14 Years old and wanting to sail the world...

[speed_monkey]

After hearing the debate on the BBC radio....

Would you let your daughter sail around the world for two years on her own?

I must admit I would let her go as long as I was safe in the knowledge she had a 'panic' button (so to speak) to call for back up/ help if things go awry.

So what do you think?

[Maxf]

No, she should finish school and A-levels (if she's academic) and then do all the sailing she wants.

[NitroNick]

I thought she was 13.

ETA http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8226196.stm

Edited by NitroNick on Friday 28th August 13:03

[The jiffle king]

14 years old going away for 2 years around the world. It´s not the sailing, but the mental strength to be able to cope with the loneliness, the lack of socialising and growing up etc...

This is only 5% about sailing, but mainly about her growing up

[6655321]

She should finish her education. Yes, it would be nice to break a record, etc, but you can't give carte blanche for kids to go off on a jolly, and neglect their education.

[sublimatica]

6655321 said:

She should finish her education. Yes, it would be nice to break a record, etc, but you can't give carte blanche for kids to go off on a jolly, and neglect their education.

The planning, preparation and execution of a large-scale project like this could be a better education for an ambitious teen than the one-size-fits-all state education system.

[6655321]

sublimatica said:

6655321 said:

She should finish her education. Yes, it would be nice to break a record, etc, but you can't give carte blanche for kids to go off on a jolly, and neglect their education.

The planning, preparation and execution of a large-scale project like this could be a better education for an ambitious teen than the one-size-fits-all state education system.

That's all very well, and good, but she needs her education.

[anonymous-user]

sublimatica said:

6655321 said:

She should finish her education. Yes, it would be nice to break a record, etc, but you can't give carte blanche for kids to go off on a jolly, and neglect their education.

The planning, preparation and execution of a large-scale project like this could be a better education for an ambitious teen than the one-size-fits-all state education system.

Isn't she a private school pupil?

[buggalugs]

The Girl said:

"I want simply to learn about the world and to live freely."

Gotta respect that.

eta, Her parents think she'll be OK, she wants to go, theres a fair chance that she'll actually make it too so at what point do you stop interfering in peoples lives for 'their own good'?

Edited by buggalugs on Friday 28th August 14:05

[ofcorsa]

The jiffle king said:

14 years old going away for 2 years around the world. It´s not the sailing, but the mental strength to be able to cope with the loneliness, the lack of socialising and growing up etc...

This is only 5% about sailing, but mainly about her growing up

2 years at that age without any social interaction IMO could be seriously damaging

[Cotty]

No way, to young.

Mind you how are they actually going to stop her. Shirly it is just a case of her undoing a couple of ropes and "see you".

Edited by Cotty on Friday 28th August 15:35

[900T-R]

el stovey said:

sublimatica said:

6655321 said:

She should finish her education. Yes, it would be nice to break a record, etc, but you can't give carte blanche for kids to go off on a jolly, and neglect their education.

The planning, preparation and execution of a large-scale project like this could be a better education for an ambitious teen than the one-size-fits-all state education system.

Isn't she a private school pupil?

Private school? In the Netherlands? Fat chance.

I agree, the whole venture will be far more educational than learning how to txt spk in the school yard and watching Idols XVIII on telly. There's nowt I learnt in secondary education that had any real bearing on my further education and that I couldn't have learnt far more quickly and more painlessly later on.

Edited by 900T-R on Friday 28th August 14:19

[Evel Knievel]

I do think she's far too young, but regarding her education she will have plenty of time to study schoolbooks, if she is that way inclined.

[Rude-boy]

My initial reaction was she should finish her studies first really.

Then I thought about it. I would hate seeing any child of mine do this, but would be massively proud to support them in doing so.

The I thought of a friend of mine who went off to what was effectively a desert island with her parents for a year when they were 14.

She graduated top of her class a GWU and 2 years out of uni is earning a staggering amount of money doing a job she loves.

[merc_man]

I'd vote for the "It's up to her parents" in this case.

She obviously has the skills and aptitude. Doesn't apply in all cases obviously.

[becksW]

She's only 13. I couldn't imagine my parents letting me do something like that. How is she going to be strong enough. Another couple of years and she would be so much better physically (and probably mentally) to cope.

I don't know about schooling, she could catch up but still don't think she should be allowed.

[mechsympathy]

She's 13, I'd question whether she has the mental strength to deal with the solitude or the physical strength to deal with an emergency, nevermind the experience.

A panic button is all well and good but how long was Tony Bullimore in an upturned boat before he was rescued?

[Frankeh]

bks to that. She can do her a-levels and then she can do it if she wants to.

[G_T]

If she understands the risks and the parent support her decision then I say let her go for it. I went for the panic button option although I doubt she'd be doing anything under radio silence or without GPS so it's abit of none option really.

Far too many people thinking for her if you ask me. You'd wrap us all up in cotton wool.

[Gedon]

mechsympathy said:

She's 13, I'd question whether she has the mental strength to deal with the solitude or the physical strength to deal with an emergency, nevermind the experience.

A panic button is all well and good but how long was Tony Bullimore in an upturned boat before he was rescued?

It doesn't matter, people don't need nanny thinking for them.