13-year old girl wants to sail around the world...alone

[papaver]

http://www.theoceans.net/news.php?id=18593

Would you let your 13 year old daughter do this? I wouldn't.

[Tuckervill]

I would. :)

Karen, daughterless

[Tuckervill]

I just read the article and the only thing standing in her way are the Dutch authorities...who think she won't be learning enough. Sheesh. Any 13 year-old who is savvy enough to sail around the world on her own is probably better educated than 90% of American 13 year olds. And I don't mean book learnin'.

Karen, still daughterless and now disgusted

[papaver]

I just read the article and the only thing standing in her way are the Dutch authorities...who think she won't be learning enough. Sheesh. Any 13 year-old who is savvy enough to sail around the world on her own is probably better educated than 90% of American 13 year olds. And I don't mean book learnin'.

Karen, still daughterless and now disgusted

yeah well... she is only 13 years old. The government uses the 'excuse' of school to protect her from herself.

What will she do when she encounters pirates? When she has heavy storms... the only real open sea experience she has is crossing the canal, that's not the same thing as an ocean. You can hardly get 4 hours sleep every night (a kid her age needs at least 10 hours per day). She is just a kid you know.

[Biciclista]

Pirates wouldn't bother her, she doesn't have anything they want.
I think you have a point, Papaver, she should cross the mediterranean first, and see what THAT's like before she tries the open seas.

[sfa]

Well, I wouldn't let MY 13 year old daughter do this, but my daughter (currently just 10) seems to have the judgment and planning skills of a, um, a thing with no judgment or planning skills. I was going to say "squirrel" but realized that they have pretty good planning skills. She's just scattered, can't focus on any one thing for more than 30 minutes, and has never shown the persistence it takes to really master a skill of any sort. So I can't imagine her, in three years, having what it would take in the way of skills, inner resources, strength and determination to take on a task like that.

That said, I wouldn't be against the idea in general if the 13 year old in question DID have what it would take to make a journey like this. The article said that two 17 year old boys are finishing up the journey, and they started at age 16. IME 13 year old girls and 16 year old boys are roughly at the same point in development, and I'd imagine that any kid whose parents would let them do something like this is already significantly more mature than most. I don't think a thing like schooling should be a consideration. Yes, she wouldn't be attending school, but someone out on a boat in an ocean these days is able to communicate pretty well with people on shore, so I'm pretty sure she could keep up with her parents overseeing her education from a distance. And even if she couldn't, frankly, missing a year or so of school isn't the end of the world--she could make up the year when she got back.

And about the pirates? How is being five years older or ten or 30 any more of a benefit if you're sailing solo anyway? You're going to be completely vulnerable to them on your own no matter what your age and avoiding them would largely be a matter of luck.

Sarah

[papaver]

Maybe mentally the 16 year old boy and the 13 year old girl are the same, but physically? I don't see her repairing a sail or a mast in the middle of a storm. :eek:


I wouldn't let her go for two years, a kid that age goes through huge changes mentally and physically. Heck, she doesn't even know what she wants in six months time. If she was 15-16 that would be different. But then she wouldn't break the record... http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/konfus/n015.gif

[lph]

She is probably an excellent sailor, and probably can cope with most expected equipment failures. I don't know that much about sailing, but I didn't think sheer brawn made that much of a difference. She could be as strong and capable as a petite adult woman.

But - and I say this as a mother of a 12 yr old boy, not girl - I really cannot see any 13-yr. old having the imagination, and resourcefulness, and the understanding of her own limitations, and the ability to judge other peoples intentions - to safely handle many other, unexpected situations. When I was 13 I was Superwoman. Nobody could tell me what I could or couldn't do, because I could do everything. I wildly overestimated my own abilities, and conveniently ignored any results to the contrary. Isn't this why kids aren't allowed to vote, or marry, or hold jobs?

[witeowl]

Pirates wouldn't bother her, she doesn't have anything they want.

I don't quite know that I agree with that... :(

[witeowl]

But - and I say this as a mother of a 12 yr old boy, not girl - I really cannot see any 13-yr. old having the imagination, and resourcefulness, and the understanding of her own limitations, and the ability to judge other peoples intentions - to safely handle many other, unexpected situations. When I was 13 I was Superwoman. Nobody could tell me what I could or couldn't do, because I could do everything. I wildly overestimated my own abilities, and conveniently ignored any results to the contrary. Isn't this why kids aren't allowed to vote, or marry, or hold jobs?

Well put. I teach in middle school and have the pleasure of working with some amazingly gifted (in many ways) students. I wouldn't want any of them to go on an extended journey like this alone. There are too many variables, and a 13 year old simply cannot reason through all the risks.

I'd say that this situation is analogous to "informed consent" in the medical world and how a minor is considered to be, simply, not capable of giving such. Thus, it falls on the parents shoulders, and I don't believe that parents should allow their child to take such extraordinary risks.

[Biciclista]

But - and I say this as a mother of a 12 yr old boy, not girl - I really cannot see any 13-yr. old having the imagination, and resourcefulness, and the understanding of her own limitations, and the ability to judge other peoples intentions - to safely handle many other, unexpected situations. When I was 13 I was Superwoman. Nobody could tell me what I could or couldn't do, because I could do everything. I wildly overestimated my own abilities, and conveniently ignored any results to the contrary. Isn't this why kids aren't allowed to vote, or marry, or hold jobs?
Yes, I agree with you completely here. I can't imagine that She can imagine just how long a year ALONE would be!

[papaver]

Yes, I agree with you completely here. I can't imagine that She can imagine just how long a year ALONE would be!
It's TWO years. :D ;)

[papaver]

Pirates wouldn't bother her, she doesn't have anything they want.


My little niece works for a center that gives shelter to young girls that are victims of sex/people traffickers. Believe me, a 13 year old blond virgin, is excellent merchandise.
:(

[maillotpois]

I have a 13 year old daughter. She's capable, smart and independent. She is pretty well organized, makes plans for the future and has somewhat recently acquired a level of empathy I never thought she would have (which I am really happy about because that was a big gap for a while there). We give her a lot of freedom and independence because she's earned it.

There is NFW I would let her do something like this.

[Eden]

Pirates wouldn't bother her, she doesn't have anything they want.

ummmm she's a 13 year old girl - just being one she is something they very much likely want...... I think it would be *very* bad if she encountered men of that type alone.

[Cataboo]

My little niece works for a center that gives shelter to young girls that are victims of sex/people traffickers. Believe me, a 13 year old blond virgin, is excellent merchandise.
:(

Isn't one of the primary motives of the pirates to kidnap for ransom? I'm assuming they would think they could fetch quite a sum for a 13 year old girl.

This sort of reminds me of 10-15 years back where there was a 7 or 8 year old girl that was trying to be the first 7-8 year old to fly across the US (with her father & coach in the plane). But anyways, there was a crash and they all died...

And her mother was tearfully proclaiming that the girl had died doing what she loved to do and what she wanted to do... Really, a 7-8 year old had independently made it her life's goal to become the first 7-8 year old to fly across the US?

I think most kids can dream about sailing around the world, and don't need to dream about being the youngest one ever to do it. I think adults plant those types of ideas.

but anyways, if it were my daughter - if she was annoying and all teenager like, hell yeah, I'd let her sail around the world. Maybe she'd be over her angst before she got back. But if she had angst, she probably wouldn't want to sail around the world.

There's a lot of people that don't let their 13 year olds stay home alone - we definitely don't let our 13 years olds live alone for 2 years... and if parents did leave their 13 year olds to live alone, they'd probably be thrown in jail and have their children taken away from them... So, I really don't think she should be allowed to do it now... And I really don't see how it would be anti-climatic to make her wait till she was 16-18 to let her sail around the world solo... I mean, she's still getting the opportunity to take 2 years to sail around the world!

[channlluv]

As the mother of an 11-year-old much like Sarah's 13-year-old, I have to agree with her. As I was reading, I was thinking, "Oh, h*ll no."

I just came off a two-month road trip with my daughter where she and I drove across the country and back together. We did it last summer, too. I highly recommend this kind of bonding trip, and if we were sailors, I might consider a long voyage with just the two of us, but to let her go off alone? Capable sailor or no, she'd need to stop in ports along the way, and those ports are rife with exactly the kind of people I try to shield her from. I don't even want to think about what pirates would do to a young girl alone on the open sea.

No. No. No.

Roxy

[Cataboo]

Sounds like she's abandoning her dutch citizenship in an attempt to get away from their authority:
http://trueslant.com/bartbrouwers/2009/08/25/she-goes-laura-dekker-drops-dutch-citizenship-to-sail-the-world/

[mtomm]

I don't know. Skipping two years of girl teenage angst.

Where do we sign up?

[withm]

In 1985 Tania Abei did it at age 18 (though I had thought she was younger but apparently not.) Her story was chronicled in Cruising World magazine and as I recall was fraught with "stuff" happening. She eventually wrote a book about her adventure, called "Maiden Voyage."

I think a really really gutsy, and able 18 yr old is pushing the envelope here. A 13 yr old? This sounds more like an adolescent's motto - "I want... I want."

Tania's articles were fascinating. Just reading them fulfilled my wanderlust. There is a LOT of ALONE time on a boat.... After the excitement wears off, and the first storm on the open ocean, I'd expect many potential round-the-world sailors to call it a day and limp home.

A 13 yr old? Sheesh. I'd have to say NO if it were my daughter.
=======================
From Amazon - Reviews of "Maiden Voyage"
From Publishers Weekly
Challenged by her German-Swiss father, an 18-year-old New York City bicycle messenger in 1988 became the first American woman, and the youngest person, to sail alone around the world. In this jaunty account of her journey, she veers between the perils of solo sailing, her relationships with her separated parents and the death of her mysterious mother. Aebi, writing with freelancer Brennan, reveals her lack of sailing knowledge and experience, describes the heavy seas and weather she endured, her numerous problems with malfunctioning equipment, the countries, people and cats she encountered and a sympathetic French-Swiss whose boat sometimes accompanied her own. The story is so compelling that sailing enthusiasts will read avidly on to the triumphant finish. Literary Guild alternate; author tour.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal
This is the story of an 18-year-old New York City girl and her exciting solo circumnavigation of the globe on a 26-foot sloop with only a cat for company. Aebi had little previous experience, so most of what she learned was "on the job" and from people she met en route. One of the most appealing aspects of this particular single-handed sailing account is Aebi's naivete and the caring response that she encountered all over the world. Her 27,000-mile, three-year trek is usually attempted only by practiced sailors, and her survival was achieved by pluck, inventiveness, helping hands, and a good deal of luck. Armchair sailors will cheer and dream a little and veterans may only shake their heads. Recommended.
- Susan Ebershoff-Coles, Indianapolis-Marion Cty.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

[andtckrtoo]

Wow... One of the companies I worked for brought in Neal Petersen for a motivational speaker. (he wrote Journey of a Hope Merchant). He was a poor kid from South Africa (mixed race, I believe), who managed to build himself a boat and enter one of the world's prestigious solo around the world races. Man, the stories he told about being on the sea alone - the things that happened to his boat that he had to repair, the storms he had to deal with and the sheer loneliness of being that long by oneself - and he was in a race. I just could not imagine wanting my daughter to experience that.

My daughter is 16 and she's intelligent, strong, resourceful, creative ... But sailing across the Atlantic and Pacific is a far cry from sailing across the North Sea. If anything happens, she could be days from rescue. And the pirates - oh she's a juicy little tidbit. Heck, there's a reason I won't let my 16 year old walk in areas of downtown San Jose by herself - let alone purposely navigate her way through pirates?! I know the alternative is Cape of Good Hope which is very treacherous but seriously.

[kermit]

I believe that this girl is as mature as any 18 year old. Growing up on a sailboat makes her responsible and mature for her age. My husband and I have spent time sailing in the caribbean and these sailing kids are amazing! I would let her go, and knowing the technology available today, she is only a phone call or GPS track away.

[Biciclista]

ok, ok, i stand corrected. I was just thinking if i was a Somali pirate I would be looking for huge tankers and rich cruise ships, I might not even care about a little sailboat. But I guess I get tired of people thinking 13 year old girls need more protection than 13 year old boys. 13 year old boys would be good meat too.

I wouldn't let either a boy or a girl of mine set sail FOR TWO YEARS at that age. She might be the greatest sailor in the world, but she's still a child and lacks the maturity to make good decisions in life and death situations.

[kenyonchris]

NFW.
NFW.
NFW.
No matter if my kid is a rocket scientist, a rockstar, and has the sailing skills of Captain Bly. It is the OCEAN. You make a mistake, you get sick, you encounter lusty pirates, you are vulnerable as an ADULT.
NFW, and I believe in letting them take risks and become independent. But not this. This is why there ARE laws, because parents like this actually CONSIDER letting a CHILD take such risks. TWO YEARS!! NFW.
Just FWIW, a friend of mine and his family sailed this route. It was incredibly risky but they had THREE competent, skilled sailors in the wife, husband, and teenage son. They went equipped with weapons for the very real possibility of pirates, and the whole thing took almost three years to plan. Listening to them plan it out, I can't imagine a child doing this alone.
NFW. DId I say that?

[Cataboo]

I believe that this girl is as mature as any 18 year old. Growing up on a sailboat makes her responsible and mature for her age. My husband and I have spent time sailing in the caribbean and these sailing kids are amazing! I would let her go, and knowing the technology available today, she is only a phone call or GPS track away.

a phone call or a gps track is still a long ways away when it's in the middle of the ocean and you have to call the right person to manage to divert the closest ships or helicopters to go find her.

[Jones]

I have a 13 year old daughter and she can be amazing: responsible, kind, organized and mature. She can also be completely dependant and irresponsible, you never know what you will get with a 13 year old girl.
There is no way I would ever let my daughter do anything that would take her away for 2 years she still needs parents everyday.

[Kiwi Stoker]

As a New Zealander (the citizenship she is trying to get) I am really upset that she thinks our government and social agencies would be so stupid to allow her to do this.

The NZ government denied permission to a solo canoeist/kayaker who wanted to go around Antarctica on his own as the NZ government would have to pay to bail him out in a rescue mission if he departed from NZ shores.

It puts NZ in a bad light....

[BikeDutchess]

My goodness, and here I'm worrying about letting my newly-licensed daughter drive herself 5 miles to school...

I thought the comment someone made in response to this article (http://trueslant.com/bartbrouwers/2009/08/22/should-she-stay-or-should-she-go-13-year-old-wants-to-sail-the-world-solo/) was right on:


She shouldn’t go — not only for safety reasons and questions about the judgment of a 14-year-old, no matter how good a sailor, but for the sheer fact that children (and she is still a child) should learn that you have to wait for some things. Why do we push everything earlier and earlier so we have 2-year-olds with art in prominent galleries and 14-year-olds crossing oceans? What’s the hurry?

Although I have to admit Dove (http://www.amazon.com/Dove-Robin-L-Graham/dp/0060920475/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251255041&sr=1-1) is still one of my favorite books...

[Tuckervill]

I would just like to say that we're not talking about ANY of your real or hypothetical children.

We're talking about a girl with a very specific set of skills, resources and experiences. She was born while her parents were spending 7 years sailing around the world together and living at sea. She has been asking to do it since she was 6 years old. I read up on it, and there is actually ANOTHER 13-year-old girl from Australia about to take off on her own voyage around the world.

These are not just any girls. They are unique, in unique circumstances (rich, maybe?). How could they NOT do what they were destined to do?

I always think it is interesting that a parent "lets" a child do something out of the ordinary that others always think that it hasn't been thought through or researched, etc. Do you think they haven't thought about pirates? Schooling? Repairing the boat?

I certainly wouldn't want to be the one who stood in their way, on some totally assuagable and compensable fear.

Karen

[Cataboo]

Are they actually rich? I got the impression that the Netherlands girl has sponsors that are willing to pay for her trip... Since it's going to be a "record"
chances are, those sponsors won't be there when she's 18 or so... Personally, I think sponsorship of those records are irresponsible... after this girl or the australian 13 year old does it, is it okay for a special 11 year old with a specific set of skills who was destined to do it, to set off alone to sail around the world?

Is she actually destined to sail a boat around the world while she's 13 or is she just destined to sail a boat around the world at some point? I don't question that she knows how to sail, I just question why when she's 13?

[BikeDutchess]

I would just like to say that we're not talking about ANY of your real or hypothetical children.


True, but the OP did ask if we would let our daughters do it...

[Tuckervill]

Are they actually rich? I got the impression that the Netherlands girl has sponsors that are willing to pay for her trip... Since it's going to be a "record"
chances are, those sponsors won't be there when she's 18 or so... Personally, I think sponsorship of those records are irresponsible... after this girl or the australian 13 year old does it, is it okay for a special 11 year old with a specific set of skills who was destined to do it, to set off alone to sail around the world?

Is she actually destined to sail a boat around the world while she's 13 or is she just destined to sail a boat around the world at some point? I don't question that she knows how to sail, I just question why when she's 13?

I don't know if she's rich, but there must be some kind of affluence to live on a boat for 7 years.

Maybe their destiny is to make people talk about the issues inherent in the idea. I don't know. But I think they should proceed as the way opens, and not let anyone stand in their way if that's what they really want to do.

Karen

[papaver]

Sounds like she's abandoning her dutch citizenship in an attempt to get away from their authority:
http://trueslant.com/bartbrouwers/2009/08/25/she-goes-laura-dekker-drops-dutch-citizenship-to-sail-the-world/

That to me is absolute proof that she really is in her puberty. She thinks she can get away with anything. The type of 'if mom doesn't say yes, I'll ask dad' syndrome... :D

[papaver]

As a New Zealander (the citizenship she is trying to get) I am really upset that she thinks our government and social agencies would be so stupid to allow her to do this.

The NZ government denied permission to a solo canoeist/kayaker who wanted to go around Antarctica on his own as the NZ government would have to pay to bail him out in a rescue mission if he departed from NZ shores.

It puts NZ in a bad light....

I wouldn't worry about that. It would be good for her to travel to NZ and than get a NO GO too.

And about all the gizmo's she has on board to get in touch with her parents... well sadly they have an OFF button.

So if the parents say: That's it. It's too dangerous, come home.
Our 'adult' teenager just has push the off button and do whatever she pleases. Every one with a teenager at home knows what I'm talking about. :D

She can be a heck of a good sailor, but don't tell me she already has the capability to assess people and danger for that matter. Kids take crazy risks all the time. They just don't see danger like we do.

[papaver]

Well after I have seen and heard a couple of interviews with that girl, I'm conviced. She really sounds like a 13-year old girl. She doesn't seem adult to me.

And an extra detail: her parents are divorced, the girl lives with her dad. Dad is very enthousiastic about the trip, mom doesn't want her to go at all. But she doesn't want to say no because she's afraid she will never see her daughter again. :eek:

[kenyonchris]

I would just like to say that we're not talking about ANY of your real or hypothetical children.

We're talking about a girl with a very specific set of skills, resources and experiences. She was born while her parents were spending 7 years sailing around the world together and living at sea. She has been asking to do it since she was 6 years old. I read up on it, and there is actually ANOTHER 13-year-old girl from Australia about to take off on her own voyage around the world.

These are not just any girls. They are unique, in unique circumstances (rich, maybe?). How could they NOT do what they were destined to do?

I always think it is interesting that a parent "lets" a child do something out of the ordinary that others always think that it hasn't been thought through or researched, etc. Do you think they haven't thought about pirates? Schooling? Repairing the boat?

I certainly wouldn't want to be the one who stood in their way, on some totally assuagable and compensable fear.

Karen

I am totally, totally against this line of reasoning. There is supporting your children, letting them spread their wings and fly, and providing a safety net of guidance, support, shelter, and knowledge to help keep them safe until they have enough life experiences to go it alone and deal with the problems thrown at them. A 13 year old has simply not been on this earth long enough to go it alone ON THE SEA, alone, for two years. It doesn't matter how extraordinary the circumstances behind their upbringing. For these kids, their skills alone are extraordinary, so hone them, give them guided experience, allow them to do the incredible things they do within their scope and experience within reason.
The risk to reward ratio is wrong here. An error, a mistake, an accident is far, far amplified to what it would be where help was more readily accessible. Again, training for such a feat is one thing. I can see someone going with her, alongside her, ready to step in should conditions or circumstance warrant and letting her do it on her own otherwise.

[indigoiis]

I would have a problem letting my 16 year old daughter go away for two years. Mostly because I would miss her. She's going to be going away for college anyway, so I want to spend whatever time I can get with her now.

[Biciclista]

After hearing about the broken marriage, this sounds like the ultimate in your face from the father to the mother;
"I'll take her away from you for two years - and you won't dare to say a word because you don't want to lose her"
classic tearing the kid up to get back at your spouse kind of behavior. :(

[Grits]

Besides the obvious danger involved, I think the isolation for one to two years is a huge reason not to allow this. Not many of us, and certainly not a thirteen year old, have any concept of what being alone for that amount of time would be like. Sure, there will be some type of communication devices, which can easily not work for periods of time, between her and her dad, but
at age 13 she needs interaction with peers, other adults, the world.

This sounds like a goal of the dad's which the daughter has bought into to please him. I'm sure he is counting on a book, movie deal, and all the money that will come from the publicity he can squeeze out of exploiting his daughter. :mad:

Would we allow a thirteen year old to live alone in a tent on a mountainside for a year or two if he or she is a really good camper and really, really wants to do it? Would we even allow a mature thirteen year old to live alone in an apartment or house for a year or two? No. It is not healthy. This is a time when young teenagers are developing socially (as well as physically, mentally and emotionally). Being alone in the middle of the ocean is not conducive to the development of a healthy teenager.

[Voodoo Sally]

my daughter (currently just 10) seems to have the judgment and planning skills of a, um, a thing with no judgment or planning skills. I was going to say "squirrel" but realized that they have pretty good planning skills.

LMAO.

[Cataboo]

Would we allow a thirteen year old to live alone in a tent on a mountainside for a year or two if he or she is a really good camper and really, really wants to do it?

But what if she was born during her parents 7 year camping trip? And spent the first 4 years of her life camping?

And ever since she was 10, all she's talked about is camping alone for a year or two.

And she's camped alone already for a month or two before.

Then she would have developed a very specific set of skills, and then it would be her destiny to camp alone.


What do you do if you fulfill your destiny by the time you're 15? that's a lot of years after that to live without a destiny.

[Grits]

But what if she was born during her parents 7 year camping trip? And spent the first 4 years of her life camping?

And ever since she was 10, all she's talked about is camping alone for a year or two.

And she's camped alone already for a month or two before.

Then she would have developed a very specific set of skills, and then it would be her destiny to camp alone.


What do you do if you fulfill your destiny by the time you're 15? that's a lot of years after that to live without a destiny.

It is quite a long way to go from camping or sailing or whatever for a month or two to a year or two.

I don't care if she was born while her parents were sailing for seven years. So what? My kids were born while I was living in a house - and for longer than seven years. They have developed the skill set to live in a house. That doesn't mean they can live in a house alone for one or two years or even one or two months! DSS would be called in a rightfully so. Thirteen year olds are not ready to live alone for extended periods of time. I don't care what their skill sets are. We are talking emotional and mental maturity.

If she has talked about this since the age of 10, I strongly suspect it is because her father has encouraged it. This isn't the kind of idea that a ten year old would come up with on her own. She can fulfill her "destiny," if that is what it is, in a few years when she knows her own mind and is not so heavily influenced by the adults in her life. Thank goodness the government is stepping in to protect her when the people who should are not, although I will not be surprised at all if they find a way to do it regardless.

[Cataboo]

I'm not sure if the gov't has any recourse if she just sets sail and is then in international waters, but I have no idea.

It really won't be 2 years alone, since she will have to stop in to ports, and they seem to have mapped out family friends and relatives for her to visit along the way. I'm assuming that her parents will be flying around to meet her in port every so often

[Grits]

I was wondering is she really going to be alone on the ocean? Would there be another boat going along with her? I would hate for them to lose out on the opportunity to film everything for the documentary they will be selling.

[salsabike]

I am totally, totally against this line of reasoning. There is supporting your children, letting them spread their wings and fly, and providing a safety net of guidance, support, shelter, and knowledge to help keep them safe until they have enough life experiences to go it alone and deal with the problems thrown at them. A 13 year old has simply not been on this earth long enough to go it alone ON THE SEA, alone, for two years. It doesn't matter how extraordinary the circumstances behind their upbringing. For these kids, their skills alone are extraordinary, so hone them, give them guided experience, allow them to do the incredible things they do within their scope and experience within reason.
The risk to reward ratio is wrong here. An error, a mistake, an accident is far, far amplified to what it would be where help was more readily accessible. Again, training for such a feat is one thing. I can see someone going with her, alongside her, ready to step in should conditions or circumstance warrant and letting her do it on her own otherwise.

Exactly. Technical skills do not take the place of experience, maturity and judgment.

[shootingstar]

This sounds like a goal of the dad's which the daughter has bought into to please him. I'm sure he is counting on a book, movie deal, and all the money that will come from the publicity he can squeeze out of exploiting his daughter. :mad:

Would we allow a thirteen year old to live alone in a tent on a mountainside for a year or two if he or she is a really good camper and really, really wants to do it? Would we even allow a mature thirteen year old to live alone in an apartment or house for a year or two? No. It is not healthy. This is a time when young teenagers are developing socially (as well as physically, mentally and emotionally). Being alone in the middle of the ocean is not conducive to the development of a healthy teenager.

If an adult was around on boat to assist, that would be better. Otherwise, no, at that age, for a physical journey of several years solo, full of uncontrollable risks beyond her physical control and mental capacity to predict long term or within a few minuates. Does she have the skill to read the water, sea and wind. I wonder if up in the Arctic, if an Inuit parent would still allow their child at that age to go sledding with husky dogs for 1-2 years even after teaching them intracacies of wayfinding skills among snowy tundra, high winds, sun, etc. Apparently the whole traditional skill of wayfinding in snowy tundra is getting increasingly lost since knowledge to not transferred widely to the children there now. That's partially why skidoos are used or people uh..drive vehicles across the frozen river/sea, etc. ..or fly. I'll believe it in capacity of a pubescent gifted teen and for them to execute, if a child is already immersed in a culture that consistently teaches from near infancy about the sea/jungle/tundra and all its vagaries, patterns, signs, etc. Not the private agenda of a parent pitted against another parent.

This ain't the child prodigy sawing away on the violin, solo. Now in that situation, a child is in control of his passion in a controllable environment for himself and by others. Like Mozart was in kindergarten years..)

I'm rather intrigued by all this, is she physically strong enough for all this? I haven't read papaver's article links yet. At my last job, one of the engineers did sail across the Pacific and around the Asian sea area there....it's physically demanding, and of course, mentally also. He was out at sea away from his children and wife in Canada for a year.

[emily_in_nc]

I'm not a parent but I am a sailor (still pretty novice, much less experienced than this girl). I say no way. A more experienced female sailor friend of mine, also not a mom, feels differently. So many things can go wrong that a child of that age just doesn't have the resourcefulness or maturity to handle. If she's dismasted, can she jury-rig a mast? If the engine fails does she have skills oto work on a diesel engine? The pirate thing is a biggie too.

I agree with those who said NFW. She can do whatever she pleases at 18, but not now.

[ACG]

I have 3 daughters.
25, 19 and almost 7.

The answer from me would be NO

[Jones]

My kids were born while I was living in a house - and for longer than seven years. They have developed the skill set to live in a house.

Mine haven't:o

[lph]

All other things aside, I find the whole concept of setting records by age a little disturbing. Since "everything" has been done before, to set a record you have to do it in an unusual way, like be the youngest. But what does this prove anyway? Children are, by definition, unfinished, immature, undeveloped, and need the protection and guidance of adults for many things, a right and need that today is protected by law. Certain childen can have certain unusual skill sets and be just as capable as adults in certain areas. But on the whole, setting out to do something lengthy and challenging as the youngest is just absurd to me. Because it never stops - the next one will have to be 12, or 11, or 10. It smacks a little of trying to set a record by being the least-prepared, or the one with the poorest skills.

I surely hope she gets to fulfill her dream of sailing around the world, but I don't see why she has to do it when IMO she's lacking some of the essential skills to safely handle life in an adult world, just to set a record. A trip like that is no less wonderful for not being record-breaking, and she'll be even better prepared for it once she's an adult.

[papaver]

The Dutch government decided she can't go... yet. She'll be examined by several psychologists to see if she is capable or not to do such a trip. By the end of October the judge will decide if she can go or not.

But still... she will go to different countries with different laws... so who says she won't be arrested in another country with more strict laws...

I still don't think it's a good idea for her to leave on a 2 year journey without interaction with other teenagers. How will her social skills develop when she's alone 90% of the time?

[witeowl]

I still don't think it's a good idea for her to leave on a 2 year journey without interaction with other teenagers. How will her social skills develop when she's alone 90% of the time?

You may be surprised to know that people are asking that same question about teenagers who are physically surrounded by hundreds of other teenagers. They ask because the teens are all immersed in technology: texting, myspace, online games, etc...

So, that actually may be the least of her challenges. :)

[papaver]

You may be surprised to know that people are asking that same question about teenagers who are physically surrounded by hundreds of other teenagers. They ask because the teens are all immersed in technology: texting, myspace, online games, etc...

So, that actually may be the least of her challenges. :)

texting in the middle of the ocean...hmmm I don't think so. And if she's away for at least 2 years, she won't have any friends left. You know how harsh kids are... out of sight out of ...

[witeowl]

texting in the middle of the ocean...hmmm I don't think so. And if she's away for at least 2 years, she won't have any friends left. You know how harsh kids are... out of sight out of ...

Oops, I guess my point was unclear. What I was trying to say was that people think that even kids who are physically around one another are missing out on social development because of technology. That means, according to them, she may be no worse off.

[papaver]

Oops, I guess my point was unclear. What I was trying to say was that people think that even kids who are physically around one another are missing out on social development because of technology. That means, according to them, she may be no worse off.

Yeah but even when they don't verbally speak to each other, they are still communicating (texting, chatting, facebook,...).

[owlice]

Speaking as the mom of a 15-year-old boy I've recently deposited at college (7 hours away by car), no, I would not let a 13-year-old of mine do this, for many of the reasons already listed.

Some parents are just plain stupid, and others are just opportunistic and use their kids. I think this girl's father may be both and should be smacked upside the head.

[BikeDutchess]

The girl (who had been forbidden to start her journey around the world and had been placed under state supervision) has now been reported missing. Her boat is still moored.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8423325.stm

[shootingstar]

Wonder if the child was undergoing counselling at the time.

She needs it...after all that media hoopla, etc. The whole mix plus father's own sailing, etc., just sounds like situation hard on a teen and not healthy.

[Tuckervill]

They found her in the Antilles. She took five grand out of her bank account and (I presume) flew down there on her own.

I'm sad that she didn't get to go, but someone else is going to beat her anyway. http://www.jessicawatson.com.au/

Karen

[BikeDutchess]

But Jessica is 16 already and Laura is only 14. I think for most kids there's a lot of maturing that happens in those 2 years.

Interesting to read Jessica's blog. I would go bonkers on a boat for that long, whether by myself or with someone. Now going around the world on a bike, that would be a different matter altogether!

[papaver]

I'm sad that she didn't get to go

Karen

She is way too immature to go on her own... her leaving for the Antilles without telling someone is just one example. She is just a spoiled brat who wants everything her way.

[crazycanuck]

Tuckervill beat me to it..Jessica Watson's journey is being followed by the Australian media as closely as they can..Her practice time didn't go well & she apparently fell asleep & rain into a tanker...:eek:

About this 13yr old chick...I'm agree with Papaver that the young un just shown she's an immature little $%*$*$ & doesn't deserve the chance.

[Tuckervill]

She is way too immature to go on her own... her leaving for the Antilles without telling someone is just one example. She is just a spoiled brat who wants everything her way.

When you set expectations for children, they meet them.

Karen

[Tuckervill]

I'm wondering if the naysayers would be so harsh if the child in question were a boy.

Karen

[shootingstar]

Some of us know responsible 16 & 13 yrs. old teens.

However as I said much earlier in this same thread, sailing solo in rough wide open seas is physically demanding even for experienced, physically stronger adults.

I personally knew a guy who sailed solo the Pacific from Vancouver to Asia for a full year. He left behind his wife & 2 sons at home. Yes, he said it was tough at times. He was your level headed type of guy..just a regular quiet engineer who wasn't as flamboyant as some of the other people I knew and worked with. He also is a highly experienced backcountry mountain cross-country skier in British Columbia. He also goes winter camping. Probably has a good sense of survival skills and common sense.

The 13-yr. old seems abit lost psychologically and that is now being manifested by running away. Responsible children (and many of us were, at that tender age :)) do not run away from home base if they are loved for their intrinsic goodness.

[papaver]

I'm wondering if the naysayers would be so harsh if the child in question were a boy.

Karen

Of course I would.

[Cataboo]

When you set expectations for children, they meet them.

Karen

So... the adults forced her to be immature & run away by thinking she was too immature to sail around the world on her own?

[Jolt]

I'm wondering if the naysayers would be so harsh if the child in question were a boy.

Karen

Well, considering that if anything a boy at that age would be LESS mature than a girl...

[mhami]

This sort of reminds me of 10-15 years back where there was a 7 or 8 year old girl that was trying to be the first 7-8 year old to fly across the US (with her father & coach in the plane). But anyways, there was a crash and they all died...

This is what I thought of too.

Interesting, I just asked my 13 year old daughter if she thinks a 13 yo should be aloud to do this and she said "no". My 11 yo son said the same. I agree with my kids too.

[owlice]

When you set expectations for children, they meet them.

I can expect my kid to get straight As, mow the lawn, change lightbulbs, and not complain so much; history has demonstrated that he does not meet these expectations. (He is capable of getting straight As, mowing the lawn, and changing lightbulbs; not complaining so much.... not so sure about!)

Every parent I know has had to learn that sometimes, kids do things one doesn't expect at all. They are not little adults, nor are they clones of their parental units. They have their own ideas, some of which are boneheadedly stupid. (This is true of adults, too, of course, but one hopes that the ratio to good ideas/boneheaded ideas increases with age/gained wisdom.)

You can bet I'd be of the same opinion regarding this round-the-world venture regardless of whether the sailor were male or female.

[papaver]

There is one thing that really troubles me about her getting a plane to the Dutch Antilles. It is really impossible for a minor to travel by plane without parental consent. I'm betting her father knows a whole lot more about this.
It was the father who gave her the idea to do that world trip in the first place. The mother was strongly against this.


The Dutch government has already decided that she will be put into foster care.

[Ritamarie]

Following this with interest. By default, the solo sailor on a long passage (13 years old, or not) is breaking a cardinal rule of seamanship... that there should always be someone standing watch. We've had vessels on the ocean have close encounters with other vessels in which the crew were asleep. You might not think there are other vessels "out there" but there are plenty.

[Cataboo]

Following this with interest. By default, the solo sailor on a long passage (13 years old, or not) is breaking a cardinal rule of seamanship... that there should always be someone standing watch. We've had vessels on the ocean have close encounters with other vessels in which the crew were asleep. You might not think there are other vessels "out there" but there are plenty.

I don't even kayak in the ocean without another person there. And I'm a good kayaker who can self rescue and the rest of the rescue skills necessary, wear a pfd, carry safety gear and radios...

[Geonz]

Maybe she should just take a balloon ride or crash a white House party instead.

[Faster Pussycat]

Following this with interest. By default, the solo sailor on a long passage (13 years old, or not) is breaking a cardinal rule of seamanship... that there should always be someone standing watch. We've had vessels on the ocean have close encounters with other vessels in which the crew were asleep. You might not think there are other vessels "out there" but there are plenty.

As Jessica Watson found out as she was bringing Ella's Pink Lady to Sydney for the start of her voyage and failed to see an enormous tanker! I guess that is the reliance on technology.

I guess its the very challange of breaking this rule that appeals to so many. Although there is discussion in the australian media today about abolishing any "youngest" world records.

I think 13 is too young but I fully support Jessica Watson in her quest to break Jesse Martin's record as the youngest person to sail solo and unasssited around the world. He was 17 when he left and 18 when he returned.

[papaver]

Well the judge decided that Laura Dekker can leave for her journey. Against her mothers will. And that's disgusting.

It's not the fact that she wants to travel the world that bugs me, it's the fact that she wants to be the youngest who sails the world alone. What will be next? A 7 year old?

[krisl6]

I totally agree. It's getting a bit out of hand. She seems like a bit of a spoiled brat to me and is loving the attention.

[Bike Chick]

Just to bring everyone up to date--saw this on the internet today.

http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/16744/teenage+sailor+abby+sunderland+approaching+treacherous+cape+horn/

[sfa]

Australian 16 year old completes her round the world solo sail: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/14/AR2010051405659.html?hpid=artslot

Interesting that the council that keeps track of speed sailing records eliminated their "youngest" category.

Sarah

[Catrin]

Australian 16 year old completes her round the world solo sail: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/14/AR2010051405659.html?hpid=artslot

Interesting that the council that keeps track of speed sailing records eliminated their "youngest" category.

Sarah

That was a wise decision to eliminate that category.

[crazycanuck]

JEssica Watson shouldn';t qualify as the youngest person to sail round the world because...apparently she didn't sail into the northern hemisphere...

[sfa]

That was a wise decision to eliminate that category.

Yes, I hope it'll stop this race that seems to have developed in the last year for younger and younger kids to attempt this. There's an American girl a few months behind Jessica Watson who, assuming she completes her journey in good time, will beat out Jessica by five months in the age war. Then, of course the 13 year old that this thread is about. Maybe by eliminating the category no one will consider letting a 12 year old try this!

[Faster Pussycat]

JEssica Watson shouldn';t qualify as the youngest person to sail round the world because...apparently she didn't sail into the northern hemisphere...

She did, the argument is that she didn't go far enough north and as such sailed less miles than Jesse Martin.

Abby Sunderland has also defered her solo around the world voygage and as such won't be younger than Jessica Watson.

Her record won't be recognised but I still think she has done an amazing job and is an inspiring young woman despite her insistance of her "ordinaryness"

Sydney put on a perfect day for her arrival and she kept the prime minister waiting three hours....then disagreed with his address!

I found it rather amusing that customs had to board Ella's Pink Lady to clear her to dock in Australian waters and dispose of all food etc "just incase" there was something that was prohibited that was picked up on the way. She didn't stop anywhere!

[Blueberry]

Looks like bad news for Abby Sunderland. Here's hoping they find her and she's OK (but the nearest boat is 400 MILES away).

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/37618875/ns/sports-other_sports/

[Trek420]

thoughts and prayers. Hang on Abby! :o

http://www.soloround.blogspot.com/

[Blueberry]

thoughts and prayers. Hang on Abby! :o

http://www.soloround.blogspot.com/

Here's hoping!! At least that is more factual than what is being reported in the media...

[Blueberry]

"Abby is fine!"

http://www.soloround.blogspot.com/

[Trek420]

whew :)

[NbyNW]

Thank goodness! Sounds like this girl has a good head on her shoulders -- it will be neat to hear her own account of what happened, as well as her experiences on the fishing boat that is going to pick her up!

[Blueberry]

So...idle curiosity (now that we know she's safe) - what will they do with the boat? Will they tow it? Leave it out there? Inquiring minds wander:)

[NbyNW]

I was wondering the same thing . . . my guess is they will salvage what they can and tow it, as long as that doesn't interfere with their fishing operations. It sounds like the boat is still seaworthy, just needs some repairs.

ETA: DH is a maritime history junkie and he says another option is that they could scuttle the boat, i.e., intentionally sink it so that it is not a hazard to other ships.

[Tuckervill]

It was left behind. I don't know if it was scuttled, but I would assume so.

Karen

[BikeDutchess]

Laura Dekker (now 14) today got the go-ahead from a Dutch court to start her solo sailing trip around the world, against the recommendation from the Council for Child Protection.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100727/ap_on_re_eu/eu_netherlands_young_sailor