I've just heard on the radio that 13 year old Laura Dekker has been taken into care by Dutch authorities to stop her sailing around the world and becoming the youngest to do so!
Is this the right thing to do?

Cheshirecatman

We are all different. If she is mature enough and have the skills, let her go. Only the parents know her well enought to make the evaluation. The social workers probably dont understand anything about the ocean or sailing so now she will never be allowed to go before she is 18.

We are all different..

You could not be more wrong about that statement... Only SOME parents would have the wisdom to know. And seriously W.T.F. does a 13 year know about life and death??? She can't drink, get married or join the armed services but she can sail around the world??? What am I missing here?

When the parents are idiots the government has to step in. It's unfortunate but it happens and the sad thing is it's often too late. This is simply a desperate plea for attention by the parents nothing more.

Happy Friday.

Aren't 13 year olds supposed to be in school?

Hence, "It takes a village to raise a child." Parenting is viewed as right but should be treated as a privilege. The father should be the one ordered to have therapy.

Guiness Book of Records should also be ashamed for establishing "Youngest Teen" category for solo circumnavigating the globe by sail.

No, I am not wrong, but have an opinion differing from yours.

And that my friend is why we have child services in the states.

Randy Smyth probably could have done it at that age. He was younger than that, wasn't he, when he sailed an Aqua Cat to Catalina Island in some race?

I don't think the "village" can or will do a better job of raising children. Thats a catastrophe waiting to happen. Have any of you ever been on a board or head of a group? (I know, most of you have, its to make a point...) Most of these groups have tough times making difficult decisions. They are always trying to avoid confrontations, of course you won't see that here! My point is the "group" will never send a "child" out to play without sanitizing the areas to make sure they won't get hurt. Sure a 13 year old is normally not able to do this task, physically and mentally. But as a person that does not even remotely know about the girl, as most people providing input, how can I/we decide what she can do? Also, I read that she will be sailing with a group of boats, so theoretically she won't be alone, just by herself on the boat.

JMO FWIW

Clayton

Okay Mary, lets say the kid does it and dies... what's your position then?

I dont think I am your friend, at least not in the context you use the word now.

By the article and little information there is, she seems competent. Only the parents knows. It dont look like a case of neglect or bad intentions. It does not say anything about what the plan was.

And here I thought you were all for personal freedom and responsibility, but not when you disagree in the parents conclusions?

I dont have a problem with anybody disagreeing with me, but you piss me off with your attitude.

I hadn't heard about that. I'd love to know the details. I can see it now... Set adrift on an Aquacat as a baby and raised by dolphins and seahorses to come back to civilization, open a sail loft, and dominate US multihull sailing. That would go a long ways in explaining his prowess.

Ding an attitude ...NAAAHHHH ,come on. Be careful Rolf, he cries easy.

The "village" is not in lue of parenting, just to prevent the extremes. The article link provided said nothing about a floatila. In that case, there is a "village" to ensure the minor's safety.

Ok, so who will define the extremes? Someone in the village? I may be wrong in the statement about a floatila (I won't go back to look for it) but, "IF" there was that might be the parents safety net.

IN MY OPINION, its not a good idea, but thats just me.

Peace,
Clayton

To compare a sail of 26 miles to Catalina and an around the world solo sail, just doesn't seem right.

13 yr old female is going to be more capable of this task than a 13 yr old male. I think Rolf is right, the parents and the child know what is possible. We in the US cannot compare our children to a dutch child. The social and economic situations are very different. The dutch as I understand really respect the family unit and embrace it. Parents and children interact far more than US families.

Its too easy to say she should be protected for her own safety, its her life and her dream. If she dies its her own decision. Live and let live!!!

Is Randy Aquaman?

Oh yea.. back to the topic.. IMHO...
i think its crazy to let a teenager circumnavigate. they do not have the ability (in most cases) to comprehend the finality of a poor decision out there. If an adult makes a "sound decision" that puts their life in jeopardy.. they have made a choice. if a minor dies because they made a bad choice, the parents are and should be responsible.

I am almost ALWAYS bothered when i see children charged as adults.. regardless in the crime. The reason their are child courts is because it is believed children do not have the capacity to act as "reasonable adult" would and should.

I know when i was a kid (only a year ago or so) i had a very skewed idea of life and death and mostly my own immortality.

PS i am not a parent.. but i did stay at a Holiday Inn last night

Just curious, if you follow the thread on the 2 guys on a cat going across the Atlantic, how would a 13 year old handle that kind of $#%^. Especially in a boat that will probably have a tough time getting out of its own way!

Call me a wuss, I'll stick to my "safe" stuff. I don't need no village to tell me so!

Clayton