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

**shootingstar** · 08-26-2009, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by Grits

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.

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** · 08-26-2009, 01:40 PM

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** · 08-26-2009, 02:49 PM

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

The answer from me would be NO

**Jones** · 08-26-2009, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by Grits

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

**lph** · 08-26-2009, 10:04 PM

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** · 08-28-2009, 03:53 AM

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** · 08-28-2009, 04:30 AM

Originally Posted by papaver

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** · 08-28-2009, 05:20 AM

Originally Posted by witeowl

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** · 08-28-2009, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by papaver

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** · 08-28-2009, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by witeowl

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** · 08-30-2009, 04:53 AM

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** · 12-20-2009, 08:55 AM

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** · 12-20-2009, 09:07 AM

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** · 12-20-2009, 08:17 PM

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** · 12-20-2009, 08:48 PM

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!

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