A 16-year-old Thousand Oaks girl is being watched by media around the world as she attempts to solo circumnavigate the planet in a 40-foot sailboat.

On Saturday, Abby Sunderland waved goodbye to her friends and family as she floated out to sea from Marina del Rey harbor. She’s planning a nonstop journey, stepping on land again only when she returns to Marina del Rey—hopefully before she turns 17 in October.

“I will be the youngest, but age records don’t count anymore. They stopped keeping records of kids going out because it’s too dangerous,” Abby said.

The Guinness Book of World Records and the World Sailing Speed Record Council stopped recording age records.

“I’m going for the personal challenge. I’m doing it at 16 because the media attention allows me to get sponsors. If not for the sponsors, I would have to wait until I was older and I would have to pay for it myself,” she said.

Abby said her sponsor campaign has brought in about $300,000.

Still, she had to give up her pet horse, which she described as “too expensive to keep.” She loved her horse, she said, but had to decide between him or sailing. It wasn’t just the money but the time.

“She’s been fully immersed in sailing,” her mother, Marianne Sunderland, said.

Abby, the second of seven children ages 2 to 18, is homeschooled. She can’t drive a car and has never dated. She doesn’t dream of going to the prom, worry about what’s in fashion this year or think about what she wants to be when she grows up. Her life right now is all about taking this trip.

“I’ve been preparing for this my whole life. It’s been my personal goal since I was 13,” Abby said.

Her brother Zac, 18, completed circling the world solo six months ago, stopping at many ports. His father, Laurence Sunderland, a ship builder, met him at some of those stops around the world and helped him repair his boat.

Abby’s boat—loaded with food, water and fuel—must make it all the way without assistance. She’s studied how to deal with whatever might come up, including sail repair, boat mechanics and first aid, her mother said. A personal trainer helped her prepare for the rigorous journey, and the food she carries will provide her with sound nutrition.

Abby said she was reluctant to stop at ports in Third World countries as her brother did. And her boat, Wild Eyes, is better suited than his to go nonstop.

“Zac was mugged once or twice, and he’s a big guy who’s played football. As a girl, I’m more vulnerable,” she said.

Abby knows a journey of more than 23,000 miles alone in a boat carries many risks.

“My boat’s high-tech, but it could be dangerous if anything goes down and there are storms or icebergs,” Abby said.

Her departure had been postponed because of the string of storms that recently hit Southern California. During the delay, Abby had time to improve her health. She had a bad cold that was going around her family, she said. The day before she left she still had a deep cough.

Abby has a full medical kit with a wide range of medications on board, her mother said.

Just a few days before her departure, her mother ordered her paper charts as a backup to the high-tech equipment she has on board.

“Every little detail has been taken care of. She will have three satellite phones and satellite e-mail,” her mother said.

One item she doesn’t have on board she wishes she could have is her sister Katherine, 5, she said. “But I don’t think Katherine would like it.”

The day before her departure Abby said she felt “excited.” Her mother said, “It’s been a long time coming. It feels like wow, I can’t believe we finally got here.”

Abby’s first major challenge will be sailing around Cape Horn at the tip of South America.

“I’m doing it for the sailing. I want to see all five capes,” Abby said.