Abby Sunderland, who for the past few days has been sailing in chilly 20- to 30-knot winds and on 20-foot seas, has had to veer slightly off-course because of an unfavorable wind direction and will attempt to round Cape Horn early Wednesday instead of this afternoon, as she had hoped.

The 16-year-old mariner from Thousand Oaks, Calif., who is trying to become the youngest person to sail around the planet alone, has experienced many delays while traveling down the Pacific aboard a 40-foot yacht named Wild Eyes. She has finally reached South America's tip, at 56 degrees south latitude, and treacherous Drake Passage.

Her easterly Southern Ocean traverse is about to begin and her planned route involves crossing the southern Atlantic and the Indian Ocean, before crossing the Pacific en route for Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, which was her official starting point.

Abby is in a cold place: Her cabin temperature is 47 degrees during the day; the ocean temperature is 44 degrees. "So I don't think I'll be going swimming for a little while!" she joked today on her blog.

Her 16-year-old Australian counterpart, Jessica Watson, is on the home stretch of a similar journey, crossing the Indian Ocean toward her homeland. Watson, who is aboard a 34-foot sloop named Ella's Pink Lady, is currently in big seas as well.

Jessica is five months older than Abby so it will be interesting to see who ends up with the distinction of being the youngest. Abby has a long, long way to go and some severe conditions to overcome.

Photo of Abby courtesy of 2010 Lisa Gizara/ AbbySunderland.Org