My Bonnie lies over the ocean.......

JacoLesFlea · #1 06-11-2010, 09:23 AM

Glad she is ok

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100611/...t_sailor_found

EricF · #2 06-11-2010, 04:01 PM

In my opinon, allowing your minor child to take on an adventure like this is incomprehensible. Based on that article and others, however, it seems likely that she's as skilled and capable as anyone else - of any age.

I am glad to hear that she's safe.

Simo98 · #3 06-11-2010, 04:49 PM

Thats going to be an expensive rescue.

They had to send an international airliner out to spot her because she was so far out, over 3000km off the coast.

I can't even imagine been that far out at sea, let alone in a tipped up boat >.>

warwick.hoy · #4 06-11-2010, 05:02 PM

I'm guessing her folks will have no problem paying it off. Awfully nice of Abby to put other lives at risk. According to the article that part of the world is not exactly the most tame of seas nor is it the proper season to be in those seas.

Passinwind · #5 06-11-2010, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

I'm guessing her folks will have no problem paying it off. Awfully nice of Abby to put other lives at risk. According to the article that part of the world is not exactly the most tame of seas nor is it the proper season to be in those seas.

The Aussies are paying for it, not her parents. And the Aussies say they are OK with that.

burk48237 · #6 06-11-2010, 06:53 PM

I'm torn on this one. You can certainly make the argument that her parents are committing reckless endangerment to allow a 16 year old girl to sail around the world alone. OTOH, you have to admire her for her independence and bravery, and her parents for instilling that much self sufficiency in her. This wasn't a TV reality show, it wasn't the Hilton kids showing up at some party. She wanted to accomplish something of value that was difficult to accomplish. Not being a Parent myself, I'm not going to hazard a guess as to wether they were right. I suspect her "what did you do last summer" paper will be far more interesting then the other kids next year.

RS · #7 06-11-2010, 07:17 PM

I am all about challenging your kids and instilling them with courage bravery, and hope...but this is f'ed up.

EricF · #8 06-11-2010, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burk48237

I'm torn on this one. You can certainly make the argument that her parents are committing reckless endangerment to allow a 16 year old girl to sail around the world alone. OTOH, you have to admire her for her independence and bravery, and her parents for instilling that much self sufficiency in her. This wasn't a TV reality show, it wasn't the Hilton kids showing up at some party. She wanted to accomplish something of value that was difficult to accomplish. Not being a Parent myself, I'm not going to hazard a guess as to wether they were right. I suspect her "what did you do last summer" paper will be far more interesting then the other kids next year.

I am a parent, and this echoes my feelings better than I expressed in my previous post.

RS · #9 06-11-2010, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricF

I am a parent, and this echoes my feelings better than I expressed in my previous post.

I guess the question is than what sort of accomplishment is it to be the youngest girl to sail around the world solo? Fame, I guess. Lasting skills that transfer into adulthood? Not so sure.

fdeck · #10 06-11-2010, 09:15 PM

Parents let their kids play football. Just saying.

warwick.hoy · #11 06-11-2010, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Passinwind

The Aussies are paying for it, not her parents. And the Aussies say they are OK with that.

Hmmm,...must be a lot more going on IE some sort of Aussie sponsorship,...or just more than meets the eye.

If this was just something that the Parents financed though I'd make them pay for the rescue. Part of the risk.

As far as the onus of the parents,...meh,...I could care less. She makes it; she's got a great story. She dies; one less high maintenance princess out there.

Fassa Albrecht · #12 06-11-2010, 10:35 PM

Might be worth pointing out that no maritime agency or records office would recognize an age-based solo trip, so unless this is a time-based trip, where she's trying to beat the clock, even if she finished the trip, she wouldn't be recognized for it.

**Pacman** · #13 06-11-2010, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

Might be worth pointing out that no maritime agency or records office would recognize an age-based solo trip, so unless this is a time-based trip, where she's trying to beat the clock, even if she finished the trip, she wouldn't be recognized for it.

Guinness Book of Records recognizes it.

Simo98 · #14 06-12-2010, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

Guinness Book of Records recognizes it.

Apparently not (probably something to do with them not encouraging endangering your life in an attempt to break a record)

Jessica Watson recently did this, only finishing up about a month ago, and apparently can't get any recognition for it (being the youngest to sail around the globe) nor can she get any other record for time ect. within a maratime organisation due to being a minor.

That being said, she wasn't in it for the record anyway, that was just the media taking it for a ride :P

Skeletomania · #15 06-12-2010, 01:53 AM

Why does it always have to be a sail boat. If I travel solo around the world in a luxury yacht, does that not count?

Unrepresented · #16 06-12-2010, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Passinwind

The Aussies are paying for it, not her parents. And the Aussies say they are OK with that.

That's my biggest concern right now. I'm on the fence about whether it's appropriate or not for a teenager to do the trip solo. I'm not her parents, nor do I have any circumnavigating experience, so I'll leave that call up to them, but to knowingly risk the expensive international recovery if something should go wrong, seems irresponsible in general.

JimB52 · #17 06-12-2010, 10:29 AM

Her older brother did it last year, and briefly held the record for youngest round the world solo sail. I gotta think the parents are perhaps pushing a little.

EBodious · #18 06-12-2010, 11:06 AM

yeah, i have a bit of a pet peeve about people taking on these self-created challenges. you can do what you want with your life, but when the rescue team exhausts money, time, resources, and sometimes their lives to save you, i take issue. rescuers take great risks to save folks who accidentally find themselves in life-threatening situations. but if you choose to put yourself in one, that is different. and pretty selfish if you expect to be rescued.

as far as her being a minor, i do try to support parents making their own parenting decisions. clearly, she is well trained and 16 is "grown-up" even if she is still legally a dependent. the article makes clear that she is in the wrong part of the ocean at the wrong time of year. a foolish choice, but adult adventurers make similar foolish choices just as easily. i believe it was just last winter that the rescue team spent days trying to find two guys who chose to climb mt. hood in the winter.

a little while back i heard an interview with this guy:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/art...ant-to-inspire

he is gonna swim the english channel, bike to nepal, and then climb mt. everest. he is well trained and capable, but what struck me was when it came out that he has a wife and 2 yrs old child. again, its his life and his decision, but does he really want to sell everything he owns and put himself in that much risk when he has a little one to raise? i guess he does.

ok, so maybe its more than just a bit of a pet peeve...