FYI: Teen sailor found alive ‎

[twix]

Well in my opinion,while i respect the fact that the teenager wants to break records,letting her do this was seriously irresponisble.I can only imagine what was going through the parents' head when she was feared lost at sea.I think what she wants to do is awsome but she should at the very least be an adult first.Very cool that they found her.That doesnt happen too often.Most times when im reading an article or watching the news and someone is feared to be lost at sea they are never found.

[sinohptik]

*snip*

Im pretty much on the same page as you, but also realize that there are exceptions to every rule *strokes beard*

However, something like sailing takes pretty substantial amounts of strength, conditioning, and experience. The experience is not so much sailing experience, but solo sailing experience. She might have had plenty of this, but if she did/does, i feel a bit sorry for her. To be able to garner the proper experience to undertake such a journey by the age of 16 would mean that she had very little time to be an adolescent. At that age, there is only a certain amount of time that such a child would be able to truly gain that experience (when they have the strength and conditioning to do so). Early physical training in adolescents has shown negative aspects in later life... Either way, thats what a message board is for, exchanging these ideas. Such a line of thinking does not actually have connotations of overprotective behaviors. A bit off topic, but i feel that the maturity level of the average teen is nauseatingly low, but thats a direct effect of being given very little responsibility (or, more accurately, not understanding the responsibilities they do have). But in my eyes, this is the other extreme. I also feel this was done entirely for the record, but im happy to say it did not cost the childs life to do so, but it could have easily gone the other way..

With all that said, kudos to her for at least trying, though i also suspect she had little to do with it (its neither here nor there though).

And, i am grateful that she made it out alive. She is intensely lucky, and i hope she (and just as importantly, her parents) considers the implications if it had gone the other way (which was only by the grace of god/luck/whatever you want to call it).

[Durion]

Was sailing around the world HER dream?

I don't like that they let her do this at 16 either... It's too much about the record... If it was just for the experience, then why not do this at 18 or 22 with 6 more years of sailing experience?

Obviously she was good enough to do it... She got very far... But it was still dangerous to send her out with limited experience... Yes, a 16 year old has limited experience... How long has she been strong enough to handle a boat and the rigging completely on her own? 2-3 years?

Again, the parents raised her well, she's solid, she's responsible... She didn't need to do this at 16 though...

Well lets see. I know your knowledge about sailing as much as I know hers, but I'll give this a shot.

1.) It being her dream, I'd say it was. Her brother briefly held that record, I'm sure that was the main influence to it. Am I positive? No. But I'd put my money on that being the biggest influence.

2.) Yes, let her get 6 more years of experience. 22 it good. Well, if she waits 3 more years she's have 9 years and be 25. But then again, just 5 more years nets her 14 years experience. Catch my drift. I'll wager she's alot more knowledgeable than just about anyone else on this forum regardless of age.

3.) I'd say she showed more than "limited experience." She was able to keep a small vessel afload in 30' swells with no mast. She also had the presence of mind to get her distress signal off. Being a former Coast Guardsman, I'll tell you what she did was amazing. That situation would have put the most seasoned sailors to the test.

4.) Says who?

Well, what about the next kid who wants to break the record? Should we let a 15 year old go? What about the kid after that? 14 okay with ya?

I don't care if she spent her whole life in boats... She had limited experience solo... Dangerous to let someone with limited experience try something like that. No reason to go at 16... EXCEPT for the record.

See above, what she did rivals what even a seasoned sailor could do. Her keeping that vessel afloat speaks volumes of her experience.

I'm just pointing out that it's not just her dream... The parents definitely influenced her... Maybe just a little, maybe a lot...

You can't get around it... Not blaming the parents... But it's not like she picked up sailing on her own, and they just supported her... (like say, an Olympic skater whose parents were not Olympians themselves).

She got her love for sailing directly from them... Again, that's okay... but don't act like sailing around the world at 16 is 100% her idea when her whole family is about sailing and her brother did it before her...

And she picked up the family dream, what so wrong about that?

She wasn't just sailing a boat... She was sailing around the world solo...

My 17 year-old has 2 years of driving experience... I wouldn't let her drive to Argentina by herself.

I'm not saying you can't do it at 16... This girl obviously could... She had the skills... But her skills would have been stronger at 18.. It would have been safer for her to do at 18 or 20... Why not wait?

For a stupid record.

I would rather raise my daughter's chances another 20% than have her go early just to break a record.

And most minor league race tracks let 14 year olds race cars. Its not age that determines ability, its attitude.

So what would have been different with her doing it at 18 or 20? She still would have ended up adrift, it has nothing to do with her age.

It is indeed assumptive and prejudicial... I do not think it is overly... I am indeed assuming someone who is 16 has less experience at solo sailing than someone who is 22...

How much does that experience matter in this day and age with all our technology? I do not know...

Obviously the parents trusted her... Obviously she had the skills... I think "going for the record" may have clouded the issue slightly for the parents and the child (another assumption on my part).

I guess that's my real problem... I worry that "going for the record" may have sent her out too soon.. (since her brother owned the record before, this is a pattern for this family). It's an amazing achievement and an inspiration no matter what age it's accomplished...

I notice they didn't send the brother out at 16... They sent him out at 17... I feel at least PART of the reason she went out so young was for "the record"... That's the only part of the story I don't like...

You are indeed assuming alot saying someone 16 has less experience that a 22 year old. How old are you? How much experience do you have? Could you have kept that vessel afloat? Alone? Age is nothing, she knew her limits, she did what she had to do.

I'm sure the "record" had everything to do with it. She was ready and made the attempt. I was sorry to see that that ended her voyage rather than delay it.

Lesson here, don't try to be armchair parents. Again, as long as it isn't concidered abusive, it's fine. As for experiance, if she didn't have it beofre, she has it now! To have experiance you have to experiance. She survived a disaster that would have killed lesser sailors, so she has the knowledge, and now she knows how to apply it.

Being in Hono, Who, you know what I'm getting at. Experience is the ability to react, not the ability to do. I'm not sure, but I think you were there when I was in 1999. When the Navy vessel Yukon and the Marine vessel Denver collided. Or when that navy sub surfaced, right below that Japanese trawler. Where they experienced? Probabley not. Thats why the accident happened.

Not knowing her background, I'd bet she has experianced 30 foot waves with her family/mentor/brother/trainer. THey are not that uncommon in the open sea. Experianced it by herself? A little different. I'd be she wasn't surprised and probably gleaned as much info from her brother and other experianced sailors before doing this.

Like the car insurance commercial: majority of teens shouldn'teven get their licence at 16! Let alone sail a boat. But there are exceptions to every rule, and this girl seems to be one of them.

Being a lifelong sailor, I'll bet a years pay she's experienced them. 30 ft swells at sea are not uncommon depending on where you might be. Being south of Australia, I'm sure she's already faced worse seas than that. Had she made it a few hundred miles more, she DEFINATELY would have, she was heading straight towards some of the worst seas in the world. And I'm pretty sure she was aware of that.

Well in my opinion,while i respect the fact that the teenager wants to break records,letting her do this was seriously irresponisble.I can only imagine what was going through the parents' head when she was feared lost at sea.I think what she wants to do is awsome but she should at the very least be an adult first.Very cool that they found her.That doesnt happen too often.Most times when im reading an article or watching the news and someone is feared to be lost at sea they are never found.

Why? Ohhh, because of what was going through the parents heads when they thought she was lost? Thats right, had it been the 60ish year old father, I'm sure everyone would have said "Oh well, he's lived his life."

Depends on where she is from on whether she is viewed as an adult. What age is that? Who makes that rule up? Its all in the eyes of the society. Driving age just around the United States. What is it? Depends on the state. What about alcohol? When I was 19 I was able to legally drink. Why? Because I was in Guam. Hmm, then why not while I was in Hawaii? Because some politician pulled a magic # out of his hat?

Just saying, age has NOTHING to do with it. She proved she was capable.

[Turial]

....
Obviously she was good enough to do it... She got very far... But it was still dangerous to send her out with limited experience... Yes, a 16 year old has limited experience... How long has she been strong enough to handle a boat and the rigging completely on her own? 2-3 years? .....

I've taught people to sail from 1 year old to around 70-80 years of age. Strength is less of a factor if you have the correct equipment. Mental strength to deal with the boredom of being alone for that long would be a different thing.

Limited experience is also kinda a grey area. There are people who have done similar things with far less knowledge then she likely has.

[cdbd3rd]

It's child abuse letting a kid do this.

Made it to post 17 before this junk started. All the news site comments sections are full of this stuff, too.

The family is in the shipping business, the brother already showed he has the skill to complete the trip. The only shortcoming was the timing of the trip.

Am *so* happy I didn't grow up with hyper-paranoid over-protective tunnel-sighted/blind parents like some kids these days apparently have to do...


edit:

Finished reading the rest of the thread, and am pleased to see most opinions are much more tolerant - even those that think she was a bit too young.

If I may present as an extra tid-bit of thought on this - especially after reading the comment about how she wasted her childhood learning sailing: Compare this girl to Olympic athletes. They also spend most of their childhood training and practicing their art, and (IMO) no amount of parental prodding could ever keep them going without their own focus and determination to succeed at what they enjoy doing.

Alluding to info in the article I read earlier: It seems she had managed to keep going when the swells were at 30', but only got taken down when swells nearing 50' finally broke her mast. The girl is skilled, obviously.

[Chai]

THis. It is only WEstern ethics and society that thinks this. I thought it was outrageous to bring a toddler to a bar, or serve anyone that can reach the back of the bar. BUt that is Spain. And it is perfectly normal.

In some parts of Africa, you are an adult a 13.

What you do for your kids is you, as long as you are not hurting them. THese parents believed this is ok. And I do.

THere comes a time that you gotta let them go. These parents see 16 is that age.

Yeap, we (America) are getting into the habbit of sheltering our kids longer and longer. The more they are sheltered, the more they eventually rebel.

In other parts of the world, people make their own decisions at a much younger age. They may not be completely free of their parents, but they are not nearly as sheltered as what I have seen at home.

A few short generations ago, people were also making their own decisions alot younger. My great uncle fought in WWII at the age of 16, over in europe.

A few hundred years ago, people were having children at 14 and 15 and considered adults. People fought in wars, worked for a living, traveled distances on land that took months, even years, to settle down and start families at the age of 15. Stuff was alot harder then than it is now. This level of sheltering we push on kids nowdays is backward thinking.

If anything, her parents taught her well, as she did the right thing in an emergency situation, and deployed her distress mechanism. Many people with alot more ego issues about how good they are at what they do would have tried to rough it out and fix the issue, and maybe the rescue team doesnt find those individuals, ever.

[cdbd3rd]

A few short generations ago, people were also making their own decisions alot younger. My great uncle fought in WWII at the age of 16, over in europe. ....

Good point there. I would totally prefer to send one of my kids around the world with a lifetime's worth of knowledge, than to send em to the sandbox with ... what is Basic and AIT for soldiers now? A couple months worth or so?


Not THAT much difference between 16 and 18.

[sinohptik]

If I may present as an extra tid-bit of thought on this - especially after reading the comment about how she wasted her childhood learning sailing: Compare this girl to Olympic athletes. They also spend most of their childhood training and practicing their art, and (IMO) no amount of parental prodding could ever keep them going without their own focus and determination to succeed at what they enjoy doing.

I think i was the one you are referring to, and i feel the same about olympic athletes starting training from early childhood. I dont feel they get to experience what its like to truly be a kid. But hey, no one appreciates it anyway until they are older, so maybe its completely irrelevant, but i dont feel it is.

I also am a bit confused on the whole "sheltering" issue. While some who are questioning it are definitely coming from that perspective, its a very, very large jump to say someone wouldnt want their child sailing around the world solo at 16 is being overprotective. This was a journey that could have very likely killed her. At that age, one simply doesnt understand the true repercussions of that. With the sea, skill comes into play to an extent, but its a force far beyond what a lone sailors skill could fight against, no matter the level of skill or amount of experience. And if she DID have the experience of a lifetime solo sailor, then she very likely missed out on her childhood.

It does take individual focus and determination, but as a child, this is likely spurred on by a desire to please their parents and not so much of their own desire. If you knew what you wanted to do when you were 5, then congrats (if one followed through), but i certainly didnt. Well, i had "dreams" but had little to no idea what i was actually talking about, or that those dreams at that age are frequently disillusioned in regards to the reality.

But really, in hindsight, its a pretty hot topic obviously. One that i have opinions on, but nonetheless, when some think others are being overprotective since they wont let their 16 year old sail around the world on their own, i think many people are not coming from a reasonable stance on this.. I dont think its possible to actually have a productive discussion on this, so im out edit: just to clarify, a discussion like this wont change anyones mind on anything, it will just end up going to name-calling and insults. None of us actually know this situation.. But, everyone comes from the same place, and that is doing what one feels is needed to help their child learn life and to experience life. There are many different viewpoints on that one, to be sure. And beyond all the BS about how people feel others need to raise their children (my own included), i am nothing but happy for that child and her family. The sea decided not to take her life.

[Hafeal]

Not THAT much difference between 16 and 18.

I think there is that much a difference in ages and the law reflects that ... the age of majority in many places of the world is 18. Is it the best demarcation line? Perhaps not. But clearly, the middle ages idea of making children adults at 14, 15 or 16 has gone by the wayside in most nations considered to be 'advanced.' If anything, the age by which most people are considered mature has consistently risen through the centuries - for many reasons, not the least of which is that it is recognized that your body's development, both mentally and physically, goes on longer than originally thought of hundreds of years ago.

Further, unlike earlier times, we often have the 'luxury' today of allowing children to become fully developed before having to rush them into 'adult" society. This was a hard fought battle not often remembered by American and European societies that seem to forget the labor fights of the 19th and early 20th century.

The difference of child exploitation today is that instead of making them work in factories, parents seek to see if their child is the next great singer, actor, athlete, artist or genius who can rake in millions for the family through talent or fame. And indeed, who but a parent or guardian plants that seed in a child?

[Danneskjold184]

I'm sure she was scared as hell to do this. She was looking at nearly about 6 months at sea alone. Some of us just face our fears differently.

Yes, but YOUR fears are a spell in DDO.

[Borror0]

Not THAT much difference between 16 and 18.

Actually, there is a huge difference between 16 and 18 as several studies have indicated.

Teenage brain develops until the early twenties, which makes of teenager far more impulsive and more prone to taking unnecessary risks. It's the reason, for example, that unwanted pregnancy is abnormally high during teenage: teenage don't consider throughly the risk of having sex without proper birth controls.

- for many reasons, not the least of which is that it is recognized that your body's development, both mentally and physically, goes on longer than originally thought of hundreds of years ago.

It's quite an ironic statement to make. Data suggests that it takes less time for children to develop than we did in the past, for various reasons. The most common is the fact that girls have their period at a much earlier age than they once did or that breast development begin much earlier.

The reason maturity was declared earlier in the past was of necessity, not of belief. People and nations rarely could afford having their young ones not working until their twenties like now. The nation needed cannon fodder or the father need help on the farm. Simply put, people did not have time to wonder about what is or is not better for the development of their youth; manpower was needed, now.

The difference of child exploitation today is that instead of making them work in factories, parents seek to see if their child is the next great singer, actor, athlete, artist or genius who can rake in millions for the family through talent or fame. And indeed, who but a parent or guardian plants that seed in a child?

You must not live in the same world as I live. In my reality, the problem with the youth is their inactivity and the problem with the parents is their inability to communicate, bond and motivate their children - basically apathy and incompetence from the two sides of the fence.

[cdbd3rd]

...

... None of us actually know this situation.. But, everyone comes from the same place, and that is doing what one feels is needed to help their child learn life and to experience life. There are many different viewpoints on that one, to be sure. And beyond all the BS about how people feel others need to raise their children (my own included), i am nothing but happy for that child and her family. The sea decided not to take her life.

Aye. Tis indeed a hot topic. Bottom line is the important thing.

I completely support when folks say they wouldn't let their kids do <insert whatever activity>, even if from my perspective it's over-protective, sheltering, what-have-you. It's what that parent feels is right for their kid(s). It's the ones that turn their views outwards, citing other parents should be <shot/arrested/drowned/presecuted/tortured/etc> like I've seen on other public boards that get my goat to dancing.

I think there is that much a difference in ages and the law reflects that ...

The law had to pick a number, but that arbitrary number may be too early for some kids, and maybe too late for others. Overall, given the different rates kids mature mentally/emotionally, the two ages blur into a grayish haze. That overlap is what I meant as opposed to the numeric legal age. (tho even that changes one advanced country to another - but that's a different topic altogether.)

Gotta step out to go attend to fam stuff - like getting pizza for my 16-y-o who leaves for Australia tomorrow.

[Chai]

Actually, there is a huge difference between 16 and 18 as several studies have indicated.

Teenage brain develops until the early twenties, which makes of teenager far more impulsive and more prone to taking unnecessary risks. It's the reason, for example, that unwanted pregnancy is abnormally high during teenage: teenage don't consider throughly the risk of having sex without proper birth controls.

A product of culture. In other places in the world, people are much less afraid to teach their kids about this issue at a much younger age, and it is much less taboo to doso.

It's quite an ironic statement to make. Data suggests that it takes less time for children to develop than we did in the past, for various reasons. The most common is the fact that girls have their period at a much earlier age than they once did or that breast development begin much earlier.

Which is exactly why the sex issue needs to be approached much earlier, but in many Western cultures its taboo, and people are sheltered until they get a small taste of reality, and then rebel much harder than they would have if their parents groomed them into that reality over time.

The reason maturity was declared earlier in the past was of necessity, not of belief. People and nations rarely could afford having their young ones not working until their twenties like now. The nation needed cannon fodder or the father need help on the farm. Simply put, people did not have time to wonder about what is or is not better for the development of their youth; manpower was needed, now.

Ther minute you could contribute to the family, you contributed to the family back in the day. Nowdays, not so much. This is again a product of culture.

You must not live in the same world as I live. In my reality, the problem with the youth is their inactivity and the problem with the parents is their inability to communicate, bond and motivate their children - basically apathy and incompetence from the two sides of the fence.

I agree, however, continuing to shelter kids and make all of their decisions for them in many cases backfires, because it becomes harder and harder to ween them off the teet the older they get. Reality will get to them sooner or later. We can either ween them into reality early on, and over a period of time, or we can shelter them, and make all their major decisions for them, and they will be blunted by reality all at once. The outcome of the latter is usually not pretty.

[Borror0]

A product of culture.

Absolutely wrong. Teenagers are biologically risk-takers. Even in places where sexual education is taught to child, teenage pregnancy - although much lower - is still abnormally when compared to other age groups. It's not a matter of culture; it's biological.

Which is exactly why the sex issue needs to be approached much earlier

Preaching to the choir.

continuing to shelter kids and make all of their decisions for them in many cases backfires

Where did you get the impression I was arguing in favor of sheltering kids? I was saying parents failed at helping their kids to make decisions.

[7-day_Trial_Monkey]

As long as she or her parents pay for the aircraft that flew over to locate her. And pay the French fisherman for the huge fuel expense of diverting to her, and for their lost earnings from rescuing instead of fishing, them I'm ok with the situation.

The idea of other people having to foot the bill for the consequences of her wanting to achieve her dream is something that I would never accept.

[Kominalito]

i'm sorry. as a parent, i have to agree with the earlier post that this borders abuse. a 16 year old is not allowed to vote or drink for a reason. wisdom and judgement. if its ok for a kid to be responsible enough to brave 30 ft swells, then she should be allowed to smoke if she wants, drink if she wants, vote with confidence, have a craigslist hookup, whatever. and if you say that this has nothing to do with it, think again. the argument is that this child has better judgement and self awareness than we are giving her credit for. ok, i totally agree. but that means whats good for one must be good for all (since we as adults can't deal with independent and unique judgments and need benchmarks instead).

so, if you are saying that this kid should be allowed to make the personal decision to embark on a 6 month sea-venture of peril, then you have to allow her to make every other risky decision that shes not allowed to at this age, AND you have to allow other children to make the same decision. fairness and the laws of chance say that there are other kids that deserve the same rights.

[MrWizard]

thanks for the neg rep...what a tool

[Zippo]

It's child abuse letting a kid do this.

What???

NO, what this world needs is more kids like this one instead of the leaches of society that it is breeding as of late. Kids that are willing to break the mold and step out into a life that others wouldn't dare. That is the kind of ambitious mentality that should be encouraged not dissuaded. I applaud her for he attempt (**** close to achieving her goal too) and I applaud her family for encouraging her to aspire to be different and achieve her goals.

[Darwinnon]

Dumbass lost at sea.

Lots of people & resources used to find dumbass.

News at 11.

...That is all.

[Zippo]

Was sailing around the world HER dream?

I don't like that they let her do this at 16 either... It's too much about the record... If it was just for the experience, then why not do this at 18 or 22 with 6 more years of sailing experience?

Obviously she was good enough to do it... She got very far... But it was still dangerous to send her out with limited experience... Yes, a 16 year old has limited experience... How long has she been strong enough to handle a boat and the rigging completely on her own? 2-3 years?

Again, the parents raised her well, she's solid, she's responsible... She didn't need to do this at 16 though...

No one NEEDS to sail around the world solo. This to me sounds like a girl who decided for herself that she wanted to do it; and her parents instead of telling her no and shes not good enough, encouraged her to achieve her dream. That is respectable and I am amazed at how people can try to tear her or her family down for her not settling for the modicum in life.