Zac Sunderland, solo teen sailor, discovers perils of the high seas

A large wooden vessel in the distance, rising and falling over the swells, is clearly on intercept course.

It does not show on the radar. It flies no flags. Its crew doesn't respond to radio calls. Zac alters course, the pursuers do likewise.

Zac Sunderland had long since discovered that trying to become the youngest person to sail around the world alone is not child's play.

(He has until January 2010 to break a record held by David Dicks, an Australian who was 18 years, 41 days old when he accomplished the feat.)

Zac, who could not legally drive a car, had piloted the 36-foot Intrepid 5,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean during the initial leg to the Marshall Islands. He endured long windless periods as well as violent squalls and turbulent seas.

How long ago it must seem to the high school sophomore that he embarked from Marina del Rey on June 14, looking both heroic and naive.

Since then, he has lost weight and become hardened beyond his years. It was just four weeks ago that the presumed assailants in the 60-foot wooden boat sized him up as he sailed south of Indonesia, a reputed trouble spot.

When the boat closed to within a quarter of a mile, Zac said, "I jammed some bullets into my gun and just waited."

The 6-foot, 165-pound teenager watched as the vessel, its crew hidden, swept to within 200 yards, into Intrepid's wake. It remained several minutes before changing course and motoring off.

Good luck, Zac, in your pursuit of the record.