Rescue Efforts under way for teen sailor

As hard as it would be to let my daughter do something like this I would have to look at her experience and training and make a decision based on that. Would you hold back the kid who was the #1 draft pick at this week's MLB draft because he's too young? I know that is different but if I had a seaworthy vessel and my kid could handle it in any seas I would have to consider it.

This would not be for the press or record but think about what kind of a person she will be for trying this much less making it as far as she has. Your entire life is built on the experiences you have had and she is starting to enter her adult life with this under her belt? Bravo!
 
I guess my point was that if a 16 year old crashed a plane into a house doing a solo cross country flight, 5 bucks says people would be screaming and calling the parents not responsible...

I doubt the decision for her to do this was taken lightly by anyone...
 
As a person who had gifted ability in hockey (not to impress you, but to press upon you), I was held back after college to assume my dads dream of me taking over the family business. My dream to live and pursue my dream was handcuffed by this. Maybe my dream would not have worked out, but thats okay..Maybe 3, 5, 6 years laters after knowing when to give up on the dream, I would have been in the same place 25 years later.....I do not in anyway mean this in an ungrateful way because I have done very well in life and owe that to my grandfather and dad. Sometimes we are puppets to society and expectations......If my kids are happy and have dreams, I nurture the dreams and will give them every opportunity to explore and go for it.....Just MY opinion
 
I guess there are two questions here. . .

1) What was someone doing crossing that ocean in Winter with that kind of boat?

It's great that she had multiple EPIRB's. Great that she survived this is going to have a good outcome. But in my view the odds that the EPIRB was going to be needed was very high, and that should bring into question the entire venture.

Isn't this exactly analagous to going to sea in a leaky boat -with bilge pumps capable handling the leaks?

I bet if she didn't have the EPIRB's she would not have made the trip.


2) If it is acceptable to do as an adult, is it acceptable for a teenager to do it?

In my view, age has nothing to do with this situation -except in terms of critical decision making and risk managment. In this case, I am wondering if she was a few years older she would have opted not to make this voyage at that time of year.

I have pilot friends who often say "Better to show great judgement rather than show great piloting".
 
I think the really true talent was Jessica Watson.

She was more focused, more organized, had a better plan, and i got the sense that SHE really wanted to do this and the parents were reluctant but supported her.

Watching Abby, I got the sense that she was trying to live up to her families expectations. Could be totally wrong, but she just seemed to be "doing it" as apposed to being "into it".
 
Four Suns said:
We truly have turned into a nation of over-protective sissy-raising parents.

Neil Armstrong had his pilot's license and was doing cross country flights solo in an airplane before he had his driver's license.
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I know it's not the only reason, but this is part of the reason young kids have so much difficulty making good decisions and taking on responsibility, parents try to protect them to much. Let them fail, and learn to pick themselves up and learn from it.
 
BTW: Aren't EPIRB's and sat phones cool technology?

Take a moment to think about what happened here. Someone was in 30-60' seas in the middle of East Nowhere *talking* to friends and family.

Then, after being demasted in the middle of East Nowhere, she was able to issue a distress with exact coordinates within (probably) minutes of the event, and was able to establish visual and voice contact with rescue folks within HOURS of the event.

* * * * *

Of course. . I think bilge pumps are pretty cool as well. I still wouldn't go to sea knowing about serious leaks in my boat.
 
If there is any place where situational ethics has been used it is here. I can see both side of this story. I would like to punch the dad for letting her go but yet applaud his faith in her abilities and skill. The fact that she is alive is a testament to her training (and Gods protection).
I am also reminded that God has placed me as a parent to make the hard choices to keep my children safe. My son is now 14 and can drive my car with the best of them. Would I let him drive on the open road with no drivers license, NO. Would I let him drive on an enclosed track, yes and he has done this.
I believe we must choose to error on the side of protection over reckless abandon accomplishment.
My opinion and welcome yours.
 
comsnark said:
BTW: Aren't EPIRB's and sat phones cool technology?

Take a moment to think about what happened here. Someone was in 30-60' seas in the middle of East Nowhere *talking* to friends and family.

Then, after being demasted in the middle of East Nowhere, she was able to issue a distress with exact coordinates within (probably) minutes of the event, and was able to establish visual and voice contact with rescue folks within HOURS of the event.

* * * * *

Of course. . I think bilge pumps are pretty cool as well. I still wouldn't go to sea knowing about serious leaks in my boat.
Click to expand...

This makes me remember of 1976 Formula One world champion, James Hunt...he used to say: “the seventies were great years...motorsport was dangerous and sex was safe!!”.

I mean, doesn’t technology take out the “adventure” from this record attempt?? Is this real solo sailing??
 
Some really great comments on here.

You know, there used to be a television show on when I was growing up called "Father Knows Best". Of course that was back when our kids could play all day outside in the summer and parents didn't worry about them. It was also back before cell phones, beepers, the internet, and text messages. In fact, it was before the government decided that they knew better than parents when it came to what was/is best for kids...

To quote one of my favorite current TV commercials "But, I digress".

And to think, these parents live in California of all places. Chew on that one for a while...
 
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