<p>I noticed a similar incident occurred when Abby’s brother made his circumnavigation. </p>
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<p>I would think a boat capable of handling an around the world trip would be quite expensive.</p>
<p>I agree with barrons (and Hell has now frozen over).</p>
<p>interesteddad: “Was it? Or was it Dad’s passion? I mean what a coincidence that both of his kids had exactly the same “passion” to do exactly the same ridiculous stunt.” Exactly.</p>
<p>I hope she is rescued. But I find it outrageous that this family now expects Australian and French rescue organizations to mount expensive operations to find her. And the nearest boat (40 hours away!) is a private fishing boat. Is this fisherman (commercial?) supposed to drop everything and spend the better part of a week sailing to the part of the ocean where she is and searching for her, then sailing back??</p>
<p>Maybe she would have done it when she turned 18. But my attitude would have been the one I express to my sons when they talk about getting a motorcycle: “When you are an adult you can do what you want. Until then, no motorcycle.”</p>
<p>I hope she’ll be brought home safe and sound. But I can’t help thinking, “What did they think would happen to a teenager sailing around the world on her own?” It’s a dangerous endeavor, even for a sailor with twenty or thirty years of experience. This trip was the triumph of optimism over common sense. I can excuse the kid for that, only having had sixteen years of experience in this world, but I can’t excuse her parents.</p>
<p>The parents should be tried for child abuse.</p>
<p>I’m no sailor, but does anyone else know why is “by yourself” a goal? When I think of diving and climbing, I think doing it alone is not recommended. Is that the allure?</p>
<p>^^I am inclined to agree. At 16, they are still legally responsible for her wellbeing. She may have gone and done it at 18 instead, but at that point there would be nothing they could do. At 16, they are responsible for her safety. I can’t imagine a better way to throw that responsibility into the wind than letting her sail around the world alone. </p>
<p>And seeing all the idiot mistakes college kids are making as discussed on this forum every day, and how very desperately even the brightest and most extraordinary college kids still need their parents guidance to help them avoid stupid choices, I can’t imagine how a 16 year old was supposed to have the capacity to decide to take this risk. How can a 16 year old be allowed to choose to risk her life in pursuit of a record?</p>
<p>I saw this story on the national news this evening. They interviewed the brother and the mother. They both had the same nonchalant attitude of, “hey dude. it’s cool. she’ll get rescued.” That unnerved me, to see a mom not fretting at all, while I’d be making plane reservations to the nearest port. The news story concluded with, “What is the youngest age you’d let your child do this?” The story of Amelia Earhart flashed. I thought, why would anyone want to be in such a perilous situation, at any age?</p>
<p>I’m so upset about this. I can’t stop thinking about being so completely alone in a deadly situation - at the age of 16!!! Her parents have the awful responsibility for her disappearance; I wonder how they can live with it. Miraculous rescues and amazing survival stories have occurred at sea, and I hope we hear good news soon. But her parents infuriate me.</p>
<p>I saw an interview with the brother on youtube. Very casual, California surfer type. No agitation at all. He mentioned that when he did this a year ago, he had a problem with pirates!! Can any of you mothers of daughters imagine putting a 16-year-old girl in danger of running into a boatload of male violent criminals?</p>
<p>"He mentioned that when he did this a year ago, he had a problem with pirates!! Can any of you mothers of daughters imagine putting a 16-year-old girl in danger of running into a boatload of male violent criminals? "</p>
<p>Why do you assume the pirates were male? There are tons of late-night movies on CINEMAX about guys getting captured by female pirates.</p>
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<p>Oh pullease. Yes, circumnavigating the world in a sailboat alone is a dream. And you have a lifetime in which to pursue it. Here the dream was not that, but apparently to be “the youngest” to do so and only possibly with extensive aiding, and abetting by adults who should know better. A stupid, childish world record book goal. And what is the point really? If, as they argue, a kid is qualified to do what able adults can do, why is it impressive then that the kid is 16 anyway? It either IS or it IS NOT significant that she is only 16.</p>
<p>No amount of maturity and training in the world can protect a sailor from the capriciousness of the seas (or the weather of Everest). Yes you can reduce risk with skill and experience, but you simply can not eliminate it. </p>
<p>Yes, children’s lives- because they have their whole life ahead of them- are far more precious and valuable than old adult lives. </p>
<p>Why on earth would a parent allow a child- who isn’t legally able to make their own decisions, whose brain is not fully developed- risk the loss of another 70-80 years of life. It is absolutely beyond my comprehension.</p>
<p>The Sunderlands already risked one of their children to a solo sail around the world, why would they double the risk with their daughter too? Especially on such a lonely and dangerous voyage. </p>
<p>This reminds me of 7 year old Jessica Dubroff dying while her parents were pushing her to become the “youngest” pilot to fly across the US.</p>
<p>[Final</a> Adventure - Untimely Deaths, Coping and Overcoming Illness : People.com](<a href=“http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20141121,00.html]Final”>http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20141121,00.html)</p>
<p>In our house the conversation would go like this:</p>
<p>“Mom I’m going to sail around the world by myself.”</p>
<p>“Okay, honey. But first you will have to kill your father and I in order to get us off of the boat we just sold to the neighbor for a dollar. Go to your room.”</p>
<p>^^this house too</p>
<p>I certainly do hope she somehow survives…</p>
<p>No. I know. I very much hope she survives, as well. truly. Terrifying.</p>
<p>This is so sad, I hope I wake up tomorrow and read they found Abby and all is well.</p>
<p>Pretty sad to think that we so badly want our kids to become famous that we’d risk the life of the child. What’s wrong with our generation? I don’t even think it’s so special to be the “youngest” anyway.</p>
<p>I consider the parents guilty of child endagerment. No teen could do this financially without parental help, and yet no teen has the cognitive development to be able to do it alone.
I was a teen who lived and breathed sailboats and crewed for a neighbor just for the rush of racing… boats are wonderful.<br>
Sending your brain-yet-developed child on their own into danger is a crime. The frontal lobe just isn’t there until about 21-25.</p>
<p>I am so frightened for this young lady, alone in the ocean. Please let her be found alive.</p>