Search on for missing solo sailor

CANBERRA, June 11 (Reuters) - An international search was under way on Friday in frigid waters near the Southern Ocean for a 16-year-old Californian girl who triggered multiple distress beacons while trying to sail alone around the world.

Teenage adventurer Abby Sunderland was last heard from about 6 a.m. Pacific time (9 p.m. in Manila) on Thursday, when she broke off a satellite phone call as her yacht Wild Eyes was pounded by huge waves in the remote southern Indian Ocean.

A chartered Australian airliner began searching for the boat early on Friday, while Australian, US and French rescue authorities sent ships to an area about 3,219 kilometers southeast of Madagascar and 32,000 kilometers southwest of Australia.

Sunderland’s father, Laurence, said he lost contact with his daughter during a satellite phone call and believed her boat may have rolled in treacherous conditions.

‘’If indeed the boat is upside down we’re hoping that the keel is actually off the boat and giving the boat a positive flotation factor, and that she’s inside the bubble, safe,’’ he told Australian radio.

The two emergency beacons transmitting signals are attached to the boat and Sunderland’s survival suit, and are activated manually by the sailor.

Laurence Sunderland said his daughter had all of the safety equipment she needed, including a cold water survival suit, life raft and bag with emergency supplies.

‘’If she can keep warm and hang on, help will be there as soon as possible,’’ he said. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority said an airliner with 11 trained observers on board would try to make contact with Sunderland’s yacht from high-level, and then descend to make visual contact if necessary.

Under French rescue coordination, a fishing boat would be on scene on Saturday afternoon, joined on Sunday morning by a French Fisheries Patrol vessel and a third ship on Sunday evening.

The area is one of the most difficult parts of the world to launch rescue operations. British solo sailor Tony Bullimore had to be rescued by an Australian navy frigate in 1996 after his yacht capsized during a race in which another competitor died.

During a blog entry written on Wednesday, Sunderland, who began her trip in January, described sailing her boat through several days of rough weather, which apparently damaged a sail.

She said she was able to patch the sail, but added: ‘’It wasn’t the most fun job I’ve had out here. Wild Eyes was rolling around like crazy.’’

Source: MB