Okay...... that's it! I have officially designated myself, as an impartial, open minded individual, a moderate, middle of the road centrist to evaluate pragmatically and without prejudice on the merits of all the previously posted positions regarding whether a parent should let their 14 year old daughter sail around the world........ and guess what boys???? Mainesail is RIGHT! Thank you, very much.
Joe,
Thanks, BUT, I would have to disagree with that assessment because I don't see this as a right / wrong issue. I see it as a private family decision that does not warrant outside interference by those who don't belong making decisions for my family or anyone else's family for that matter.
I have a frind who's child is not allowed on boats by his mother. The father would love to take him fishing but the answer is NO. She thinks we are the most reckless parents on the universe because we sail with a toddler. She told us this one night at dinner. My only response was that I felt bad for Nolan for missing out on this time special with dad. I did not judge nor tell her that she was right or wrong, it's her kid, not mine. He does want to go fishing with Dad on the Mako someday but the wifes paranoia and "fear" of the ocean takes priority right now.
There are millions of family's who make bad decisions on a daily basis but it is none of my business to decide whether it is/was a bad idea or not. What is a "bad idea" to me might be a perfectly acceptable one to many others.
This is not a right or wrong issue IMHO it is a family matter to be decided by the family not the collective village. If my buddy Eric wants to stand up to his wife he has every right, I do not.
These topics get hotly debated because both sides feel very strongly. I feel equally as strong as those against this, only on the opposite side. Nothing wrong with either position except that with two sides both will have disagreement. These are just two opinions about what should be decided by the "village" and what should be left to the family..
I have a very different outlook on the ocean than most as I don't fear it. I was taught to respect it but never fear it. Fear only gets you into trouble and clouds your decisions in a time of need. IMO and experience fear is dangerous on the ocean as it leads to mistakes and panic. I have seen and witnessed this close up and personal and it made for a tough trip with one less crew than we planned on because they had a melt down out of fear. Many boaters I know, who did not start at a very young age, fall into the "fear" the ocean group rather than "respect" the ocean group. I happen to believe sailing is one of the safest forms of travel on the planet and I would highly suspect if we had stats it would rank it right up there. There are many who feel it is very dangerous but I know too many people who have collective thousands of years of experience, and no fatalities, or severe injuries that tell me otherwise. I also know MANY folks who have done extended cruises and/or circumnavigations and most don't even have but one or two "storm" stories as the weather prediction today is AMAZING compared to what it was.
When two of my friends did an extended multi-year cruise with their young child they were berated by even good friends who told them this was crazy, unsafe, child abusse etc. etc.. They still went. Today they are home and she is in high school, straight A's, and is well ahead of her peers on nearly every measure and is an incredible sailor with world wide experience most in her class will never have even at 60. For her age she is soooooo much more mature than the video game crowd it is like comparing / pitting Lance Armstrong against Rosie O'Donnel in a bike race.
As I said in the beginning this trip is none of my business. It does hit close to home as many of my parents friends berated them for allowing me to fish commercially & sail solo from a very young age. Some of those "nanny's"
could have ruined a great experience for me if my parents had been weak kneed and caved to peer pressure. Thank god they were not!
