Dutch authorities sue parents of 13 year-old to stop solo sail trip around the world

[IglooDame]

Another article/editorial:

Australia's Jessica Watson, 16, is planning a September departure for a nonstop journey aboard a 34-foot yacht that she hopes to complete within eight months. Abby Sunderland, who will turn 16 in October, is hoping for a November departure for a nonstop trip aboard a 40-foot yacht. She plans to complete her trip in about six months.

I'd guess that parents (or other trusted adults) would be meeting her at her port calls, by the way. Or perhaps she's familiar enough to handle them herself, moreso than your average clueless tourist at least.

 

[Yared]

Also, there are more pirates in the world outside of Somalia.

Spoiler :

Amongst others.

 

[Mise]

Still too dangerous for a 14 year old to do by herself! We have laws about how old you have to be before you can parachute or sky dive or serve in the army etc etc etc. This is no different - except the government hasn't had a reason to make the law, because so few people actually do it. I guess that's why the authorities are going after the parents in such a weird and "exotic" way -- because there's no other laws to prevent it!

 

[nonconformist]

Heh, she's gonna come back, and be pretty much uneducated.

Like she's actually gonna do the schoolwork. What're the authorities gonna do? Send a truancy inspector over on a dinghy?

 

[IglooDame]

Also, there are more pirates in the world outside of Somalia.

Spoiler :

Amongst others.

There is more piracy than just what you hear about in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast, yes. Or are you asserting that there is more than there used to be? I suppose I'm not seeing your point, or maybe your point is that there is a threat from piracy, to which I'd have to agree.

 

[Yared]

There is more piracy than just what you hear about in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast, yes. Or are you asserting that there is more than there used to be? I suppose I'm not seeing your point, or maybe your point is that there is a threat from piracy, to which I'd have to agree.

Mm, I was just expanding on the claim that there are pirates. And not the good kind either

 

[IglooDame]

Heh, she's gonna come back, and be pretty much uneducated.

Like she's actually gonna do the schoolwork. What're the authorities gonna do? Send a truancy inspector over on a dinghy?

Seriously? You think she can't do the schoolwork at sea? You think that her parents won't make sure she does do the work, just like any homeschooling parents do?

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

She can go, if the authorities won't be blamed for anything if anything bad happens. Otherwise, no.

 

[IglooDame]

Mm, I was just expanding on the claim that there are pirates. And not the good kind either

Then presumably any parents taking children on any sorts of sailing voyages are being faulty parents, as one would think that pirates make little distinction as to whether there are adults on board their targeted boats.

 

[Yared]

Then presumably any parents taking children on any sorts of sailing voyages are being faulty parents, as one would think that pirates make little distinction as to whether there are adults on board their targeted boats.

When did I say anything against that?

 

[Formaldehyde]

I seriously considered doing the same thing for a while, but then I read up on singlehanded sailing and all the risks involved. The first rule of basic seamanship is to always post a watch. You obviously can't do that when you are singlehanding a sailboat. I may still end up trying it some day just for the hell of it. But I don't think it is a good idea to push a 14-year-old into doing it, just so you can have the satisfaction of having your child's name in a record book.

And there is a fairly simple way to deal with the problems of piracy. You simply stay away from the 3 main areas where you might be a victim.

 

[Mise]

Seriously? You think she can't do the schoolwork at sea? You think that her parents won't make sure she does do the work, just like any homeschooling parents do?

Do these parents sound just like any homeschooling parents you know?

 

[IglooDame]

Then presumably any parents taking children on any sorts of sailing voyages are being faulty parents, as one would think that pirates make little distinction as to whether there are adults on board their targeted boats.

When did I say anything against that?

You didn't, specifically, and I'm sorry for implying that you did. What I was trying to point out is that the dangers of piracy are fundamentally the same whether there's an adult crewing the boat or not, thus not really a factor in criticizing a singlehander's decision to sail.

 

[IglooDame]

Do these parents sound just like any homeschooling parents you know?

In spirit, yes, they do.

 

[Flying Pig]

Is this the wrong place to point out that when I was 13 I worked from three (when I finished school) till nine in a mine and I was grateful for it!

 

[downtown]

ESPN the Magazine just published a story of a 16 year old boy who just finished his around the world journey. A guy a few months younger than him was almost done as well. Both kids had been sailing their entire lives and had exceptional equipment.

For a typical 14 year old, it is madness. For an exceptionally trained one with state of the art equipment, ok. Shoot, haven't 15 year olds climbed Mt.Everest?

 

[Mise]

In spirit, yes, they do.

Surely you think it's irresponsible to allow a 14 year old to travel the world by herself?

On a side note, you keep comparing this to clueless [adult] tourists and adult boat crew. But she's not an adult. That's the point here. When she's an adult (I think it would be 16 in the UK) she can make that decision, but not before.

 

[IglooDame]

Surely you think it's irresponsible to allow a 14 year old to travel the world by herself?

I think it greatly depends on the 14 year old in question.

On a side note, you keep comparing this to clueless [adult] tourists and adult boat crew. But she's not an adult. That's the point here. When she's an adult (I think it would be 16 in the UK) she can make that decision, but not before.

By all accounts she hasn't made that decision, her parents have. And as they are both familiar with the rigors of small boats at sea (and in port) and with their daughter's maturity, experience, and capabilities, I simply don't think they should be countermanded regarding this decision.

 

[nonconformist]

Seriously? You think she can't do the schoolwork at sea?

If she's anything like 99.9% of kids...then yeah, she won't work.

You think that her parents won't make sure she does do the work, just like any
homeschooling parents do?

"If you don't do your work, you get no TV privileges! Seriously, don't make me hire a yacht, and make me come all the way over there "

Abnd FWIW, I find homeschooling a pretty atrocious idea in the first place.

 

[Arwon]

This sounds like it'd be a lot of fun. Good on her.