Taking advantage

The following is from the J-Walk blog - I'm glad John posted this because I was wondering about it when it was all over the news. Seems to me like - the next time this happens - nobody goes to the rescue. No reason that taxpayers in ANY country should have to pay for stupidity. Maybe Australia will sue - it might keep her from trying again.

You know that teenage girl who had to be rescued while trying to sail around the world? Family cannot afford to pay back teen sailor Abby Sunderland's rescue costs.

The mother of rescued American teenage sailor Abby Sunderland has said the family cannot afford to reimburse the Australian Government for the cost of saving her daughter which could top $300,000.

"We're not wealthy people."

And this: I'll try again to conquer the globe.

California teen sailor Abby Sunderland remained undaunted Saturday, saying she will try again to solo the globe even after a winter storm in the Indian ocean broke the rigging on her 40-foot Wild Eyes sailboat. "I'm definitely going to sail around the world again, or at least give it another try," she said, according to Australian broadcaster ABC.

[Her father] Laurence Sunderland, told the CBS Early Morning show Saturday that he would "wholeheartedly" support another global run for his daughter. "I don't think age should be a criterion in this," he said. "It should be the experience of the person and their level of expertise to undertake this."