Should 16-year-old be allowed to sail a yacht around the globe?

On Saturday, 16-year-old Jessica Watson sailed into the waters of Sydney, Australia, returning home after a 23,000-nautical-mile journey around the globe.

It was apparently a controversial venture right from the start. Watson hit the water Oct. 18, with her family being criticized for allowing such an inexperienced sailor to head out to open sea all alone. Watson’s parents countered that the teenager had been sailing since the age of 8, and that she was ready for the journey, which would take her through the South Pacific and across the equator, before heading south to Cape Horn at the tip of South America and across the Atlantic Ocean to South Africa.

My question to you: Do you think 16-year-old Jessica Watson should have been allowed to sail a yacht around the globe? What if it was your kid?

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Tags: 16-year-old, Jessica, Watson, a, globe, sail, yacht

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by stephanie on May 20, 2010 at 12:15am
individual insurance !
Permalink Reply by Ruins on May 20, 2010 at 7:16am
I Don't Think So but It's Up To The Parents.
Permalink Reply by Aubree on May 20, 2010 at 9:07am
Simply, no... even 8 years experience of an adult is a little shaky to go around the globe, it's incredibly difficult... not to mention the physicality of it, it's extremely hazardous and even some adults in the best shape of their lives can't do it...

That said, I guess the end justified the means... she did it, but it could just have easily gone the other way.
Permalink Reply by Eugene on June 10, 2010 at 2:06pm
Breaking news: California Teen Sailing the Globe Feared Lost at Sea. Now what? Are the parents at fault?
Permalink Reply by Eugene on June 11, 2010 at 12:52am
Update: Abby Sunderland is alive and apparently safe aboard her damaged sailboat [link]

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