“The whole thing smells”???
What smells? The girl had a dream... The girl succeeded in working out a way to finance her dream.
Her parents have obviously raised some extraordinary children who want more out of life than a “participation trophy”.
To set a record that a 15 year old will break? And then a 14 year old? How young shall we allow them to be to sail alone simply so they can say "I DID IT!"?
I’m all for making dreams come true and individual initiative, but this girl is very, very lucky to be alive. Her father and mother need to behave more like responsible adults.
Her father says he’s broke, and news articles mentioned that they have 7 kids with another on the way. Time to thank God for the wife and kids and take on another job to pay the bills. It is NOT time to send your 16 yr. old daughter around the world in a small sailboat so you can stay home making babies and watching the cash roll in from endorsements and commercial ventures.