Then & Now
Many thanks to Jen Edney for this stunning photo showing the contrast between Zac in Majuro, Marshall Islands nearly one year ago and Zac a few weeks ago in Puerta Vallarta. I hope it has prepared me some for when I finally see the son I have not seen in so long!
We're still on for a Thursday return to Fisherman's Village in Marina del Rey at 10:00am.
More details to follow!
posted by Zac at
4:23 PM
77 Comments:
Zac...we are proud of you! You're a brave young man. Keep it up, you're almost there.
Wow!! Just saw Zac on the Evening News!! Loved it..Boy!! The watercooler will be buzzin tomorrow!!
You're an amazing young man..and those of us who have followed your every day - are so very excited and thankful for your safe return!!
Hey Zac,
Best wishes and awesome job on the journey. I have five kids and I'm going to make them all read your story (just found you today, bummer).
I was planning on bringing them to Marina Del Rey, but have to leave town on Thurs. The kids have a great band making waves around LA, we'll have a free ticket for you anytime you want to come to a show, I'm guessing you could use some entertainment!
www.myspace.com/r5rocksmusic
Cheers,
Mark
"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
"Citizenship in a Republic,"
Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910
Theodore Roosevelt
Yup! My daughter in Atlanta told me to watch the NBC news tonight so we caught the piece on Zac too. She plans on being on the web watching along with me on Thursday morning! Wish we could be there. Hey! who won the drawing for the tickets to the "big event"??????
What a great story! I just saw it on the news. I am from El Segundo. Hoping for a safe sailing into Marina del Rey!
WOW! What a difference a year can make, not to mention the thousands of miles that have passed under Intrepid! Watch him closely, Marianne --- he's a cutie! :)
Blessings!
Marie
WA St.
You are "The Man" Zac. Free Tour of the Boeing Satellite Systems, El Segundo Plant when you get back. The latest GPS Satellite is being built here. Thought you might like to see it sometime.
You are an inspiration to the World dude!
See you on the news!
-Tad
The picture is a harbinger of the changes that aren't shown in a photograph. I'm sure the changes in the man will be far more profound!
Only a few more days! I'll keep praying since "Just Another Saturday on the Sea" shows that things are not quite finished on the open ocean.
Keep the spirit!
Tray M.
July 12th from Alaska: Congrats Zac on your AMAZING feat! Wow! I'm hoping that the last stretch of your journey is exciting and smooth-sailing from Puerta Vallarta to Cali. regards, Eric Breiby
Zac-
We just saw the story on the news & had to check out your blog! We're in San Diego and thinking of you off shore, so wanted to send you our best wishes for continued smooth sailing. The kids read your story about Sat. night's close call - a good lesson that one must always be vigilent. It's a beautiful evening ~ enjoy!
Fair winds-
The Zirkles
Chris, PJ, Konrad (9) & Gwen (8)
S/V Tricia Jeanne
Zac... You have really turned into a man !! You are amazing, hurry home ! I am sure great things are in store for you!! Cheers !!
Zac you have come so far in every way...I cant imagine how excited your mom must be to get you back home!!!
I'm feeling the beginning of withdrawals. I have checked in on you nearly every morning since you began this advenure 1 year ago.
Good luck to you...you will go far...
I suggest In 'n Out and Baskin-Robbins
And I might add, a bed that doesn't move
...any reason for not giving your position?
Hi There Zac..
Hope this finds you in some good wind and closing in on exactly where you are needing to get to.
Just think, so many of your peers have just blown past this last year of their lives and accomplished little other than hanging out and learning to drive, and here you have completed one of the most challenging voyages and in great style. Be sure you capture all the information on the ZacPac Location Map as it is set to expire on August 8th. It has been a pleasure to sponsor that small piece of where we are all at, spread around the world. You will have worldwide friends the rest of your life. I look forward to watching your homecoming, and hearing more from you about this adventure as well as your next. Hope the dvd's are out soon!!
Catch ya soon!
Blessings,
Bob in OKC
Captain Zac,
i think you should be addressed as a captain as you have traveled 27000 miles on your own! what an accomplishment!!!!!!!!! well see you thursday. (by the way I have been reading on most every day on the blog, and im thinking NOW WHAT??? I guess I have to wait til your next adventure so I can keep on reading.
Also I am in flight school and if you want to go flying I will be more than happy to set you up on a flight around Los Angeles. just let me know.
take care and well see you on thursday.
Cheers,
Raul
From one mom to the next....I am going to burst into tears when I see him walk into your arms! What a celebration of great achievement! I am honoured to be able to watch you all finalize history in the making with Zac's homecoming via the net, all the way up here in Canada.
Thank you Zac for all you have shared and will be sharing, my family looks forward to your DVD and book. May you stay safe and relish your final days! God bless you all, and thank you for your blessings!
Cheers,
Pam and family
Zac,
My family and I learned of you and your awesome adventure on the news tonight. We are a sailing family from Santa Barbara, CA now living in Florida. We are so proud of you. You inspire us to live without fear, embrace life to the fullest, and to believe in a higher power. We wish that we could be in Marina Del Rey to welcome you home. You are an inspiration to us all!
The Denney Family
Marianne, how are you doing at this point?
By the way, Jen. I am sure this is one of the defining graphics of Zac and his journey! Everything I've seen that you've shot is so totally on...you've got "the eye"!
Tray
Hey Zac,
I can't believe it has been over a year! I've been reading your blog every day and am wondering what you will be writing about after you have been home a week. I am contemplating coming home from my kids swim championships so I can see you arrive in MDR. I will most likely just watch your arrival a couple of hours later than you actually get in. We won't be able to make it out there to attend the historical arrival but will be thinking much of you. Strength for you on this next leg, (being around so many people and culture shock too!)
So now it comes to this.
We all are counting four days till Zac sets foot on home turf....into the arms of a Mother who wait has been too long, to the tears of brothers and sisters who have waited for their BIG brother to once again, be a big brother at home, to the hugs of a Dad who has followed him around the world sharing in what he could, and watching each time as he departed.
And lastly, into the history books, the news stories, the encyclopedias of accomplishments, and into the clutches of a hungry world.
Prepare yourselves, both you Zac, and the Sunderlands. The adventure draws close to completion, but the struggles are about to begin.
If I may, take some time....breathe....gain some needed space and some sanity....the world will wait for the stories, the adventures, and the accolades.
We all can give you that much.
You've made me proud...proud to have witnessed through the distance of a computer screen, the reading of the stories and the viewing of the photos.
In truth I, and many, many others have been beside you all....the entire way. With prayers, thoughts, wishes and dreams.
What a young man, what a family, what a year and four months.
NBC news clip on Zac:
Teen nears solo sailing record
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/vp/31878395#31878395
Oh my!
Amazing the change from a boy to a man..even though I have see pictures along the way, the side by side really tells all...nice choice Jen.
Marianne, i have to agree with Pam, i too will be crying like a baby if get to see him walk into your arms.
Well this is the last Sunday we all get to post..this time next week Zac would have been home for 4 days..it's going to be so weird when i leave the desert Wed evening, closing my lap top knowing that the next time i open it Zac will be back in his Thousand Oaks home, getting to sit down to moms cooking and sleep in his warm non rocking bed lol.
Thank you all for allowing us to share all of this with all of you! Really it has been such an honor.
Let the count down begin!!
Laura
Dude, I just realized you live about an hour north of me. Nice to meet another Californian Rebolutionary. Congrats bro!
Jen has created a powerful portrait with the before and after face to face of Zac. On one side the goofy kid with baseball cap on backwards, and on the other side the wise sailor with watch cap, who survived so much, learned so much, and lived so much during the normally brief year that separates the two images.
Though I live in Seattle, I was in a farmhouse in Upstate New York when I saw Zac on the national nightly news. It was odd. After the first teaser about the story, which they saved for last, I wanted to tell everyone in the room: "I know that guy."
Or: "He's a friend."
But I just settled for: "Let's watch. I've read about him on the Web."
And when the story came, it was actually kind of disappointing in that any reader of Zac's blog already knew far more than what the story had to say.
But it was nice to see him get the national attention. And it has been fun to see the number of visitors to the blog grow as ESPN magazine and other outlets have done such a great job of spreading the word.
Won't be able to travel to California for the homecoming - as I'm a father with 3 kids and a wife to provide for - (One of those Do Hard Things that is actually a wonderful thing, that I hope Zac dives into some years down the road when the time is right) but will be there in spirit.
Would be interesting if some of the people who visit the blog, and who have picked up on Zac's anthem of "Do hard things" were to use this as a springboard into figuring out what would constitute a hard and worthwhile thing to do in their own lives. Kind of an "Inspired by Zac, I've decided to do . . ." kind of a thing.
Wishing all the best to this nice little online community that has formed around the adventure.
- Grant Fjermedal, Seattle
Would love to be atg the Marina for your return but it just isn't in the cards. Congratulations to you and your family for sharing your adventure with the less adventurous public!
Another Amazing Edney Photo !!!!! It is true, a picture speaks 1000 words. Thank you for sharing this. Hang on Marianne, Thursday will be here before you know it. I cannot imagine what your heart will feel when you see Intrepid break the horizon. Wish I could be there.
Love and prayers,
Kathy
Bend, OR
I just found your blog and I can't believe I missed a years worth of blogs from you...bummer...maybe next time when you have another great adventure
You can see tense apprehension in the one photo and confident calm in the other.
Having read through the blog again recently, there is of course a growth period throughout. From long lengthy chatty blog entries, lots of wowing and wonderment at the smallest things all the way up to Cape Town and shortly there after. Then a massive change after exiting the doldrums then silence until Greneda. I suspect the defining moment for Zac was at the equator and shortly thereafter with the rogue wave and electronics wiping out, to arriving in Greneda.
Because after Greneda all his entries are shorter, to the point straight forward matter of factly, exuding calm confidence,and wisdom.
That section of his trip, the summiting of his Everest and now he is on his way down.
The tense apprehension in the one photo and confident calm in the other. :-)
Zac was a man when he left. But he is a much bigger and more mature man as a result of this quest. You have our utmost respect and admiration, Zac! I have to work during the week but I'll be at your landing in spirit!!!
:)
Scott
Excellent photos, Jen... It's all about the eyes. I'd love to see a similar set of face on head shot before and after. I've put a couple up side by side. The eyes tell the tale. Zac, you have "seen" much over the last year...
Cheers all...
willy
milford, ohio
Way to go Zac!!! Growing up, my favorite scripture was Phil 4:13. I see it has meant something to you (or your family as well). Having a 17 year old daughter - I have tried to instill the same - 'I CAN do ALL things" in her as well. So you are a blessing to see it in action.
I found your info - by chance? - while searching sailing around the world articles this last week. It was so exciting to see that you were on your final leg of the trip. Congrats on such a remarkable and memorable adventure!
May God continue to bless you... and all your future endeavors
We are checking in everyday to see your arrival ! What an awesome year for you and our homeschool's geography and navigation charts...and marina life through you :) Many thanks Zac for sharing your experiences with everyone ! I won't ever forget the doldrums you went thru -wow. City life on the waters....aka boat traffic !....islands .....what a year for you and all of us too . Thank you Zac ! Grants in NH
I'm thinking that living on land in the craziness of Southern California is going to be an adventure in itself for someone who has been at sea for a year. I'm sure Zac will have some great stories to tell. So I'll be checking the blog on Friday and Saturday....
Kathy V
Provo, UT
We now have three days before Zac shows up on the Fisherman's Village docks. I can feel the intensity just reading all the blogs this morning.
It's great that you're so close but coming in slowly because of the wind conditions. It makes the build up on the media's side a little more intense. Great to see Zac everywhere on television, newspaper, and magazines. It's finally overdue. I'm sure many though Zac might give up or fail so why bother with major coverage until they know Zac will succeed. Hopefully the news and media will not let us down and do a great job covering this MAJOR EVENT!!!
Sail to MDR Zac,
Douglas Pistone
MDR, California
Hey, Zac
Awsum photos. I'll bet you're gonna have a big crowd of well wihers Thursday. See you then.
Kodiak Mike
Wow Zac! I knew you could do it. I knew God would come through to supply your every need. We are thrilled to see you on Thursday. Our whole family will be there to welcome you in. (all but Brady and Brooklin, they are still in Alaska fishing) This is an amazing accomplishment and we are very proud to know you.
Take care and see you very soon!
Thanks Jen for the most excellent photo. We've definitely observed the physical changes in him as your other wonderful photos attest, but this side-by-side is wonderful to see.
I'm so glad he didn't cut the hair. Gives him the explorer look, for sure. I hope he trims it up a bit when time permits, but not too much. I don't see Zac doing any hair product promotions LOL!
@ Grant, Steve B, Davejb, - Thank you, thank you, thank you.
@ Marianne - I can't wait until he breaks that horizon. Can't wait to share your joy!
@ Marianne- Get the kids to "booby trap" Zac's room for him....perhaps make it look like the cabin in Intrepid. Toss some canned food and a can opener in for good measure, some maps, flashlight....make it feel like home! he he he.. or fake spiders under the pillow, snakes, ballooons! Whatever!
Jen has captured a transition we've all witnessed blog by blog for over a year... You can feel the pride of everyone bursting off the comments here!
Grant F - Thank you for putting into words, much better than I could have, how it feels to see Zac on TV or talk about Zac to others -- he, his family, and regulars on here have become friends... I've enjoyed so many of your comments - especially the one from not too long ago where you described how you met your wife and became a father late in life - your joy was well displayed!
Zac - I hope to be watching you online from across the seas - wish I could see you sail in and meet so many of these wonderful people! Has been a thrill to follow you...
Best wishes all -- I'm probably offline for a bit, off on a long-awaited trip...
Peace, Your Oklahoma Well-Wisher
Hi Zac,
Gosh your latest picture reminds me of those I have seen of other great explorers...you all have that same look in your eyes. Confidence and determination!
Thank for alllowing me along for the ride Zac, I'll never forget it either! The world is definitly on your doorstep Zac. May God continue to bless you.
Jen, GREAT JOB on those pics. Well done young lady! I wish you great success as well!
Cheryl in San Diego
Zac,
We arrived in MDR yesterday and are enjoying the perfect weather. It's a nice change from our desert heat!
Enjoy your last days at sea as your amazing adventure comes to it's end.
Marianne,
I can't imagine how excited you must be to be able to put your arms around Zac. Your household must be a flurry of activity as you all prepare for Zac's arrival.
See you Thursday!
Mona
Tucson, AZ
Marianne and Laurence --- won't be long now! Thoughts are with you and your entire family.
@Pam, Laura, Melanie, Davejb, Grant, and Bob in OKC --- you all are amazing!
Blessings to all -
Marie
WA St.
Mom, don't forget to tell Zac to prepare his speech, while he's got these few days left. Lots to put down on paper and plenty of time to rehearse it.
Is there some sort of after party or banquet at the yacht club in the evening, for the out of towners who might be staying over?
Dear Zac,
I have been following up with your blogs from the beginning. I am very proud of your accomplishments this past year.
You are an amazing role model for so many people! I'm also proud of your wonderful parents! They did an awesome job!
I sm looking forward to meeting you on July 16th.
Congratulations!
Peter Kazemi
Man, I'm about 1 hour south of the final point of return. I'm bummed because I won't be able to head up there to support you guys due to previous plans.
Oh well. Bro, keep it up!
wow! you are so close!!! I like the picture, that is cool!
I can see everyone is getting excited!!!! From those that saw you off a year ago to those just finding out about your story. You are an inspiration to us all. See ya on thursday!
xoxo
Rebecca, Thomas and Dawn Ziegler
I have been following off and on since the beginning.
1. I admire your parents for allowing you this dream. I can't imagine the anxiety of this year.
2. I enjoyed the ups and downs, the descriptions, the notes from friends and family.
3. I just wonder how you will condense this into 500 words for the college application essay!!
That is an AMAZING photo!!!!!!
:-)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5he8zU9ShIdv3mSkpdUGiwDfWZC2gD99DN98G1
Zac,
Have a wonderful home coming and reunion with your folks!
Rest assured that the South African Zacpackers here in East London will follow your entry in MDR
Zackpackers on site: don't forget your FOGHORNS !
BEST WISHES TO ALL !!
Zac Cam's up and running. Tell that kid in the white t-shirt I saw him drop that candy wrapper :-)
"A picture is worth a thousand words". I'll say!
Thank you again, Jen, for sharing your amazing talent with us!
Blessings -
Marie
WA St.
Ahoy Zac,
I've followed your blog since you left a year ago, your a brave fellow.
Continued success.
We all think that what you have done is amazing...look foward to seeing some photos of the return.
Good Luck for the last few days. From all the Knights in the UK.
Looking forward to seeing you home!!
Thanks Jen for another great photo!!
What's the latest position??
[I'm so excited!)
.....
After all this time and all these miles and all the ups and downs....I am lost for words.
Thinking of you all, as you prepare for Zac's return. It is sooo exciting and like many others, I wish so much that I could be there.
Zac....thanks for being so accomodating and taking us along with you on your amazing, awesome adventure.
I will miss my daily visit to your blog and the comments from the Zacpac....quite some 'family' we have grown to be.I hope that we have been a help and encouragement to you as you have been such an inspiration to so many of us.
Here's to a safe and spectacular arrival at MDR.
UK friend
Wow -- in US waters, set foot on US land! Glad I checked the blog again today -- thanks anonyn for the AP article link! I'm so excited for Zac & everyone who's supported him -- it will be a tremendous homecoming! We'll be cheering you from across the globe :-) Peace, Your Oklahoma Well-Wisher
Zac. Are you planning on staying the night in Catalina the evening before? I am sure you will want rest and to get cleaned up before media stuff. Look forward to seeing you home.
Chris Carnaghi
Alhambra, CA
I woke up this a.m. to the news there was an earthquake off coast from San Diego, 4.0 off La Jolla actually.
Should have been some noteworthy action there for Zac, awaiting word. Pretty sure he's in U.S. waters by now.
God bless you, Zac. I am looking forward to your return on Thursday and mingling with your supporters on the wharf.
I'll be there!
Left a boy, returned a man! You can see the boyish face has really matured in just a year! Congrats, Zac, I wish I could see you sail into MDR in a few short days!
Jan from D.C.
Pup; Sea Dog.
What a fabulous adventure for Zac, Sunderlands, Zac packers and fans around the world.
Congratulations and Cheers.
hello matteey (appropriate or not???). i just heard your about your story days before you dock, which is a wee bit funny, only because im sure that you would have enjoyed and savored these posts even more during the long stretches with only you and the sea. i must say you would do Jack London proud. i hope you wore sunscreen every day, but im guessing thats at the low end of the totem pole of things to stress over. and how exactly did you swing the no-school-for-over-a-year shenanigan?? Did you have dried fruits and veggies to prevent scurvy? did you have a tv aboard?? what books could keep you sane for that strech of a time? and will entering back into society be like culture shock for you again?? eat up and prepare for the throngs of squeeling teenage girls equipped with an i love (or an anchor shape if they are crafty) zac. job well done. i think what you are doing is absolutely amazing. and i should have put that at the beginning. eat up!
ahoy!!
-anon
well done mate
Zac, thank you for taking us 'with you' for this past year. We've been inspired by your living out 'Do Hard Things' - and we have prayed for you. We'll continue to - as you navigate this next phase of your life. God bless you - keep Him as your co-captain and you'll see that the adventure has only just begun. You've been a blessing to our family!
(How funny that my 'word verification' for this comment is 'travel' :-)
Amazing contrasting picture.
Jane
It is indeed a stunning photo! Perfect! Wow. It's hard to believe it's been a whole year. Sometimes it seems like it would take forever and other times the time seemed to fly by.
Thanks for the fun reading, Zac!!
from Iowa
Mrs Sunderland-
Looks like your son has turned into a man while away. A life experience that only he will know. Love the picture of the Two Zacs. It shows a story that I can't wait to read.
Wish I could be there Thursday to cheer him on. Will be watching online if i can find it!
We Sunderland's in North Carolina have enjoyed watching this adventure unfold. The local paper Durham HearldSun even had an article about You in todays paper.
You guys are saying that the webcam is back up and I cannot seem to get it.....What and where do I need to click.....
It is coming up but carries some sponsers instead of live cam....
can you help? I'd love to watch and I'm off that morning......thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Pam
Langley,
Canada
Has it been a year already? wow, how time flies.
It's all been said before and will be said again, but that doesn't take away from the excitement and achievement.
Saludos de Mexico.
Now, to see how Mike is doing...
Congrats! Ur news has reached all the way to Asia as well...here's Singapore!
Btw, real nice photo showing Zac's before and after look! so cool~
oh my goodness...
i just seen you on the morning show and i can't believe what you have just done. That must of been the coolest thing to do EVER!! I bet it was really trying at times, but just think of what you have seen and done.
Congrats on everything!
Jessica Canada
Wow! He looks so different! That's amazing! GREAT job Zac!
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