Teen tackles world

Zac Sunderland aims for record in sailing around globe

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Sixteen-year-old Zac Sunderland pulled into Ala Wai Yacht Harbor yesterday, the first stop on his quest to be the youngest person to sail around the world.

The California teen hopes to beat the record of Australian-born David Dicks, who finished his global journey at the age of 18 in 1996. Zac has until Jan. 9, 2010, to beat the record but said he hopes to be back home in California by June.

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Most of his friends are spending the summer practicing football, but 16-year-old Zac Sunderland is on an ambitious voyage to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe alone.

Zac Sunderland Age: 16 Departure: Left Marina del Rey, Calif., on June 14 Arrival: Ala Wai Boat Harbor yesterday Goal: To beat Australia's David Dicks' record of being the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe alone. Sunderland needs to return to Marina Del Rey by Jan. 9, 2010. On the Net: Sunderland's blog is at www.zacsunderland.com.

"Football season is starting now. They are all running and I can barely stand," said Zac, weary from almost a month at sea.

Welcomed by his father, mother and youngest brother, Zac made his first stop yesterday, at the Hawaii Yacht Club, since launching from Marina del Rey, Calif., on June 14.

The California teen hopes to beat Australian-born David Dicks' record to become the youngest solo circumnavigator. Zac will hold the record if he returns to California by Jan. 9, 2010, before turning 18 years and 41 days old.

The eldest of seven siblings, Zac grew up on the sea.

His father, Laurence Sunderland, said Zac's first home was a 55-foot Tradewind boat. An experienced shipwright, Laurence said he refitted Zac's boat himself.

"I know what I am doing in this arena," he said. "He decided to do something that I actually can help with. If he was going to be rock climbing, I wouldn't be able to do anything for him."

After saving $6,000 from repairing and reselling boats with his father, Zac bought an Islander 36-foot sailboat with an auxiliary motor. But he needed $90,000 more to fix the boat before making the trip. Sponsors helped outfit his boat, the Intrepid, with new electronics: a satellite phone, GPS unit, laptop and other devices. Cameras were also installed on the boat by iTik Productions to chronicle his journey. And Clearpoint High Definition Weather is providing him with weather updates along the way.

Although unescorted on the expedition, the young sailor talks to his mother, Marianne, and father twice daily.

"I can hear in his voice his confidence and his ability," Marianne said.

If avoiding ships and maintaining his course does not keep him busy enough, Marianne said Zac is also studying on his journey to keep up with his home schooling. However, the high school junior is already a year ahead in his studies.

The ambitious young sailor hopes to repay his family for their support someday by writing a book about his adventure -- like his inspiration Robin Lee Graham, who made the same journey in the 1960s.

Marianne said she is confident in her son's abilities.

"He needed a challenge. It's something that we can help him to do," she said.

Zac's parents plan to meet up with him at a few ports along the voyage, such as in Australia, South Africa and Panama.

Within the seafaring family, competition is already brewing. Zac's 14-year-old sister, Abby, is looking to buy a boat, too. Marianne said Abby hopes to be the youngest girl to sail across the Pacific Ocean.

"She's like, 'Maybe when he (Zac) comes back, I could just hop right on his boat,'" Marianne said.

For now, Zac is concentrating on his next stop, in the Marshall Islands.

"We always knew that he would do well, but he has far exceeded even our expectations," Marianne wrote in a blog about Zac's journey.

After stocking up on alcohol for his stove, other provisions and making minor repairs to his boat and equipment, Zac plans to set sail after a couple of days on Oahu.