Quote Originally Posted by Ritamarie View Post
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...