100 years ago 16 year olds were not considered kids. Our society has stretched out childhood. I don't see anything wrong with letting a 16 year old attempt this if she is prepared. David Farragut entered the navy at 10 and commanded a whaling ship at the age of 12. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Farragut
Well, that's groovy and all, but Farragut didn't attempt to circumnavigate the globe by himself in a small boat at any age. Back in his day, he would have had good sized crews manning his ships, as well. I simply don't see the comparison.
People do these outrageous things today generally for money and publicity. I say she should sail around the world if she wants to. Just don't give her any publicity/money for doing it. I wonder then how many people would want to sail around the world. My guess it not many..
Lets propose it at our local schools, have the record for MOST 16 year olds crammed into a boat at one time sailing around the world. I does get lonely out at sea. Having 1/4 of your school's sophomore class out at sea can lead to fun and some good stories to tell later in life.
That's the thing. She was NOT prepared. If she was, she would know how to handle this situation, take all the necessary precautions. Have backups. Evidently, she's a capable sailor. She made it through alive. However, she was not prepared to handle these seas or she would've never gotten lost. Experience matters more than age.
You do realize that the sea has claimed the lives of lots of older alleged "prepared" people, right? Sometimes, mother nature just says...."MY HOUSE !" DD
A 16 yr old sailing a boat is a monumental accomplishment? What exactly has she accomplished and how has it benefited anyone? Quick poll: anyone here wish they did this as a child? Anyone wish they could have sailed a boat around the world? I may regret sharing personal details (which I've tried very hard to avoid) to 'prove myself' to a stranger on the internet with a delusional sense of achievement...But I quit a nearly 6-figure job to take care of my parents' business (and take absolutely no money for myself now) and simultaneously taking care of them while my mother has a serious, and possibly fatal health condition. Fingers crossed for the experimental treatment she's going through now. I also did the same thing right out of college when my father had cancer and eventually died from it. I imagine I'd have a pretty good career right now if it weren't for these 2 personal obligations. It has been challenging and fulfilling. I'm sure many of us here have faced personal challenges they did not get to pick. I did not get someone to fund a very expensive hobby and voluntarily chose to throw myself in a dangerous situation for fun or attention. At the same time I'm not breaking a trivial record or getting national attention, so I suppose I need to quit soon and get a sailboat ASAP for validation. On more light-hearted, fun 'professorjay' facts, I used to be a top national table tennis junior and state champ (nerd alert...let me have it). I've had one of my songs get airplay on BBC One radio. And I have the uncanny ability to get free t-shirts when they are thrown into large crowds (up to maybe 2000 people). Although I have not pulled one down in an arena setting like an NBA game. I imagine this will be my crowning achievement in life.
Evidently you have no idea what you are talking about. She was not in her predicament because she was lost but rather because the mast on her boat during a storm. Her boat being crippled was the reason she needed to be rescue not her being in need of directions lol.
Lost in the sense she had no contact with others and her position was unknown. Not in the sense that she sailed off-course, which I'm sure happened when she lost radar anyway. What was her backup plan in case she lost her radar? If she lost her GPS? Power? Engine broke down? She should've had somebody trailing her from the start.
I'm not a fan of Abby and her voyage, video interviews of her prior to her voyage left me unimpressed and skeptical... but more importantly her teams insistence on continuing with the trip despite numerous delays each pitting her in the southern oceans deeper into winter, seemed not only unwise, but seemingly showed a foolhardy & narrowminded focus on the beating jessica watson & the "record" (which is not official.) Despite these concerns however, i also dont begrudge or belittle her efforts once she got underway, not due to the fact that she is attempting to break some record, but rather because the girl is chasing her dream. That she is attempting to do something that might inspire others but perhaps more importantly inspiring herself. It is her life, her dream and as long as she is prepared, able and isnt forcing anyone else to do something against their will, i really dont have a problem with her attempt. The question of "is it a monumental achievement? what would it accomplish and how does it benefit anyone else?" are irrelevant and unimportant. People should pursue their dreams for themselves, for their own sense of accomplishment and perspective. Its hard enough pursuing dreams and finding purpose for oneself, I cant imagine trying to do it for other peoples motives. But in terms of a tangible answer to your question, google jessica watson and how she has inspired millions in her country. <object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8H53y5qU6DQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8H53y5qU6DQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object> The complication and difficulties with sailing solo on a small boat for any extended length of time is in the stress of dealing with solitude, lack of sleep, navigation (not in these cases tho) and PRIMARILY in avoiding other ships. Least of all is the need for a crew member during a storm, where all the competent solo sailor needs to do is tie and secure everything before doing the same to themselves below deck. Unless Abby sunderland was panicking and in desperate need of someone to keep her from leaving the cabin, having someone else with her during a storm would be of little help in regards to the ship making it through the ordeal. Lastly while i dont think its suitable for any 16 yr old to attempt something as this, I also do not believe that every 16 year old has the same level of aptitude or limitations. I tend to believe there are always a few exceptions, who unlike the majority are not only exceed the normal limitations/restrictions but of their ages but also the mental/emotional maturity of their experiences. Is Abby Sunderland an exception? Not sure... We know from her training and license that Abby sunderland had the aptitude and ability to accomplish her goal, but the question of experience, ability to endure and mental fortitude were IMO valid. However the fact that she has completed half her journey and then escaped from her ordeal unscathe seemingly answers those question.
This chick has more balls than any guy on this board. Most girls her age aren't doing squat. Good for her and her parents. Pushing herself to the limit at such a young age, that kind of ambition and fearlessness should be nurtured and encouraged. I imagine she will do big things.
So she was unprepared because she had no plans to rescue herself in the case her mast is broken? By that logic every single sailor who's boat becomes cripple is unprepared. By the way, her position was never unknown as she activated her gps when her mast was broken. Secondly that was her backup plan, signal for help. Even if the crew of the Americas cup team was with her, nothing else would have changed.
I already addressed this in an earlier post. I understand the desire to do whatever you enjoy, and to challenge yourself. Furthermore, there is benefit to give yourself the self-confidence in the future. I was responding to rage, who deems this as a somewhat heroic accomplishment that will dwarf whatever us mere mortals do. This is ultimately a personal accomplishment to benefit yourself. People have done better things.
You know what...**** it. I'll give up on my mother, let her rot to death, and go get a boat. Now I can do something really great.
Some New York Post sensationalism to the title.... Abby Sunderland's dad had TV deal as girl risked life at sea I guess its like those traveling circus daredevil families At least Harry Houdini was in his 20's when he started doing escape acts.
No, I mean deciding what the 'value' is of what someone has done with their life. I mean: "Better than anything you've ever done!" "Prove it to me!". Really? You are doing the same **** as anyone else, but actually worse, because at least other people realize that you don't have to go sailing to do something 'special'.
***BREAKING NEWS*** Somali pirates are in the immediate area of the of the damage sailboat. ***BREAKING NEWS***
I disagree and you got it wrong. It's not going sailing that is so special. It's the courage to do something that pushes the limit of human's endurance and capability that is special. That is of course better than 90% of what an avg Joe on this board is capable of doing. Worse than the fact that they don't try, they criticize someone who did. As you can see, after I challenge them to show me, how many actually have anything special to tell? It does not have to be by my standard either. Did I not say XxShadyPinkxX's friend is a special for what he/ she did?
