How to stop a little girl from going RTW

[ninky]

It would appear that she is an excellent sailor as suggested.

She is also probably at home with big sea's etc because of her upbringing.

What she does not have is experience of long periods being alone as far as we know. This, coupled with her age, could be a real problem. Many Blue Water people talk of being in company with Francis Drake etc. Could she cope with this ?

I hope she doesn't do it. If she does, I think say a two week voyage of some kind should be undertaken first. Difficult to see how this could work though with the probable massive publicity and pressure.

Why not just wait a few years to fulfil the dream ? Surely patience is another virtue for a thirteen year old to gain ?

what with onboard tinternet, a blog to maintain, sat phones, plus the fact she'll be the centre of a lot of media attention, i suspect this 13 year old could well be one of the least lonely people on the planet during her voyage.

 

[photodog]

Back to the original question....

Chain her to a radiator?

 

[curve]

what with onboard tinternet, a blog to maintain, sat phones, plus the fact she'll be the centre of a lot of media attention, i suspect this 13 year old could well be one of the least lonely people on the planet during her voyage.

A year into her voyage and she will mostly be forgotten until she is nearing her home port.

 

[bromleybysea]

The libertarian argument is a powerful one, but unfortunately there have to be limits in a civilised society, and one of those limits is the duty of the state to protect children from the consequences of their own lack of judgement and experience particularly if parents are unable or unwilling to intervene, and also to protect children from exploitation by others. This girl is still a child. We put limits on the things children can do for good reason, for example in sexual relationships. There is a strong argument that developmentally this is a bad idea- young teenagers need contact with their peers to promote self-confidence and emotional maturity. Most children of this age should be in school, not only for educational reasons, but perhaps more importantly for social reasons, to develop independence and social skills. By all means let her sail the narrow seas in the holidays if she wants to, encourage her to do it with a couple of like minded friends, and save the world-girding for later.

 

[cliffordpope]

if she is capable enough then fine let her do what she wants, if she dies in the process then who really cares "her parents" do, so it be on there heads says I.

I've had enough of this nanny state business its about time people started to do and feel what they need to do without feeling "Governed" the whole time.

So is there any activity that you think the state has a duty to intervene in, if the participants and their guardians find it acceptable, and the activity is otherwise lawful?

 

[ninky]

What she does not have is experience of long periods being alone as far as we know.

actually i think she does. anyway, how long is the longest leg? she is going to break her journey with stops.

surely it is up to the parents to judge? they know her better than we do.

 

[ninky]

So is there any activity that you think the state has a duty to intervene in, if the participants and their guardians find it acceptable, and the activity is otherwise lawful?

can't think of one....

 

[cliffordpope]

Not even Morris dancing?

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

let her go for heavens sake!
for all of you out there making noises to the contrary..... how many of you go out into your communities to try and help those poor kids damaged by broken homes or suffering forms of abuse or living on the streets?
be positive!..... she is!

 

[bromleybysea]

let her go for heavens sake!
for all of you out there making noises to the contrary..... how many of you go out into your communities to try and help those poor kids damaged by broken homes or suffering forms of abuse or living on the streets?
be positive!..... she is!

I do, and I have done so professionally in various roles for over thirty years, both working with children at risk, with dangerous families and now with adults who have harmed children, in a variety of forensic settings. I’m sure that this child is a competent sailor and can manage the practical aspects of sailing a small boat. I have also done some ocean sailing myself and am well aware of the different demands being alone in the middle of the Atlantic makes, compared with coastal cruising. She might, just might, be able to pull it off, but she will be very vulnerable, physically and psychologically, and no-one, and certainly not her parents, would be able to say with any degree of certainty that she would come through the experience unscathed. If she wants to be the youngest person to sail round the world then IMHO, that is a very bad reason to let her go. When she is older, and knows herself and the world better than she does now at 13, then she can make an informed choice and good luck to her.

 

[pragmatist]

This thread begins with "How to stop ..."

I don't suppose that any of us has all the info about this particular case but should we not be resisting the inexorable move towards individuals, and officials in particular, stopping people doing what they wish to do ?

If we start agreeing with those who wish to prevent this 13-yr old circumnavigating how long will it be before someone tells us we're not fit to go to sea ? The French already do it if you have insufficient lifejackets, safety kit etc. The New Zealanders prevent you from leaving if they think you're not fit/kitted out.

So if you wish to leave single-handed or if you're over 60 or you aren't in perfect health/fitness... then should the authorities be entitled to stop you ? or me ?