Laura (13) Ready for Solo 'Round the World

[David M]

I'm wondering if the girl from the US is still contemplating doing her circumnavigation now that a 13 year old is considering doing the same?

If she is now disinterested, it would pretty much show that she and her parents were in it for the glory.

[barnakiel]

According to the update posted above now the court is involved. Swapping passports. Media. Noise. Publicity. Same like AC - it is not about sailing, it is about marketing. And since it is about marketing I refuse to buy it.

Like someone said above, I too agree that the society has the right to take action when parents seem to have goals not in line with the youth's good. We do it all the time, let's not say this time is different because we are sailors. We are sailors, but citizens first.

I have looked up the Hurley 800. Yes, I have sailed around the world in a similar size (better design though) boat. In retrospective, I consider this size to be not seaworthy enough for the easiest track (Panama to Australia to Panama). Not that it cannot be done, for it can be done in almost anything - but this size of a boat is still vulnerable to conditions normally found during a circumnavigation, which adds an extra amount of risk that can be almost completely removed by choosing a different design.

A 13 y.o. girl sailing alone around the world in a 26 footer. Yes, it is a good headline. No, it is not (in my eyes) a good idea.

b.

[Artful Dodger]

I was wondering if anyone has seen the parent's plans as well the route and the support that they might be giving for this trip. I think we forget that as Sack just finished his trip that both the sailing public and his parents were with him the whole route. In every port there were people there to support and help him. I'm wondering if Tania Aebi is around and following this if she could pass along her personal thoughts seeing she has been through it all. I support her if its for the right reasons and the safety nets which can be in place are there, such as a possible escort by another following vessel. I myself, any time I find someone who sailing off I follow them with great interest sometimes twice a day to see how they are doing and where they are at. This trip in its self would be a great learn.

[MacG]

A well balanced answer. I comeback as soon as we learn more. The situation for the girl looks grim since the government is afraid of the general opinion.
From the Anglo side there is much more understanding than from the Dutch.
Not surprising that they have lost all naval wars from the 18th and 19th century from the English.

[Christian Van H]

HOW COULD SHE POSSIBLY BE READY FOR THIS??? Does she know how to drill stainless? Can she rebuild a pump? Does she understand electricity? Ocean currents? Piracy? Sail repair? Storm sailing? Fiberglass repair? SSB operation? Loneliness? True terror? Liferaft survival? The rules of the road? Can she lift and carry her boom? Go aloft alone? I imagine the only reason her family could ever support her is because they simply don't understand...and don't know what they don't know...

[Artful Dodger]

I thought I might pass along this website of a family who is at present going throught the north west passage with two very young girls. Both of these young ladies ages 9 and 13 I believe, are capable people and are learning more than they could in school, but don't let me be the judge check it out. Sailing Vessel Precipice - NEW

[MacG]

She sailed for 7 years along with her parents around the globe.
It is not said that she will do a non stop trip. She just wants to sail but chances are vague since she is obliged to go to school until she is 18. Dutch law. Under certain conditions one could be excused but in her case it is most obviously a naye from the government.
I think that in every harbour where she stops there are people waiting for her to do any repair she cannot fit out by herself. Of course there are questionmarks, but that counts for anyone who wants to undertake a tripof that importance.

[MacG]

Originally Posted by Artful Dodger

I thought I might pass along this website of a family who is at present going throught the north west passage with two very young girls. Both of these young ladies ages 9 and 13 I believe, are capable people and are learning more than they could in school, but don't let me be the judge check it out. Sailing Vessel Precipice - NEW

Brilliant!!!

[MarkJ]

I don't know why I am still reading this thread as I believe in my earlier post: those that support this type of thing, even tacitly on forums, are fools.

Nicolles first utterance when I told her was: "What about the girl starting her period?"

OK leave it to Nic to get to the nitty-gritty!

Even if a whole rally is going to escort this waste-of-space fame seeker and her grubby grabbing parents, it won't be enough to support a girl in her most maturing of years.

And its certainly stuff that she won't share on HF radio!!
She doesn't want to talk about it to a doctor assigned to the task. She doesn't want to talk about it to her mum bashing on the bathroom door whilst trying to work out what the applicator is. She wants to talk to her other 13 year old friends at school lunch behind the shelter shed where for generations girls have found out about it in suburbsville USA/Australia/UK etc.

No, her supporters are fools, and her parents criminal.

For those that need more then look back at the cretins who allowed the 6 year old girl to fly solo over the USA a few years ago. Killing the girl, her father and their 'instructor'. Cretinous. As too this thing of ever younger sailors is cretinous till some little kid is killed.

And the most cretinous thing is we listen to the ravings of cretins who support it.

Over & out.

[David M]

I really don't want this thread to delve into this subject, but at 13, her monthly cycle has already started...enough said.

[noreault]

Age is not abstract. There are physiological differences in the brain between a child of 13 and an adult. So not withstanding the strength and maturity issues, that are certainly real, there are true cognitive differences. The parents are irresponsible to allow this level of demand to be placed on any 13 year old. They simply don't have the mental reserves available to deal with the potential problems.

[beachgirl1952]

the judge has spoken ...
it is too technical law stuff for me to translate into English ...

so now we'll see, what's going to happen ...
if the girl really wanted to leave Sept. 1. she and the boat should have been out at sea already ...
only THEN tell the state / school etc. that she wouldn't come back for 2 yrs ...

Laura and her dad wanted it the legal way? ...
now they got it ...

Dutch court halts girl's solo sailing plans - CNN.com

[MacG]

It is not that complicated:

There is a limited provision that she will be under surveillance of Youthcare for a period of 2 months only.
There will be a short period - till 4th of September - for Laura's party to present further and precise details of the planned voyage.
Meanwhile she will be subject to a psychological investigation in order to see if she is at all capable for such stressing voyage.

In general: it is a well balanced compromise.

The demands of the Governmental Youthprotection are denied, they were generally seen as not being appropriate.

The 26th of October a definite verdict will follow.

[S/V Illusion]

hopefully common sense will prevail here and somebody will halt this nonsense

[gyap72]

I've been reading on this site for quite awhile. Some guys already made conclusions without knowing the facts. Is she capable? Even the govt are still reconsidering if she is indeed capable of doing so and some nuts in here are already judging her capabilities. Some guys in here are saying she will sail non stop? Are you nuts? She doesn't intend to do a non stop. Circumnavigating doesn't mean it's always non stop. Don't forget they are people who are gifted, genius in lay man term. Those who can do things brilliantly at such a young age. Maybe they are just too conservative maybe jealous because they haven't had the chance or even that capability at such a young age. GROW UP!