Jessica Watson has started...and stopped

[30boat]

[/QUOTE] without an AIS transmission from the ship, my little kitchen alarm, set to remind me to take a look in a few minutes time, would have been preferable to whatever systems, she was or was not using, that were onboard.[/QUOTE]

That's what I use.Never fails to work.

 

[puddock]

Personally, I don't think the issue is an age related matter.
The more questionable part seems to be the motives of those 'in the background'. Stinks of the whole 4/5 year old beauty pagent circus we see in the States - the mothers seem to be more into the whole thing than the kids do.
That it is personal opinion and obviously we are all entitled to our own interpretation, so I am not saying that any of you are wrong in what you say.
I find it highly commendable whenever I see youngsters who are willing to get out there and give something a go - we could do with a lot more of it, especially in the UK.
On the other hand, getting out there and giving it a go, does not necessarily mean becoming an instant celebrity, complete with sponsors etc.