Hundreds greet Sunderland upon return

ELIAV APPELBAUM/Acorn Newspapers CAPTAIN ZAC—Zac Sunderland, 17, a Thousand Oaks resident, is greeted by police officers, fans and photographers after docking his sailboat in Marina del Rey last week. Sunderland circumnavigated the globe in 13 months, becoming the youngest sailor to accomplish the feat. Brad Dobin perfectly summarized Zac Sunderland's 13-month journey sailing alone around the world in a small boat.

"I think it's one-half crazy and one-half really cool," said the 14-year-old spectator from Simi Valley.

Brad and about 500 people watched Sunderland, a Thousand Oaks teenager, arrive home last Thurs., July 16 after solocircumnavigating the globe.

Sunderland is the youngest and the first person under 18 to accomplish the feat.

The sailor traveled 28,000 nautical miles, surviving brushes with pirates and 30-foot waves.

He endured equipment failure and, perhaps most fearsome of all, the mental anguish of being alone for seemingly interminable stretches. Not too shabby for a shaggy-haired 17-year-old.

As Sunderland returned home on his 36-foot boat Intrepid, a posse of about 100 boats tagged along for the final leg of the journey.

The Intrepid was escorted into the harbor by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the fire department, Life Guard, pleasure boats and an entire school of Junior Sailing boats.

Three helicopters monitored his movements from the sky.

Zac Sunderland was finally home. And what a welcome he received.

A media frenzy

Sunderland is now a celebrity.

He's already been featured in People magazine and graced the cover of ESPN The Magazine. He appeared on the television show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" earlier this week.

What's next? Will TMZ track him down at prom?

Before he had a chance to step off his boat last Thursday, a horde of cameramen fought for shots of the new poster boy for adventure—Crocodile Dundee with SoCal cool.

When he walked on the dock, he looked like a regular teenager in his jeans, skate shoes and gray hoodie.

"It's great to be back in the USA!" Sunderland exclaimed. "It's awesome to be back."

Already media savvy, Sunderland then thanked his sponsors.

Michael Broggie, director of the Westlake Yacht Club, said Sunderland's record "elevates humanity."

Broggie compared the 17year-old's achievement to Roger Bannister breaking the fourminute mile and astronaut Neil Armstrong landing on the moon.

Fewer than 250 people have sailed solo around the globe, according to the American Sailing Association. The ASA sponsored Sunderland's trip. More than 300 people have climbed Mount Everest this year alone.

"Society puts people 15 to 18 in a box," said Sunderland, who attended Grace Brethren High in Simi Valley. "Most people figure kids should go to high school and play football. There's so much more potential for young people."

Sunderland needed L.A. County sheriff's deputies to escort him from the Intrepid to the media center, and then to the tent where he signed autographs and posed for pictures with giddy fans.

A man in a Lakers T-shirt handed Sunderland a bag of grub from In-N-Out Burger.

The young sailor chatted with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger by phone.

He also had a chance to talk with his friends, including Donnie Brown, Chris Richert and Will Craddick.

Brown said Sunderland may have been overwhelmed by the media frenzy.

"I think he's pretty much speechless," said Brown, 18, who lives down the street from Sunderland in Thousand Oaks.

From his GPS phone, Sunderland called Brown as the young sailor chugged into the harbor.

The friends are already contemplating the next adventure.

"A road trip hopefully," Brown said. "We have no clue yet. We just want to go find a van and go."

Whatever Sunderland does next, his friends know he will do it with equal parts zest, perseverance and composure.

"When Zac decides to do something, he'll do it," Craddick said.

"He has so much potential," Richert said. "I can't think of anything he can't do."

Questions about

the record

Although the American Sailing Association certified Sunderland's journey, other sailing organizations have not recognized the sailor's record.

The World Sailing Speed Record Council based in the United Kingdom claims it is the only official body to validate sailing records.

John Reed, Secretary to the WSSR Council, said in an e-mail correspondence with the Acorn that Sunderland did not technically "sail around the world."

According to WSSRC Rule 21.a.i, "A vessel shall sail by using only the wind and water (natural sources) to increase, maintain or decrease her speed."

Sunderland used a motor sparingly—primarily as a safety measure to maneuver his way to docks. While passing through the Panama Canal, Sunderland was required to use his motor.

Reed said that if Sunderland wanted the official record, he also needed to sail around Cape Horn.

"These rules are universally accepted by the sailing fraternity," Reed wrote.

"All this is irrelevant in the case of Zac," he wrote. "Had he been able to register with the WSSRC, his voyage would not have been ratified as he did not follow the RTW (round the world) route; he stopped and had assistance, and he was either towed or used his engine.

"His was an excellent achievement by a 17-year-old, but it was not in the same category as Jesse Martin, who sailed the correct route around Cape Horn and was entirely single-handed, with no stops or assistance and never used his engine.

"There is no call to belittle Zac's voyage. Anyone that can sail that distance on his own is a setting a considerable personal achievement."

Martin, an Australian, completed his solo trip around the world at 18 in 1999.

Charlie Nobles, executive director of the American Sailing Association, defended Sunderland's record.

"Zac's journey was on a shoestring budget," Nobles said. "(The family) was more concerned about making a great journey. They wanted money to go to equipment and safety rather than comply with some official body."

Nobles said the ASA does not routinely certify records.

The executive director chafed at the notion that the WSSRC is the only body allowed to keep official marks.

"They're not the only ones in position to certify the voyage," Nobles said.

"The fact is (Sunderland) did it. And the way he did in the boat he did it on is tremendous for the sport versus the continued exposure for billionaires racing in their boats. . . .

"Our organization wants to show that sailing can be accessible. (Sunderland) really shows the positive benefits of sailing."

Fans marvel at journey

Julie Dobin and her son, Brad, were two of the first spectators to arrive at the harbor Thursday, hours before Sunderland arrived.

Dobin made sure to bring her camera.

"I think it's unique and amazing," the Simi Valley woman said. "I want to celebrate that with my son."

Brad Dobin, who tracked Sunderland's journey from his blog, wanted to personally ask the sailor if he ever enjoyed the company of a cat aboard the Intrepid.

"He mentioned on his blog about being lonely and wanting cats," Brad said. "Then I didn't read about it anymore."

Brad was astounded how anyone could complete the journey.

"I have no idea how he could be able to do that," Brad said. "I don't know how he could stand being homesick for that long and be away from home for a year."

Japan's Yoh Aoki, an ASA instructor and record holder for sailing around the world in the smallest boat—a homemade 21foot vessel—congratulated Sunderland.

"Zac Sunderland's circumnavigation is one of the greatest . . . human achievements," Aoki said.

"I admire Zac's great adventure. . . . The bravery he showed us is a bright star not only to the sailing society, but to the American nation and all of humanity."

Paulette Kaufman of Culver City shook Sunderland's hand after he landed.

Kaufman took the morning off work to attend the sailor's anticipated arrival.

"He's a normal 17-year-old kid who did something extraordinary," she said. "This is history."

Kaufman wondered how Sunderland would get to the White House if he's invited.

"He can't fly commercial," she said with a laugh. "Maybe he'll sail or maybe he and Lance Armstrong can bike ride across America."

John Marikos, 86, of El Segundo was a curious onlooker, but he didn't want to stay too long.

"I don't want to be in anyone's way," he said.

Marikos has been drinking coffee and taking 2-mile walks along the Marina del Rey harbor for 20 years.

Marikos flew across the Atlantic Ocean in a B-17 during World War II, but even he marveled at Sunderland's journey.

"It's not every day you see a guy sail around the world," Marikos said. "He must like to be alone."

What now?

Sunderland didn't have a chance to catch his breath.

Everyone wanted to meet, talk or just stare at an exhausted and overwhelmed sailor.

Everyone wanted to soak in the moment.

The Thousand Oaks teenager said he needed to complete three classes through home school to graduate high school.

For the immediate future, he said he wanted to "hang out and party with my friends."

Kaufman wondered how Sunderland will handle the "pressure" of what to do next.

"The toughest part of his journey has yet to come," she said. "The bottom line is, he's up to the challenge."

The sailor told the captivated crowed he is thinking about climbing Mount Everest or "possibly taking the Intrepid to the Antarctic."

"I have no career in mind," Sunderland said, "besides adventuring."