Abby Sunderland is trying to sail solo around the world and had reached the halfway point Monday.
[Updated at 7:24 p.m. ET] Electronic signals from Sunderland's boat indicate it is drifting at just 1 mph, which means it still is afloat but not under sail, said Jeff Casher, an engineer on her support team.
The mast might have fallen or Sunderland could have been injured,
preventing her from sailing, he said.
[Updated at 4:20 p.m. ET] Abby Sunderland's family is scrambling to persuade any government with an aircraft in the area to help find the 16-year-old sailor, family spokesman Christian Pinkston told CNN.
The California teen's 40-foot boat was in the Indian Ocean, about 2,000 miles east of Madagascar and 2,000 miles west of Australia, when distress signals started coming from the boat Thursday morning California time, Pinkston said. No one has been able to contact Sunderland since then.
Sunderland began her journey from Marina del Rey, California, on January 23 with the goal of sailing her 40-foot boat around the world solo and without stopping. Mechanical troubles forced her to make two stops for repairs, including in Cape Town, South Africa, in early May.
Sunderland's family was told at about 5 a.m. PT about the distress signals. The family had spoken to her just one hour earlier, and although she was in rough seas, she was not in distress at that time, according to Pinkston.
The closest boat - a private fishing vessel - is 40 hours away, according to Pinkston.
The distress signals came from two manually activated distress beacons, Sunderland's family said on her blog Thursday afternoon. When they were talking with her Thursday morning, she told them she had just had a rough sailing day, with winds of up to 60 knots and seas of up to 25 feet, though the winds had subsided to about 35 knots, according to the blog.
"We are actively seeking out some sort of air rescue but this is difficult due to the remoteness of her location," the family's blog post said. "Australian Search and Rescue have arranged to have a [Qantas] Airbus fly over her location at first light (she is 11 hours later). They will not be able to help her other than to talk via marine radio if they are able to get close enough. Hopefully, they will be able to assess her situation and report back to us."
The post also said Abby "has all of the equipment on board to survive a crisis situation like this."
"She has a dry suit, survival suit, life raft, and ditch bag with emergency supplies," the family's post said. "If she can keep warm and hang on, help will be there as soon as possible."
The Australian coast guard and the Reunion Island government - a French island that is the closest land to her last position - are involved in efforts to help Sunderland, according to Peter Thomas, a freelance journalist who spoke to Sunderland's father Thursday.
[Posted at 2:09 p.m. ET] A teenage girl attempting to sail solo around the world has gone missing after sending out distress signals in the Indian Ocean, according to a CNN affiliate in her hometown.
Abby Sunderland, 16, of Thousand Oaks, California, has not been heard from since losing contact with her family during a storm Thursday, her brother told CNN affiliate KTLA in Los Angeles.
Sunderland activated her emergency beacon locating devices an hour after losing contact with her family, and a rescue effort is under way. The nearest boat is believed to be at least 40 hours away, according to KTLA.
Sunderland celebrated passing the halfway point Monday on her quest to circumnavigate the globe alone in a sailboat, according to her website. She initially planned to be the youngest to make the trip nonstop, but that was undone in early May when she stopped for repairs in South Africa.
"I've been in some rough weather for awhile with winds steady at 40-45 knots with higher gusts," she wrote Wednesday on her blog. It took her two hours to repair a torn sail in the wind and high waves, and her internet connection on board her 40-foot boat, Wild Eyes, was failing, she wrote.
CNN's Alan Duke, Allison Blakely and Irving Last contributed to this report.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Never send a stupid girl to do a man's job. She should be in the kitchen baking not being a complete moron wasting everyone's time trying to prove she is a man. So pathetic and dumb.
I just can't imagine parents allowing this venture in these days of piracy, etc.
this has crossed my mind too and i don't understand it!
To Abby's parents, family, friends and support team: I am so sorry for the rude and nasty comments made herein by all the blowhards and @ssholes who need to spout off. Like many others around the world, I have been watching Abby's progress daily and have marveled at her maturity, courage and accomplishments. It is a strong and loving family that makes kids as wonderful as she is. You are to be commended for a wonderful job, not condemned. I am praying for our girl out there . . . .
Why would you allow a 16 year-old, female or male to sail around the world alone? Unless you were sailing nearby as a safety precaution I cannot fathom any parent allowing this. Especially with all the news stories about pirates and drug smugglers and gun runners that she could possibly encounter. I certainly pray that this young girl is found alive and well, but personally I think it was irresponsible to allow such a journey.
This reminds me of the stupid parents several years ago who allowed their 12 year old daughter to fly across the US. Her father was with her but she was always at the controls. She crashed in Wyoming and they all died. Children are not able to assess danger or to gauge their own skills. Her parents are totally responsible.
I completely agree!
We're commenting on a news article about the possible loss of of Abby Sunderland at sea, and half of you half to turn it into a religion debate. Get real people! The other half of you turn it into a parent responsibility debate, and start screaming about filing charges.. Grow up. I challenge all of you to really read the blogs and websites on this incredible lady and her family. Why are you not all indignant about the fact that her parents let her brother Zac make the same trip... Because he made it perhaps?? And Abby might not? You people call the parents "media hogs" when in fact, I'll bet you never heard of the Sunderland family until this happened, right? That family has lived and breathed sailing for decades, it's only natural that the children would want to do something like this. So, if you can't offer words of encouragement in their fearful times, then kindly shut up.
Pancho is right!!! Tacos are better that burritos!!
I just watched a story about this girl on Dateline I believe. I still didn't agree with her being allowed to go off on her own like that. It's dangerous...and here's a perfect example as to why. Hopefully she's okay...but I sure hope they learn a lesson from this.
this is why you have to discipline your kids at their young age...i mean some a** whoopin' disciplinary actions...
Abby, hang on. Everything is going to be all right.
I hope her parents are proud, because they helped possibly kill their daughter. It is utterly ridicules to let a CHILD navigate the globe this way.
Her age here is meaningless. She is experienced and has gained much in the months that she has been at sea. Alone and very, very courageous. Too bad more people don't possess her guts – this country and our world would be a far better place. Still worried about her age and parents huh? Well, Jesus was 33 and look at what he did, whereas Dumbya Bush was older and had trouble eating a pretzel. Godspeed Abby – many of us want you back safe and sound – and to hear of your adventure!
I bet I would be famous if I flung my 5 year old from a catapult into a airbag 200 yards away is that ok
Only if it was your 5-year old's dream and he was an "accomplished" flingee.
I agree with the others, what parent in their right mind let's their 16 year old daughter sail a 40ft sailboat around the world. Why didn't someone step in to protect this child, where are all the agencies, it wasn't like we didn't know she was going to do this, it was all over the news. Duhh, what would make them think that a 16 year old girl would know how to handle herself in all the situations she would encounter. I hope she is found safe, however all I can say to the parents is "shame on you".
How quick people are to jump on her and her parents
had she made it without any complications they would be praised
now that she has had some type of difficulties, they are judged as irresponsible
She's a sailor, that's what sailors do
I'm a sailor too, the risks are worth the adventure
You prepare yourself and your vessel the best you can and hope for favorable conditions throughout your journey
God's speed to Abby
Prayers from me and mine going out to you and yours, here's to smooth seas and favorable winds for the remainder of your journey!