California girl, 16, forced to stop in Mexico for new batteries in solo sail around globe

Teen on solo sail around globe to stop in Mexico

MARINA DEL REY, Calif. — The 16-year-old Southern California girl attempting to become the youngest person to sail around the world alone says she is stopping in Mexico with power problems.

On her blog, Abby Sunderland of Thousand Oaks wrote Saturday she’s headed for Cabo San Lucas to add a “new battery or two” because solar panels and wind generators aren’t keeping up with her energy needs.

Sunderland says she’ll restart the sail in her 40-foot craft Wild Eyes soon.

She set sail Jan. 23 from Marina Del Rey and plans to be at sea for five or six months.

The problems bring an end to Sunderland’s goal of making no land stops during the trip. She can still break the record of 17-year-old Mike Perham of Britain, who stopped on land during his voyage.