The 16 yr old Sailor that was Rescued....

[sillysally]

For those that have not been following the story, here is the link:
Abby Sunderland, 16-year-old sailor, found after 18-hour manhunt, parents say she was prepared

Her parents are taking a lot of heat for this. Honestly, (maybe this is because I don't have kids, IDK) I don't see what the issue is. Yes, it was dangerous, but she was prepared. 16 year olds compete in rodeos, equestrian events, motocross, skiing, snowboarding, mountain climbing, hunting trips, etc, all of which are dangerous and could kill the participants. Heck, a 16 yr old probably have a better chance of dying while walking down the street in certain neighborhoods in Chicago.

Do you think her parents were wrong for letting her go?

 

[mom2dogs]

From what I read, the girl had extensive knowledge on the subject, and her family was involved with sailing (I didn't read that link, just going by what I've previously read). Some are saying she should have waited until she was a legal adult. But what would that gave changed?? It's not like it's some security blanket an 18 yo will be safer VS a 16 yo out at sea. Granted she would have had 2 more additional years to plan, but from what I gathered this wasn't an on the whim
"adventure?"

honestly, if I were to ever have children and they had the knowledge, skill, an dedication to have a dream, I hope I could be like those parents and let him/her go off to try and make it a reality. It's unfortunate something happened, but I fail to see where it's her parent's fault. If she would have been sucessful I'm sure some people would be singing a different tune.

 

[PlottMom]

Her parents are taking a lot of heat for this. Honestly, (maybe this is because I don't have kids, IDK) I don't see what the issue is. Yes, it was dangerous, but she was prepared. 16 year olds compete in rodeos, equestrian events, motocross, skiing, snowboarding, mountain climbing, hunting trips, etc, all of which are dangerous and could kill the participants. Heck, a 16 yr old probably have a better chance of dying while walking down the street in certain neighborhoods in Chicago.

This is EXACTLY why it was NO ONE'S fault. S**t happens. Yes, it was dangerous, but so is life. The girl was well-prepared, passionate about and VERY GOOD AT sailing - she was a lot better off than a heck of a lot of adults I know! And her brother did it too, at 17... she was just trying to beat his record Regardless, I think it's ridiculous people are blaming her parents. It ended well, because she WAS prepared for a disaster like this! She's fine, she's going to sail again, everyone wins.

 

[bubbatd]

I don't think I could do it .....I would have said " wait until you're 18 "

 

[elegy]

nope. i don't think they did wrong by her.

awhile ago i read a book written by a kid who attempted to climb mt everest at the age of 16. he didn't make it (he got caught in that same storm that the book into thin air was written about and a bunch of people died) but to have made the attempt is amazing to me. his parents made him raise all his own funds for all his various mt climbing expeditions (he got sponsors, but it wasn't easy for him), and supported him in everything as long as he was willing to put in the work and do it correctly and safely.

i cannot imagine having that much drive and determination to do anything at so young an age, but this kid had it. it seems to me it would have been a shame to deny him opportunities that he was ready for just because he was only 16.

but i'm not a parent.

 

[nancy2394]

there is no way I could let my 16 year old child sail solo across the ocean... that's just me. I don't see a difference between 16 and 18 years old. I guess it's just a safety thing in my eyes. I personally don't think ANYONE should sail across the ocean solo just for recreational purposes, it's just too much of a risk involved. In some ways, when you do stuff like that, it's like playing russian roulette with your life.

I'm so glad they found her, that must have been an agonizing 18 hours while they searched for her.

 

[Pops2]

i'd have been okay with it.

 

[bubbatd]

I said 18 because to let her parents off the hook .

 

[smkie]

THat is a no from me as well...I would also say wait until your 18. There is plenty of life time for that and 16 is imo still too young. AT 18 at least the parents would not be held responsible. I told my own children, tattoos, piercings, riding a motorcycle, all of that they could decide when the were 18. It was my job to get them to that age in one piece.

 

[*blackrose]

I definitally don't think the parents are to blame.

That being said, I agree with the statement that anyone sialing solo across the ocean for sport seems a bit fool hardy to me, no matter the experience or knowledge had. But then, I'm the kind of person that likes to have backup an any situation, let alone a potentially dangerous situation. lol

 

[nancy2394]

I said 18 because to let her parents off the hook .

oh I totally understand that... I was just trying to say that whether they were 16, 18, 40..etc, I think it's just too dangerous to want to sail across the ocean solo.

I am not a thrill seeker and I guess I have no overwhelming ambition to do something like that, so it's hard for me to understand why people would want to put their life at stake just to go on some big adventure.

I applaud her for having so much ambition and drive to want to accomplish something so huge so young in her life. It's just so scary to think that she almost didn't have a chance to even live her life yet.

There will always be thrill seekers, adrenalyn junkies, fly by the seat of your pants people..etc. I am just glad I'm not one of them, nor is my child..lol I don't think the parents should be getting the finger pointed at them. They were unselfish enough to let their child pursue her dream. I just know I could never be that unselfish if it were my child. The answer would have been a big fat NO a hundred times over..lol

 

[Buckshot]

Since parents are responsible for the safety of their kids until they are 18 and living in a society where everyone is on a witch hunt, I probably would have not allowed a solo journey of this type. If I could have gone as well I would have been all over it. A 16 year old kid driving a car is pretty likely to kill himself, but since it is the society norm it is okay, yet an unusual situation like this means the people can burn the parents at the stake.

 

[Miakoda]

When I was 15, that was the legal age to get your driver's license down here in Louisiana. Sure you had to take driver's ed, but there was no graduated license system; you got your license and you were free to go.

I was driving 16 miles one way all the way to the south side of Baton Rouge down the busiest highway (Airline Highway) every single day. Should my parents not have let me?

While I might've personally had a heart attack allowing my child to go sailing around the world at 16, I know my mom nearly lost it when my best friend and I decided to drive from Valley Cottage, NY to Baton Rouge, LA all by ourselves when we were 18 (I had flown up there). In fact, I made many road trips to the entire southeast and midwest regions between the ages of 16 and 18.

At the end of the day, the parents were not negligent IMO and people need to lay off of them. Let's worry about those parents who are not feeding or supervising or educating their children.

 

[PixieSticksandTricks]

For those that have not been following the story, here is the link:
Abby Sunderland, 16-year-old sailor, found after 18-hour manhunt, parents say she was prepared

Her parents are taking a lot of heat for this. Honestly, (maybe this is because I don't have kids, IDK) I don't see what the issue is. Yes, it was dangerous, but she was prepared. 16 year olds compete in rodeos, equestrian events, motocross, skiing, snowboarding, mountain climbing, hunting trips, etc, all of which are dangerous and could kill the participants. Heck, a 16 yr old probably have a better chance of dying while walking down the street in certain neighborhoods in Chicago.

Do you think her parents were wrong for letting her go?

I agree completely and don't think they were wrong at all. She was well trained and experienced. Which she proved by getting out her distress signal and staying in one peice.

I think no one has the right to judge the parents.

 

[happyhound]

I think one of the issues was that she was being sent through the Indian ocean during peak storm season. Which she would have had to do to break the previous world record on time.

 

[Doberluv]

there is no way I could let my 16 year old child sail solo across the ocean... that's just me. I don't see a difference between 16 and 18 years old. I guess it's just a safety thing in my eyes. I personally don't think ANYONE should sail across the ocean solo just for recreational purposes, it's just too much of a risk involved. In some ways, when you do stuff like that, it's like playing russian roulette with your life.

I'm so glad they found her, that must have been an agonizing 18 hours while they searched for her.

Me too. LOL. I just couldn't alow it...not that young and not solo ever, even when the kids would be 30. I can relate to your posts.

 

[release the hounds]

another case where everyone needs to mind their own business. The kid wasn't beaten, starved or sexually abused. That will bring the hammer of justice down everytime, as it should. Everything else is up to personal decision and everyone else should just butt the heck out and let parents be parents, regardless of how good of parents they are.

it's not like they set a 5 year old in a canoe and pushed her away from shore. I"m sure even at my age, in 16 more years I wouldn't know as much about sailing as this 16 year old girl.

I"m just glad she's safe.

 

[darkchild16]

I would let Bev if she could prove she knew what she was doing and earned the money to go and dealt with all the necessary things herself then yes. My dad would have let me too.

 

[Izzy's Valkyrie]

Didn't her older brother do that same thing at her age and succeed? It's not like she wasn't prepared and didn't have firsthand accounts of how difficult it could be. My dad and I talk about this yesterday at breakfast. He agreed that if I were in that situation where I was skilled enough to attempt that trip, he would have let me.

 

[Jules]

I think as a parent, I couldn't get myself to allow it. Personally, I don't care that they let her- the circumstances she was sailing into (haha) are way out of her hands anyway, whether she is 16 or 18.