14 year old girl to sail around the world.

Sensationalism. Jerry Springer-esque stupid-ass stunts to get attention. Okay, you want to sail around the world, why tell everybody about it UNLESS you are craving for that 15 minutes of fame.

What would a person do to become famous in any right? Remember that little girl who died in a plane crash with her instructor.

Sure it's good to encourage your kids to reach their dreams, but within safety, wisdom and reason.
 
Perhaps publicity is useful in raising contributions or sponsorship. Well, contributions. I don't know what commercial sponsor would want to touch it.
 
am i the only one here who is secretly hoping this voyage ends up on next year's "shark week"?
 
I'm all for it

I think it's amazing.

A book I read was Dove, Robin Graham, 16 years old, sailing solo around the world.

Amazing.
 
I'm with Hudson (not in that way tho), easy to arm chair quarterback sitting at a desk in front of a computer watching people pursue their dreams.
 
A 16yo Aussie girl just sailed round the world, it was in the new a fair bit and people were divided whether it was a good or irresponsible thing.

I wish I had the kind of drive and ambition it would take to do something like that.

I'm assuming this girl isn't a typical 14yo that says "loves it" and "like" every 3 seconds.
 
ChipG said:
I'm with Hudson (not in that way tho), easy to arm chair quarterback sitting at a desk in front of a computer watching people pursue their dreams.
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No way. The last 16 year old girl that tried this almost ended up dead and I'm sure the rescue at sea was very costly. She was 'mature' for her age as well.

Well seasoned adult sailors find this extremely dangerous.

Guess they must be quarterbacking as well?

Please.

MAH
 
Don't get me wrong: I am rarely if ever inclined to try and actually stop or discourage anyone from doing any immoderately dangerous, lethally risky, possibly foolish, and potentially entertaining thing they want to do. But if it impresses me as silly I'm going to say so.
 
Exactly. These children are out there on their own in an extremely dangerous situation for over half a year, if they make it. They keep trying it younger and younger and nobody is stepping in.

We all know that there is a huge difference in maturity between a 14 year old girl and a 16 year old. One 16 year old just had to be rescued trying this stunt. She was supposed to be brilliant and mature as well. Guess what, the ocean doesn't care.

Time to start sending the parents the bill for the rescue. I bet that would put a stop to it.
Sadly enough.

MAH
 
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ChipG said:
I'm with Hudson (not in that way tho), easy to arm chair quarterback sitting at a desk in front of a computer watching people pursue their dreams.
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I thought I was armchair parenting :)

I guess one man's personal responsibility is another man's dream crushing... where the line lies is debatable, otherwise let's just agree that anything an adult can do is OK for a 14 year old kid. There are laws to protect children from their own lack of experienced judgment... (and adults).

Honestly, I hope she makes it. I just think it is/was a bad idea, whether it works out or not.
 
I can only imagine the s***storm that will engulf us all when a 14- or 16-year-old decides to try and circle the globe in an armchair.
 
Hey I'm not discouraging risk taking... but I don't think it's wise to let children bet their own life against really long odds for bragging rights.

Michael Anthony Horrigan said:
Time to start sending the parents the bill for the rescue.
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+1

Steve Fossett anyone? Big STL connection. I was right there with the NAT-GEO guys taking pics of a launch out of Busch Stadium... the HQ was here at Wash U. I'm not anti-dream... I'm anti-child-endangerment for ego prizes... and to clarify... I'm not talking about risking INJURY. I have no problem with that... I'm talking about a high-probability of death.
 
Tennis Association stepped in years ago when their young 14-year olds were burnt out, injuring themselves, etc., trying to play with the big girls. They saw how mentally, physically and emotionally unhealthy it was and now there are rules about how young you can start as a pro player, how many events you can enter, etc.

The maturity level between a 16-year old and a 14-year old is incredible in their thinking process, emotional processing, etc. You really can't compare the two.

I have no issues with any child learning to handle large machinery well. I do have issues with storms out in sea, isolation, danger for a young 14-year old, or younger.
 
Well, in all fairness there are people who are more mature in their behavior and outlook at 14, than others will be at 30.

The age-of-majority-etc stuff exists because there has to be a set of standards, even if we know that the standards don't fit everyone all that well.
 
Michael Anthony Horrigan said:
No way. The last 16 year old girl that tried this almost ended up dead and I'm sure the rescue at sea was very costly. She was 'mature' for her age as well.

Well seasoned adult sailors find this extremely dangerous.

Guess they must be quarterbacking as well?

Please.

MAH
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LOL :) She was no where close to almost ending up dead, for christ sakes she was just demasted, no big deal. The drama. It's my understanding that this 14 year old girl has way more experience than both Jesica Watson and Abby Sunderland. I'm not going to say if it's right or wrong that's between her and her parents but I think she has a pretty good chance.
 
Out in mid-ocean in a small vessel under a storm capable of dis-masting your boat with no crew and nearest rescue over 100 miles off is darned close to almost ending up dead.

And her experience won't make much difference dealing with a sufficiently powerful storm, or with friendly neighborhood pirates. Or getting run down in the night by a larger ship. Or appendicitis or some other disabling illness in mid-ocean. Or any of the other myriad problems a long-range solo sailor might have to deal with.

So yeah, drama. What she's proposing to attempt is pretty damned dramatic.
 
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