The news of Dutch authorities preventing a 13 year old from sailing around the world hit the headlines this week.
13 year old Laura Dekker from The Netherlands has been stopped by Dutch authorities from embarking on a long-term lone sailing trip (with assistance) that would potentially break the world record (currently held by a British 17 year old who broke the record this week which was previously set this July by an American 17 year old!) And they say teens these days have no ambition!
(The term "with assistance" refers to sailing alone but stopping at ports when necessary, for repairs etc. )
Laura Dekker has already sailed from The Netherlands to England alone, but was taken into custody due to being in a foreign country, as a minor, with no parental supervision. This action caused Dutch courts to look into her situation and once they learned of her plans to embark on an around the world trip, they stripped her parents of sole custody. The courts and parents will share custody while the child is evaluated in terms of her mental and physical abilities to take this trip alone.
The child has her parent's full support to sail around the world and has been sailing alone since she was six years old. She spent the first four years of her life living on a boat.
The American teen who broke the world record this June saw many difficulties on his travels - one being a near miss with pirates. I heard his interview on NPR and while he enjoyed himself, it's a very difficult trip with potentially deadly consequences.
The British teen who broke his record this week has warned that just being a good sailor isn't enough. The person needs to wear many hats including an excellent working knowledge of mechanics, carpentry as well as electrician skills and more.
A person would also need the wherewithal to deal with being attacked by pirates or other criminals on the high seas, in addition to the dangers of treacherous weather, and mechanical failures. Loneliness and isolation are also important factors.
And with all these teens breaking this particular record this year - experts worry that the notion of fame and fortune may be getting in the way. They say that while it's great to be the first or the youngest or the fastest to do something, there are real dangers involved that can be ignored in favor of glory. Just because someone is physically capable of doing something, doesn't mean they should.
However, this child does have excellent sailing talent and the backing of her parents. The Dutch courts will make their decision in a couple of months to determine if she can go ahead with the trip. If they refuse, the girl's family have indicated that they may relocate to New Zealand (where she also holds citizenship) and try from there. But New Zealand authorities have implied that they may also get involved to possibly stop her.
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Would you allow your 13 year old daughter to sail around the world, if she had the sailing expertise? Why? Why not?
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It's a rare young teen who is mature enough for such an undertaking, and I fully agree with disallowing it. Some people are just out there to prove something, to be the youngest to achieve something. Robin Lee Graham was 16 when he sailed the Dove on a solo trip around the world, but even this experienced sailor had lots of issues.
I used to sail, when I was a teen. But, rule #1 was to never go out alone, rule #2, never go out alone without an auxiliary engine. I was only crossing the Channel from Redondo Beach to Catalina Island and back, some 22 miles, and it wasn't fun when the currents turned against us (common in that channel).
I seriously doubt a 13 year old girl would have the mental strength and wherewithal to accomplish such a feat on her own. She would require a support team following her around. Plus, the physical strength it takes to sail high seas is more than some men can handle. I don't care how skilled she is, she's still a girl - and a perfect target for atrocities that men would inflict against a female. Sorry to say it, but, let's get real.
There are other ways a young girl can make her mark on this world. Why not teach underprivileged kids how to sail?
August 31, 2009 - 4:34pmThis Comment
This reminds me of Jessica Dubroff.
She was the 7-year-old who was attempting to be the youngest person to ever fly cross-country. Her parents were completely supportive, saying that Jessica lived for flying and was an excellent pilot. (She was so small, however, that she needed a booster seat to see out the front and extenders to reach the pedals). She wasn't even flying alone -- her father and her flight instructor were with her. And even so, they misjudged a weather situation and all died when their small plane crashed in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
I remember hearing on the radio that they had crashed. I was amazed at the seeming stupidity of the situation, and the waste of life! All she got was 7 years, because they just couldn't wait. This story about the 13-year-old feels just the same.
I have a niece who will be 13 in a couple of months. She's tall, strong and lithe, and I suppose if she'd been sailing since she was 6, she would be an excellent sailor. But she's a KID, in so many ways. Kids lose focus. Kids get sleepy. Kids get homesick, tired or bored. What if she fell overboard while working on a sail? What if she ran into pirates? What if she cut herself quite badly? Does she have the mechanical skills to fix a gauge that breaks or the strength to bring down a sail in a storm? And perhaps even more importantly, does she have the judgment needed to know when to sail and when to stop?
I agree with Miscortes -- 13 is too young. I hope the courts rule that she should wait.
August 31, 2009 - 9:17amThis Comment
There is no way that I would allow my 13 year old sail around the world. There are way too many things that can go wrong and mother nature is one of them. What would happen if something did happen?
Think of it this way, there were 4 NFL Football players that were off the coast of Florida and 3 of them never made it home. These are men that are in good shape athletically and could not control their destiny's at the rage of mother nature.
My opinion, wait until she is older. There is no need for her to be put in harms way.
August 30, 2009 - 9:57amThis Comment