9/11
A Saturday sail in Santa Monica Bay
With September, my life has tried to become normal with my final highschool classes starting but it is becoming clear that it will not be normal for a while. I am shooting all day today and tomorrow for a CBS Sports program called Courage in Sports. Tonight I will be heading over to the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley for the Freedom Walk in the Reagan Courtyard.
There is a 30/40 minute program with amazing speakers as well as an F-18 flyover and then everyone (usually a few thousand people) walk down the driveway and to a local park in memory of the 9/11 tragedy.Then about 60 or 70 of us go to the VIP Dinner right under Air Force One.
One of the keynotes is JR Martinez - who is 26 and was severely burned by a landmine in Iraq. JR has had 32 surgeries, is a motivational speaker and is one of the most extraordinary people on the planet.
Cheers,
Zac
posted by Zac at
5:44 PM
29 Comments:
Hey Zac,
It's SO great to see photos of you back on Intrepid again!!! You two are a great team.
Sounds like an awesome night out at the Reagan Library. How nice that you got to hear from such great speakers and were honored yourself by being included in the VIP Dinner. Sounds like they know how to commemorate 9/11. It's so wonderful that you got to participate.
The CBS Sports project sounds really amazing. Make sure you let us know when it's going to be on!!
--Sue McGah
Laguna Niguel
P.S. Thank you, Oklahoma Well-Wisher, for helping us with Abby's blog!
Hope you had a great day! It sounds very inspirational, as you are.
Hey Zac,
looks like you need to get back out in the water for another year,,,,any thoughts about that :)
Anyway, I don't write to much but do keep up with what you are doing these days.
Always remember to have fun at this point in your life,,,it will not come again. Don't think you have to do everything all at once,,you have the time,,,,just be a kid right now,,,worry about other things later. But what do I know,,,I'm a old man - compared to you anyway.
enough of that,,,I will stay in touch at times. Until next time.
Gary, Houston TX
Hey, Zac!!! It's been a while! We've missed our blogging back & forth, but understand...this is a part of your journey, too. It's only selfishness on our part that we miss you so much! I couldn't tell from the fabulous photo's...is it the wind, or did we hit the hairdresser? Looks like a cut to me. You look happy, healthy, obviously very busy. Desi's preparing for his AIM class project..."Zac Packed Around the World". I'll send a copy when we get it together.
The ceremony you're attending today, sounds wonderful. Today, I hope, American's everywhere say a prayer for all the families who were lost on this day. The prayer has to extend out to everyone, because the event has changed all of our lives...forever.
Thanks for staying in touch. Stay well, sail safe. Friends from Atlanta...Mimi and Desi
PS..Come & visit anytime. We'd love to host you..sincerely!
Awesome! What a great time you're having! Bask in the limelight, and love every second of it.
The pictures of you and Intrepid are excellent. I'm sure you are happiest when the sails are full and she is throwing up a wake.
The whole experience sounds like you had an awesome time. So very cool. Keep up the posts!
Good to see you on Intrepid once again!
So much going on...you are young and have the energy to embrace those good things coming your way.
Awesome.
UK friend
I was meeting a friend for coffee on that day.... so many things I remember... we are in a no fly zone so as I parked my car the people from the coffee shop were outside looking up - apparently we were no a fly waiting zone for the Vancouver airport. Your activities today sound great, let us know how it went. Just because I'm Canadian doesn't mean that this day goes unnoticed.... (or for any Canadian for that matter).
Thinking of those affected by the terrible attack (now) many years ago.
Thank you Zac, for I have only "blogged" once before, but I love reading all the blogs from everyone and enjoy your inspiration at your young age!
Cheers,
Barbara
OK, i've been waiting for someone else to say it, but i guess no one is going to. SIGN ON TO THE BOUNTY BOAT ADVENTURE ZAC!!!
Zac, read about your voyage in World Magazine and decided to read your entire blog. It's taken me a week or so to get through it, and I enjoyed each entry. I was struck by your thoughts on "what to do next." With "fame" such as yours comes an amount of political capital to be spent; not all that different from a gold medalist at the Olympics. Fame has a certain responsibility and obligation, and yet gives a person a platform on which to draw the public's attention to. With Nancy Reagan it was fighting literacy. John Denver was all about protecting the environment. I believe it was Michael W Smith who talked about the plight of the orphans around the world. In each case, they took their fame and put it to work. It wasn't so much what they did, but what they were known for; what they focused on and drew everyone's attention to. It's an awesome responsibility, but an equally awesome opportunity. God only knows what this looks like for you (Jer 29:11), but I wanted to encourage you to take it slow and with much prayer, godly wise counsel and patience (James 1). I look forward to hearing what He will do in and through you as you move forward. Thanks for keeping the blog and sharing your life with us. - b
Hi Zac,
Glad to see your still up dating your blog. I really enjoy following your facebook too though..you and your friends are pretty entertaining lol.
Just wanted to stop by and say hi here as well.
FYI seabreeze.com.au has info on Jessica Watson and pictures of her damaged boat if anyone is interested.. i actually heard about it on Octane sirius radio..her dad is calling it a "hit and run" what ever happened, she's OK and her boat is fixable..as easy as Zac made it seem to us at times,this is sure a wake up call to what can happen even in your own backyard.
Take all
Laura BD
Hi Zac! FABULOUS pics today!!! Did Bill Mann get his hands on you? Lookin' good my friend! Hope you have more time to get a little sailing in...
Blessings!
Marie
WA St.
Thanks for the photos Zac!
How blessed you are to be involved with such important events!
Stay focused.
Blessings
Anita
Waterloo NY
Captain SV "Wombat"
Zac and Intrepid are like hand and glove.
Such a lovely telling of your 9/11 commemoration but, as always, you let actions speak louder than words.
For all you've done, you are still an advocate for other heroes such as JR Martinez. I looked up his story and I am lost for words, except I agree with him this is the greatest Nation on earth and he and so many like him are the reason why.
You are on the right path and inspire others to follow the right path.
Thanks for continuing to keep us updated. What an honor for you to be part of the 9/11 tribute event. Keep us informed of what you've got going on, such as the CBS Courage in Sports piece - will look forward to it!
Peace, Your Oklahoma Well-Wisher
Zac and family,
Thanks for keeping the blog open. This is a great place for the Zac pack to stay in touch and catch up on the latest Sunderland news.
Abby I was standing right next to you the day that Zac got back when you gave that interview to the radio guy telling the world of your quest to venture out. I talked with your mom about it afterwards and all I can say is that your parents really love you. Listen to them and when they say YES or NO just understand where they are coming from. Along with all the awards that Zac has gotten they deserve some themselves.
Zac I was glad to see you move the boat. When I got to Hawaii and then when I got home the effect called "port rot" set in on me and my brave boat. We both started to decline and it slowly became harder to get back out to sea. I see it all the time. It is like getting ready for a voyage only in reverse. Before you know it the boat and you are back to square one. Just an old boat and a guy sitting on it in the slip.
It creeps in like the fog--"on little cat's feet".
Rusty
Rusty
I agree! Sign up with the team for the Bounty Boat adventure with Mike Perham. The two of you would make a great team and balance out the "older" participants well.
The two youngest to sail around the world on the same adventure! Amazing!
Well the Capt William Bligh saga appears to be an historic replication attempt. Accordingly it's a British / Australian history moment. Not sure Zac would feature in this. Besides it sounds unbelieveably boring :-)
I think they even plan on donning period clothing.
Does anybody know when the DVD will be shipped??
Thanks
Axel
Hi Zac. My name is Kelly Tyler. I've been following your story since I first saw you on the news when you arrived home. I have a new internet radio show through Voice America Radio called Living The Call. The show focuses on encouraging people to live their lives to the fullest and not to let obstacles get in their way. Each week I have a guest who has overcome great obstacles to accomplish great things. I would like to invite you to join me on the show and bring your story to a worldwide audience. You can reach me at www.Livingthecall@GMX.com . I look forward to hearing from you!
Hello Zac,
Glad to know you took Intrepid out for another sail. At least this time you didn't go around the world!!!
I can't wait to hear more about the CBS sports project. I'm sure you'll keep us up to date on everything that's going on.
Look forward to your next entry. Enjoy your time back on land 24/7 now.
Take Care,
Douglas Pistone
MDR, California
zac
please keep the news coming. However saw your sister wanting to sail, does she have a web site or blog set up yet. I would like to hear from both of you.
Bill
Minneapolis
How are the Sunderlands? I'm asking as you live in proximity of, sorry to say, yet another huge brushfire.
Looking forward to a report of your Grand-Marshalling this past weekend, Zac. I found one article here: Duarte celebrates Route 66 with a parade
And.... Kelly, that Voice of America show sounds terrific. I don't have satellite radio, though, very behind the times here.
So what's up, Zac? It's been a couple weeks, something must be happening! Inquiring minds want to know!
Hi Zac.
I'm Korean fan of You:)
I can't speak English well..
But I want to comment here,
and I'm so happy to see ypu at Intrpid:D
I'm always pray for you.
- Esther Park.
p.s: I'm homeschooler!:)
You have to have some sort of id to post to Abby's blog :-( just reading her latest entry perhaps Mom can pass on to her the following:
Pretty sure the owner in the Bahamas is not going to sell it in the next 6 months. Just how often do people look to buy an open 40 :-)
Accordingly can't you make arrangement with the owner e.g. charter to own basis. Either the available 150K you have now in hand down, balance payment in the next 6 months or more. Or deposit + monthly payments. Why can't the owner accept something like this? You can get the boat, fix it up and get going and while going, Dad can continue to seek funding. Even some funky finance company should be able to fix a loan to you with the 150K already in hand.
As I say the owner probably won't be selling that boat to anyone else anytime soon. Better they take 150K cold cash now and accept payments over the next 6 or 10 months otherwise his boat will just sit there rotting :-)
No new posts?
Get back out there on another adventure.......I need to live life vicariously thru you.
(just jokin')
Straight Wakes,
Mike S.
WOW !
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,27574,26125924-3102,00.html
Jessica Watson warned after yacht collision: don't sail
JESSICA Watson and her parents have been warned by authorities to call off the 16-year-old's solo voyage around the world after a damning assessment of her skills.
The Courier-Mail has obtained a copy of the report into a collision between Jessica's yacht and a Chinese bulk carrier this month which shows basic problems led her to a potentially fatal crash off southeast Queensland.
Maritime Safety Queensland inspectors concluded the Sunshine Coast teenager:
• Most probably dozed off before her vessel hit and was dragged alongside the 63,000-tonne cargo ship.
• Did not turn on a device that would have warned her of a potential collision.
• Could not produce a clear, plotted plan for her journey.
• Had not developed a fatigue management plan.
• Kept a log with "irregular latitude and longitude entries".
Acting Premier Paul Lucas last night said Jessica should abandon her attempt to become the youngest person to sail solo non-stop and unassisted around the world.
"I'll be honest. On this evidence I don't think she's ready to do this," Mr Lucas said.
"We all admire this young woman's spirit, but sailing solo around the world is a demanding and dangerous venture. It's not a task anyone young or old should undertake lightly.
Hi Zac... Have you forgotten about all of us? Please fill us in on what's new in your corner of the world! Is there a shipping date yet on your DVD? Not that we are anxious or anything.... :)
Blessings -
Marie
WA St.
Hey Zac!! Great article on your journey in Coastal Living!! What a fun surprise - to open my mail yesterday - and find such a treat!! Loved the pics, too!! Am sharing it with everyone at work today..we all followed your epic journey!! Hope all going well..Keeping tabs on your upcoming plans and adventures!!
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