http://abcnews.go.com/2020/abby-sunderland-possibly-lost-sea/story?id=10877108 Casher told ABC News that he last spoke with the 16-year-old sailor around 6 a.m. PDT after she had been knocked down twice during the night because of strong winds -- meaning that her sail had touched the water. One of those knock-downs, Casher said, ripped the radar off the boat. She had been speaking with Casher on a satellite telephone earlier because of engine problems and was in the process of fixing those problems when she told Casher she'd call right back. She has not been heard from since, except for the distress signals. Abby is approximately 500 miles north of the Antarctic Islands on her bid to become the youngest to circumnavigate the globe in a sailboat, solo.
What could go wrong with a 16 year old sailing around the world on their own? I'm afraid we may find out. Hopefully they find her and she is okay.
Yes, another girl completed it just before her 17th birthday and her brother did it last year I think around the same age.
not to sound completely insensitive, but it was just a matter of time before one of these kid's would end up "taking one for the team", and putting an end to possibly the most unnecessary, irresponsible trend that i've ever heard. if she's dead, her crappy parents deserve the same fate.
No doubt about it.....the ship will stay afloat even capsized, but if she is in that water, she would die fairly quickly. Don't these things have homing devices? DD
Taking it a bit far on the parents, but something was eventually going to go wrong, especially as younger and younger people try. I agree that it is terrible, and very irresponsible of the parents.
Do you believe that there is a certain age at which "something" is no longer "eventually going to go wrong." We are talking about something incredibly dangerous here. If a person is ready they are ready. If they aren't, they aren't.
Interesting point. I was not really thinking of it from the "not old/mature enough to truly understand the gravity/consequences of the decision." Something to ponder. Rep given.
Simply put, I don't think anyone should be trying it, and as long as you can prevent your child from doing so, you should.
