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.