunderland, the 16-year-old girl from Southern California who was trying to solo circumnavigate non-stop and unassisted is reluctantly putting in at Cape Town and will seek assistance to have her autopilot repaired. She experienced problems with the unit and did not wish to continue the voyage without having it properly repaired. Sunderland is a sister of Zac Sunderland, who circumnavigated at age 17.
Abby Sunderland plans to continue her solo circumnavigation after the repairs and still hopes to become the youngest solo circumnavigator. However, she will not be able to add the nonstop, and unassisted “endorsements” to her youngest solo circumnavigation feat.