16 year old solo circumnavigates the world

[boxtops]

would you let your 15-year-old do this? I wouldn't! http://www.google.com...N0053391327172910450A

[emmie]

I would, she must be an exceptional sailor, i have read Helen Macarthurs book, she was another with such talent and natural ability. You can't a stifle your child, and even at such a young age she like Helen Macarthur must know what they want out of life and how good they are. Doesn't mean to say that you don't have fear that they will have an accident or worse.
I know i would feel that and more, but would let my child do it.

[emmie]

if you read how long she has been sailing, she has a rare talent so good luck to her and hope she goes on to have a good life doing the thing she loves.

[boxtops]

The Guinness Book of Records aren't acknowledging, they don't want to encourage youngsters to try to beat this. It seems very young to have the physical strength, plus the ability to manage mentally being on your own for so long in a strenuous situation.

[emmie]

That may be the case, but to do this feat must take enormous courage, and one is not cut off from everything and everyone, the equipment they carry sees to that. It sounds hair raising, and i expect it is, but it has nothing to do with the guinness book of records, she would have done it whether they were involved or not i'm sure. Perhaps get a copy of Helens book and see how she did it, might not make you change your mind, after all your child is precious no matter the age, but you get a better picture of the rigours and difficulties, those she surmounted by dint of will. I am sure many parents would be horrified, but quite frankly more danger of being killed riding a horse, and does that deter parents from putting a 5 year on a pony?

[ludwig]

Honestly, I wouldn't let my child do it - irrespective of how good a sailor she was.

As soon as she's of age to choose to go herself, then that's her business, but I couldn't live with myself knowing that I could have prevented her going and she didnt come back.

[emmie]

ludwig, so she goes at what age 18, 20, if so and then has an accident, wouldn't you still feel the same? would you also have said the same if it had been a boy, after all they get up to some hair raising stuff.

[Anlyn]

It's an amazing story and her family and friends can be very rightly proud - now that she's made it back in one piece....
But at 15? ...to set out around the world alone...noooo (imo)

[RATTER15]

Her school said she should be at school, I agree but she has carved out a career that will see her though her life and her book (which she will obviously write) will probably make her a small fortune.

No I could not let my 16 year old do that, way too dangerous.

I will buy her book I expect, an amazing book for sure!!

[emmie]

Ratter, so let her ride a horse instead and get hurt or killed that way. All life has danger, so i am a lone voice well never mind, still think it's a brilliant achievement

[RATTER15]

em, I actually think horse riding is a very dangerous sport/activity, not any where near as dangerous as going around the world Solo, at least with horse riding, help is just minutes away, Generally speaking. not really a fair comparison.

[RATTER15]

Its way more than a brilliant achievement, I think what she has achieved is fantastic and amazing, I just couldn't allow my 15 year old to take such a huge risk, her death would never justify that achievement, and her death was very much a possibility.

em10, do you have a Daughter?

[emmie]

but what makes anyone think help is not far away if she been in trouble. With the kind of equipment they carry she isn't out of contact with shore, or any of the services that could come to her rescue for long. I would have to reread Helens book. there were some very dark moments in her journey, not least when the mast broke and she had to shin up to the very top and fix it, and even she admits to being scared, and often lonely, that must come too, and doubt, but the achievement goes way beyond anything the majority of human beings will ever do. I would still let her, perhaps preferring she was older, but she is an exceptional girl.
As to the comparison with horse riding, if a horse rolls on you, very rarely does the rider escape without serious injury or death. I only used that as an example of a dangerous sport that very young people are involved in.

[naomi24]

I'd rather she waited until she was a bit older. If memory serves, I wasn't the same person at 15 as I was at 20 - and apart from that, I'm a worrier! :o)

[RATTER15]

*behaving*

[murraymints]

no no no no no no....

[emmie]

ratter, strange to be so rude at all, why?

[boxtops]

I agree there is radio and GPS, but you only have to have your electrics go down in a storm and you can't contact anyone in the world, and nobody knows where you are. I'm not interested to read the book, em, it's not my cup of tea - it's the concept of letting a minor sail off into the sunset, round the Horn, across the Pacific, which I think is wrong - and I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one.

[RATTER15]

em10, im sorry if you think im being rude, im just finding you very argumentative this morning and wont accept others opinions.

If I am wrong, please accept my apology.

[anotheoldgit]

Seems incredible that there are umpteen things one cannot do under a certain age, yet this life threatening pursuit was allowed to go ahead unheeded.