Would You Let Your 16 Year Old Sail Across The World Alone?

[canada-goose]

I wouldn't do that! She must be pretty brave to do something like that....or pretty dumb. Kind of cool, it's like something in a story!

 

[saddina]

Depends on the 16 year old. At 16 I had more sence than many people in thier 20's, at 9 my son just finished a long study on the finer points of enclosed sustainable ecosystems, kid easily knows more than many adults on physics, biology and zoology. When he is 16 if he had the shot to appily some of that knowledge in a way he was passionate about, I'd let him go. It makes no sence to encourage his studies and training, and then say "not now" because he hasn't reached a magic number. Now many other 16 year olds are no where near that level of compitence, and they are better off at home.

 

[Rosalind]

Depends on the 16-year-old. There are some I'd like to see given a one-way ticket to the moon.

 

[HorseFeathers]

I'm still a minor, but my family and I lived for two years on our sailboat and if I was a parent I'd have to thing looooong and hard about it... too many creepy encounters...

 

[joebryant]

There were several times when my son and daughter (same birthday one year apart) could have gone to the moon alone when they were 16, and I'd've provided the mode of transportation.

 

[ranchhand]

I grew up sailing on a cruiser every weekend and sometimes for weeks/months at a time. I've lived and traveled in Europe and South America. My answer? No.

Not until many years of maturing and training have taken place. Dad needs to get his head out of her glory and rejoin the real world.

Not unless she's licensed to carry concealed and extremely well trained in self defense, rescue from both ends of the situation, radio operations, navigational mathematics, astronomy, survival in extreme situations and of course, sailing above and beyond the average cruising sailor. And let's not forget social skills in foreign countries, language skills, ability to shop and cook....well, the list goes on.

What I see is my nephew in the US Coast Guard risking his life to rescue another starry-eyed sailor who wants to circumnavigate the world.

 

[wombat]

It would depend on their maturity and expertise.

It's still one of the most dangerous undertakings in the sporting world. Have you ever seen video of extreme sea conditions around Cape Horn? Personally, I think you've have to be crazy to solo that, but I suppose if you're 16 and been sailing your entire life, have plenty of open water solo experience, and its your dream, I wouldn't tell you no.

 

[wombat]

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[wombat]

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Daddy better have money, it takes over a year to sail around the world solo. Who's gonna pay for that camera crew for that long?

btw - it's been done by a 17 year old. He ended his trip this past July. I think he was 16 when he sat out and 17 when he ended his trip. He used the Panama Canal, though ... no Cape Horn.

 

[Elite Silkies]

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I agree........... I would have to say No. I don't even think I would attempt it at my age. Too many people out there looking for people to harm.