Laura (13) Ready for Solo 'Round the World

[S/V Illusion]

Somebody please post the name and if possible the address of this child's parents - I'd like to personally beat the crap out of them for being so negligent. The only thing for which I feel sorry is that I doubt I'd get there first.

[George Wade]

Originally Posted by Fishman_Tx

Nuts! Completely and utterly Nuts! Maturity AND ability apply and I'm not talking just seamanship. Body strength and endurance ability are also significant if not determining factors.

I'd agree that people from the United Kingdom, where I grew up and the United States should not encourage their children to sail around the world single handed. We have the weakest and stupidest children in our history. Not their fault. About 1/3rd have a measurable disability: mental or physical.

Small crews would work 100 times better. Away from pollution the children would have a chance of growing stronger and doing their school work well... Laura has already done that once...

[TaoJones]

There's a big difference between running away to sea (or to join the circus, or the army, or whatever), doing so quietly and without fanfare, and starting a website, soliciting donations, doing interviews and trying to get your name in the Guiness Book of World Records.

TaoJones

[anotherT34C]

There's a reason why children under 18 aren't held responsible for their actions. It's because they're children. I don't care how "special" the parents think their child is. It's still a child.

[Charlie]

at fourteen I would have tried it. Age is so totally random. It is just set up in books for laws. It is used to quantify. Yes there is a real chance that she could die. Just like there is a chance that you could die walking across the sreet. I don't think that it is wise for any 13 year old child to do it but some can. I don't have a particuilar opinion on this child. Joan of Arc was 17 when she led the forces of France. Zac Sunderland was 16 when he started sailing around the world. Yes it is possible she will make it as well. If it were my daughter I would want her to take a safe route -- thru the canal and i would want her to have some places to bail out if she decided it was too much but i feel modern society coddles children way too much. in the US it is especially bad. I am afflicted by coddling as well.

[George Wade]

"There's a big difference between running away to sea (or to join the circus, or the army, or whatever), doing so quietly and without fanfare, and starting a website, soliciting donations, doing interviews and trying to get your name in the Guiness Book of World Records.

TaoJones"


The army and the circus both make a big fanfare. Why shouldn't we do the same at sea ? We do have some big challenges to overcome this next 25 years, or so. Some of us will do it quietly, some not.

[Endojoe]

Tell ya'll what...use your search engine of choice for "Tried as Adult" and tell me what ages come up in the headlines...that is one pretty telling measure of what governments really think qualifies as "Adult". I'll give you a hint...its no where near 18. Life Prison Sentences have been handed out to kids her age.

[TaoJones]

Originally Posted by George Wade

"There's a big difference between running away to sea (or to join the circus, or the army, or whatever), doing so quietly and without fanfare, and starting a website, soliciting donations, doing interviews and trying to get your name in the Guiness Book of World Records.

TaoJones"


The army and the circus both make a big fanfare. Why shouldn't we do the same at sea ? We do have some big challenges to overcome this next 25 years, or so. Some of us will do it quietly, some not.

You have apparently misunderstood the point I was making. When your great uncle ran away to sea, I doubt it was announced in advance, nor did he ask for contributions to aid him in his adventure, nor did the media of the day publish anything about it. It was his personal choice, and he did it quietly to satisfy some inner urge.

If these young people, bent on solo circumnavigating, are truly motivated by some similar urge that they must attempt to satisfy, and not by some ill-conceived quest for "fame" or "respect," or some other dubious wish, then why don't they just quietly go about their business?

Surely, you can see what a huge difference this is.

TaoJones

[MacG]

The English have a long tradition and history of going early to see - as do the Dutch.

In the 17th and 18th, even the 19th century it was quite normal to find a number of midshipman of around the age of 12 on board of the man 'o war's.
Where in the US kids of minor age are running and killing at will on the streets, this kid wants to sail.
We know that the oceans now are more unsafe than in the 19th century.

So let it be.

Tomorrow there will be a ruling of the court who handles this case.
Let 'see what's happening then.

[Kefaa]

13 is just a number of years. real question is her maturity

Actually - its all about experience. Now I am sure that someone will say that people have sailed without experience in the past. That is true, but they had life experience even if they had little sailing experience. A 13 year-old has little of either.

Anyone can land an airplane. A pilot has the skills to do it repeatedly, and everyone else would merely be lucky.

If they want to put another boat with her and follow her in the event somthing does happen? Well, she is not going alone I suppose, but then again, at 13 we rarely let them drive, drink, own a gun or any number of things an adult can do. Because they lack the understanding of the risks and consequences.

Wishes are not goals and luck is not a plan.

[anotherT34C]

Originally Posted by MacG

The English have a long tradition and history of going early to see - as do the Dutch.

In the 17th and 18th, even the 19th century it was quite normal to find a number of midshipman of around the age of 12 on board of the man 'o war's...

Yeah, it was also quite normal to see slavery.

[Hud3]

MacG, The Dutch and the English have strong sea-going traditions, but I don't think any nation has a history of sending 13 year old girls to sea alone.

The issue isn't simply age or maturity level. It's having tried and true experience handling a boat in extreme conditions, the ability to make repairs when equipment fails, having the endurance and physical strength to perform tasks that are easy in port, but difficult in the middle of a gale at sea, etc., etc.

I don't know this little girl or her abilities. I do think that the age of 13 implies that her depth of experience with the above items may be a bit on the light side. Or maybe not; I just don't know.

I can say that I wouldn't have allowed my daughter to take such risks at such a young age.

[MacG]

Of course, but in this case although I have to agree with a number of the disadvantages of her age I just am very curious what the ruling of the court will be - tomorrow. I have, somewhere, a strange feeling that she might convince the people who are firewalling her trip with similar and completely justified arguments like yours.

I just admire courageous people .........

[Tellie]

It takes courage to be a parent, not a childs enabling best friend.

[s/v Beth]

When I was 13 I was driving, held down 2 part time jobs and one full time job and was saving money for school in the fall. (New Mexico allows a motorcycle license to a 13 yo)
People mature at different rates, and don't underestimate a 13 year old.
I do worry about the isolation on a 13 yo's psyche though....teens need socialization.
And yeah Tao, Nobody new I was that young where I worked, and I didn't make a web page about it. In fact I saw my first PC 7 years later