Would you let your 16 yr. old daughter sail around the world solo?

It borders on absurd, but hey, who am I to judge parental decisions these days.
My hat is off to the 16 yr. old girl, bravery of that magnitude is off the charts, so is the stupidity of being in that particular ocean at this time of the year...go figure...what's your take?

I'm with you Chew----I think her parents are MAD.  Their statements after she was found ---"We are so Relieved" are wacky----why let her go, why let her take the boat if you were going to worry?  A
40 footer is a lot of boat to handle for a crew, much less a single 16 yr old. 

And in that part of the world where all kinds of things are happening---CRAZY.

too many people with too much money & too much time let their kids do too many stupid things.

In a word, NO. I'd go crazy from the worry and agita. Once she's out on her own, she can do what she wants. I'd still go crazy, but there wouldn't be a damn thing I could do about it.

Parents who allow children to make this kind of faulty decision(s) are all too common these days. While I think there are many more examples of the 'over-protective' side of the issue, this particular example smacks of either an over-abundance of money to spend on a kid, or a total lack of interest in the realities of safety in the world today.

Is she now going to continue her trip? Maybe the Somali Coast will be her next stop?

That would depend. If my daughter -- or son -- was mature, competent and determined I certainly would.

The news said her dream to sail around the world is over but her experience stays with her the rest of her life and that experience is unmatched by 99.9999% of the rest of the population. You only live life once. Seize it if you can. So what the parents are rich enough to allow this. That's just another lucky card in the deck. Money's better spent on sailing than showering her with shopping sprees on Rodeo Drive or sending her down to Aruba for spring break. Doing this is no different, worse or dangerous than what millions of parents do letting their 16 year old kids out in dad's car at night. More kids probably die by getting struck down by lightning on the golf course or playing high school football than drowning at sea in a sail boat.

The parents aren't dumb. Their 17 year old son accomplished the sail last and imagine they are all well grounded in sailing experience. I also suspect the parents were as apprehensive and concerned as any parent would be. But if you like it also could be Nature's way of weeding out the gene pool and I am fine with that. Oh well. Do you want life is a dream or life is a bitch, and then you die?

16, 17, 18 year olds know no fear or at least very little. Why do you think they drafted 18 year olds to be cannon fodder in WW11?

tusti


16, 17, 18 year olds know no fear or at least very little. Why do you think they drafted 18 year olds to be cannon fodder in WW11?

Probably for the same reason they drafted 30 year olds. Because they were needed.

I don't know about my daughter, but I am considering sending my 12 year old son to the moon. 

My father in law and husband are both quite experienced sailors. They both said they would never sail alone. It's irresponsible, to them. The cost and risk of the rescue isn't worth it. The age isn't so much the issue to them as the solo aspect of the journey. Yes, you may only live once, so go for it, but realize you are putting others at risk, at a great monetary cost, to save your butt.

zataar


My father in law and husband are both quite experienced sailors. They both said they would never sail alone. It's irresponsible, to them. The cost and risk of the rescue isn't worth it. The age isn't so much the issue to them as the solo aspect of the journey. Yes, you may only live once, so go for it, but realize you are putting others at risk, at a great monetary cost, to save your butt.

well said, zataar !!!

So sailing with another person is going to lower the waves and slow the wind down so the boat doesn't get slammed over and lose its mast? Doesn't two people just up the rescue risks? I don't see the logic.

saps


I don't know about my daughter, but I am considering sending my 12 year old son to the moon. 

You going to also tell us your wife's name is Alice?

zataar


My father in law and husband are both quite experienced sailors. They both said they would never sail alone. It's irresponsible, to them. The cost and risk of the rescue isn't worth it. The age isn't so much the issue to them as the solo aspect of the journey. Yes, you may only live once, so go for it, but realize you are putting others at risk, at a great monetary cost, to save your butt.

From the time I was 9 my dream was to circumnavigate the globe single-handed like Joshua Slocum did aboard Spray. I never got to do it. I did sail across the Atlantic and back alone when I was 16, but I could never get enough money together for the big one. I finally gave up that dream when I found a better one on October 17, 1964.

I think what happened went exactly as planned...

jeepguy


I think what happened went exactly as planned...

Right. She and her mother, father and brother planned for her boat to be dismasted 500 miles from land in the Indian Ocean in 30-foot seas.
 
I can't believe I didn't realize that.

I flew the Pacific at age 17. However I was not alone. I shared my "adventure" with about 100 other guys, most of whom had less experience in the air than I did.  Some even went "unvoluntairily" (sp?). We actually wrote letters home using what was then the fastest and cheapest communications service available to us, the Postal Mail.  My parents expressed concern about my participation in this "adventure" and were quite pleased when I returned home safely.

We called this period of youthful exploration, Military Service !

Heck, what she did was nothing compared to my experience, when I was 16 my parents let me stay out on weekends till 10 PM...as long as I was at a friends house...scary stuff!!

Davydd


So sailing with another person is going to lower the waves and slow the wind down so the boat doesn't get slammed over and lose its mast? Doesn't two people just up the rescue risks? I don't see the logic.

Of course two people sailing won't lower the waves or change the weather conditions.  I tried to find an NPR archive interview from yesterday that explains the logic better than I can. When I find it, I'll post the link. The person being interviewed had very specific reasons why the Coast Guard and others feel that solo sailing isn't the best idea.

Here is one quote. From reading some of the posts here, there is indeed considerable disagreement.

Among yachtsmen, a mystique and machismo are often associated with single-handed sailing. But there is considerable disagreement as well.
"I've never been a big fan," said Gary Jobson, the president of U.S. Sailing and a veteran of multiple offshore races, including an America's Cup win in 1977. "Simply put, it's dangerous to be crossing oceans by yourself. There's fatigue and the inability to stand a proper watch that are concerns."

Pretty much my husband and father-in-laws opinion.

Zataar---thanks for the words of wisdom.  People who never sailed think it is easy----a 24 hour day by yourself at sea, with danger of fatigue, accident and injury is down right stupid.  She may have glory for a while, but I will bet she has nightmares later on. 

Michael Hoffman


I finally gave up that dream when I found a better one on October 17, 1964.

I'll bite.  You got married?

sk bob


too many people with too much money & too much time let their kids do too many stupid things.

ABSOLUTELY!---more money then brains!----spend more TIME with them not cash. The whole idea of giving your sixteen yr old---or  ANY age for that matter-- a 40 ft world class sail boat before they have ever had a JOB is insane. I remember telling my dad--"I need a car!", to which he replied--"no you WANT a car. What you need is a JOB!"

Thanks Dad!

Nancypalooza

Michael Hoffman


I finally gave up that dream when I found a better one on October 17, 1964.

I'll bite.  You got married?

Not yet. That was the blind date with my wife-to-be.

Michael----October i7, 1964 and you were still dating.  I had 3 3/4 kids on that date.  Seafarer John told me you were an old bugger, but I can see that ypu are still a young whipper-snapper, by jumpin jimminy. 

zataar

Davydd


So sailing with another person is going to lower the waves and slow the wind down so the boat doesn't get slammed over and lose its mast? Doesn't two people just up the rescue risks? I don't see the logic.

Of course two people sailing won't lower the waves or change the weather conditions.  I tried to find an NPR archive interview from yesterday that explains the logic better than I can. When I find it, I'll post the link. The person being interviewed had very specific reasons why the Coast Guard and others feel that solo sailing isn't the best idea.

By that logic it wasn't the best idea for Lindbergh to fly solo the first time across the Atlantic. It is all about risk and reward. Amelia Earhardt tried and lost but she gained the fame she sought but never enjoyed. Of course the Coast Guard is going to say what they say. They're goal is to reduce need for rescue. But in this case, the issue was apparently not the solo-ness but the weather conditions. So, as I said before, the Coast Guard would have double or more risks snatching two or more people out of the sea than a solo one.

Also, as I said, you have but one life to live, so live it the fullest. Why judge a 16 year old for willing to take on the risk of dying alone at sea than on a country back road in a car with immature friends distracting you with text messaging? Life is a risk.

Davydd

zataar

Davydd
 


  Amelia Earhardt tried and lost but she gained the fame she sought but never enjoyed.

 
Amerlia did not try it alone.

Also she was not 16 years old.

If I had any kids, there's no way that I'd allow something like this to take place. Since the girl is a minor, I think that the authorities should look into the possibility of child endangerment charges against her parents. Enough is enough with this kind of irresponsible nonsense.