Report: Abby Sunderland's Dad Inked Reality Deal

(CBS/AP)  The father of recently rescued teenage sailor Abby Sunderland inked a reality TV deal early this year to cash in on his children's daring feats, the New York Post reported Monday.

Laurence Sunderland - who told "The Early Show" Saturday that he'd "absolutely" let 16-year-old Abby attempt her dangerous feat again - is "broke" and has been working with a production company on a show called "Adventures in Sunderland," the Post reported.

Abby Sunderland was rescued in the southern Indian Ocean by a French fishing vessel Saturday, two days after her yacht was damaged in a storm and she sent out a distress signal, spurring a massive rescue effort.

The Thousand Oaks, Calif., teenager was trying to become the youngest person ever to circumnavigate the globe alone when she ran into trouble in heavy seas Thursday. Her mast collapsed, crippling her boat and her ability to communicate via satellite, so she set off a distress signal.

"Crazy is the word that really describes everything that has happened best," Abby Sunderland wrote Saturday morning in a blog post from "a great big fishing boat headed I am not exactly sure where."

"The long and the short of it is, well, one long wave, and one short mast," she wrote.

Her brother, Zac Sunderland, held the record Abby was seeking for a little more than a month last year until Mike Perham, of Great Britain, captured it with a journey of his own. Then last month, the mark moved again when Australian Jessica Watson, 16, wrapped up her own 'round-the-world adventure.

The Sunderlands have faced criticism for months for allowing Abby to undertake the high-risk journey.

Veteran sailors questioned the wisdom of sending a teenager off alone in a small boat, knowing it would be tossed about for 30 or more hours at a time by the giant waves that rake the Southern Hemisphere's oceans this time of year.

Those criticisms preceded the news that Laurence Sunderland had let cameras into his home to chronicle his family's daredevil feats.
"We thought it might be a good idea if it was encouraging to kids to get out there and do things," Sunderland told the Post.

[vickeller]

Gosh! I want to say so much, but I?m sure it would be taken as just rambling on!
Not all 16 year olds are the same. Not all 30 year olds are the same: you get my drift.
Criticism is nothing new....anyone remember the Dove??...the story of Robin Lee Graham (he was 16). Same stuff then as today. I was in the 5th grade when I started reading about him in National Geographic. It inspired me to no end. That was 1963, the year that President Kennedy was shot.
Because of hard times in my family (my father also died in 63) in 1968 I quit school and joined the Merchant Marines; I was only 16 by one day! People said the same type of things about my mother that they are saying about Mr. Sunderland. Folks, my mom thought I could handle it. My Mom, brother and I were living on 215.00 a month from Social Security. Was money the reason? For me, yes! I added to all three of our incomes by going to sea. For my mom, I don?t think so. She knew I was bored with school. I ended up going to college, and today at 57, I'm glad I did what I did. Guess what, I own a sail boat today and I would leave tomorrow to sail around the world if my employment would allow it. I believe that Abby Sunderland is more competent for that task than I am today (and yes I?ve been on the ocean most of my life..Navy, working offshore, etc.). If they rescued me in the Indian Ocean....most people would say, isn?t he glad that we have a system that saved his life. There is so much more to say, but I'm proud of her and I'm glad Abby and Zach have parents that believe and have faith in their children. A lot of effort went into the preparations of this journey. Much more than some parents do for their kids today?think about it! If you really think about it, some 16 year olds would do a lot better for this country in Washington than some of the idiots we have there now. Kids are the future, Teach your children well!
Vic Keller-Argyle, TX

[Harden_Tar]

I can just see Balloon Boy's dad smacking himself in the forehead. "Of course, a boat.!"

[silvalgal]

What's Wrong With This Family Portrait? The Sunderlands are "broke." The broke Sunderlands are awaiting the birth of their 8th child any day. The big, broke Sunderland family just risked the life of their 16-year-old daughter Abby for publicity and attention-seeking purposes. (Remember her dad assuming she was dead and saying "it's going to take a minor miracle," just last week?). And, the big, broke Sunderland family shows no remorse or ability to compensate anyone for any part of the major search and rescue effort to save their child's life. Finally, the topper: the big, broke Sunderland family, including Abby, want pull this stunt again. Hopefully the authorities are keeping an eye on this insanity.

[bud28dy]

Let's see. A foolish woman/girl makes an incredibly selfish and irresponsible decision that causes taxpayers hundreds of thousands.

Sound familiar?? It's OCTOMOM GOES SAILING!

[andie52]

This is just the tip of the iceberg more information will come out just as it did with balloon boy?s family. These parents should be investigated by CPS for child endangerment

[cbsblogger]

Our corrupt infatuated with celebrity society and most importantly the greedy scum that run Hollywood is at the root of this absurd behavior.

By perpetuating the behavior that encourages Americans to be gaga over celebrity makes money for these creeps.

[antiglobal5]

it is good this came out. Now one and all involved in the search and rescue can demand compensation. After his stupid move they should have no problem winning any legal battles that develop. It will also ensure that even if money is made off of this he won't get to spend a penny of it and will remain broke, which he should since he odviously does not have the talent himself to go and improve his situation.

[pragmatist1]

Nothing like a parent acting like the "P" for the ladies of the evening. Only this time, the dad is p-ing his own kid. There should be laws against payola predator parents like this. Sick, sick, sick.

[antiglobal5]

I am hoping the child has much happiness in life.

I am hoping the dad on the other hand takes out a huge loan, banking on his daughters future success, and it falls apart. She never gets famous and he ends up deeper in debt. Then hopefully she will see her dad is trying to exploit her and she will leave him to.

What really makes me sick is if the child has not survived, you can be pretty sure the dad would have been booking spots on oprah and shows like that, making money off of his kids death.

[Sandra_4677]

Nothing like making money off the courage and hard work of your daughter. Makes me sick! Child labor much?