girl solo sailor epibs went off this AM

[Jim in CT]

Any parent who would even consider allowing their 16 year-old to do this is bonkers. This is a case of parents wanting their kids to think they're "cool", instead of being parents, which is about more than being liked.

I can easily see why a kid would want to do this. That's precisely why kids need parents, and the parents are supposed to be wiser than the kids. Not in this case.

This really, really frosts me. They are unimaginable morons. They'll probably react by saying "it's great she got to die doing what she loved", or some other such nonsense.

[nightfighter]

Solo offshore voyage goes against any premise of good seamanship in my book. Nevermind a circumnavigation.... and that goes for the whole lot of them, from Joshua Slocum, to Chichester, and Dodge Morgan too.....

[nightfighter]

Back to my original response;

Originally Posted by nightfighter

Solo offshore voyage goes against any premise of good seamanship in my book. Nevermind a circumnavigation.... and that goes for the whole lot of them, from Joshua Slocum, to Chichester, and Dodge Morgan too.....

I, too, was doing a lot of offshore stuff at 16, some of which my parents could never have known what the real deal was. (Likwid has found out about my younger wild days of running race boats...) But, no way I would have considered, nor been allowed to do a solo beyond a day trip. Despite the sailing resumes on display here, I haven't seen anyone put down any extended solo experiences. Going offshore is no joke, for anyone of any age. Even if I had a kid that had the complete toolset, the experience, the mental toughness as well as the mental health that it would demand..... I'm not letting him/her go and do it. I love my kids too much. They have the rest of their lives to pursue adventures. They can pursue that one when they're truly mature and can also contribute to the necessary banking it would require.

[likwid]

By the time I was 16 I had more miles offshore (and standing watches on my own) than most people ever will in their lifetimes.

To make blanket judgements upon the parents or whomever is ignorant and stupid.

So Sandman, according to who is RTW by 16 a "holy grail to sailors"?

Where's the outrage over the 14yo or whatever climbing Everest? Thats pretty stupid considering you ARE dying at that altitude.

[nightfighter]

[QUOTE=likwid;772979]By the time I was 16 I had more miles offshore (and standing watches on my own) than most people ever will in their lifetimes.

QUOTE]

You know my resume, I know yours... But we're not talking solos... I would not put a kid in the Southern Ocean alone at this time of year. I saw it once, in the summer. That was enough to convince me I need never go back there. And that was on a 60', with 11 in crew.

[likwid]

Originally Posted by nightfighter

You know my resume, I know yours... But we're not talking solos... I would not put a kid in the Southern Ocean alone at this time of year. I saw it once, in the summer. That was enough to convince me I need never go back there. And that was on a 60', with 11 in crew.

My weather router says "its a bit rough but manageable".
Been on the sat for 2 days trying to fix the engine, maybe she's giving up?

[FishermanTim]

I would like to know what experience this kid has to warrant allowing her to do this alone. I can't believe that at 16 she has had enough experience to venture out solo. I know people have had sea-worthy experiences in their early teens, but I doubt they were solo ventures out into the open ocean for a intercontinental voyage.

I also thought that the 14 yr. old climbing Everest was idiotic as well.
Hell, it's idiotic for adults as well.
They had a show on a year or so ago about one expedition on Everest where people died and almost everyone suffered disfiguring frostbite on their face, hands and feet. These same people say they don't regret it (Sure, one adventure has changed your life FOREVER, and not in a good way, and you don't regret doing it?)

But back to the oceanic adventure....If she is found and rescued safely, she and her family should be MADE to pay for the rescue.
If she isn't found, they should pay for the attempt just the same.

If you can't afford to pay, you can't afford to play!

[Mr. Sandman]

Likwid....I'd just knew you would reply!!!

Again, I don't care how many at sea hours a person has... solo RTW contests are not a good idea. I agree with you on Everest but most of those are not solo. I also think if they rescue someone from extreme mountain climbing they should pass on the rescue bill to them. Same thing for the guy who rowed across.

As you know from all your hours at sea, unforeseen stuff can happen which can not easily be resolved with one person on board...even with the best planning and best equipment. It will be days before they reach her and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in rescue operations.

The girl from Australia recently made it and I followed her all winter online. Thought she was nuts as well as her parents but it was entertaining.

[nightfighter]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

Likwid....I'd just knew you would reply!!!

Yup. Just waiting for his reply to being referred to as ignorant and stupid

[likwid]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

As you know from all your hours at sea, unforeseen stuff can happen which can not easily be resolved with one person on board...even with the best planning and best equipment. It will be days before they reach her and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in rescue operations.

Yeah, so? Itsh happens. Boats break. Things break down. Suck it up with a cool head. Welcome to the game.

And I'd bet the number of stupid calls the USCG gets between BB and Vineyard Sound each summer costs more than this one girl will cost the French Navy.