Posted on 06/14/2010 9:50:22 AM PDT by Ron C.
Here's a dose of reality.
The father of teen sailor Abby Sunderland told The NY Post that he's broke and had signed a contract to do a reality show, "Adventures in Sunderland," about his family of daredevil kids weeks after she set off on her doomed and dangerous solo sail around the globe.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I disagree with that.
However there is a young 15 year old, Laura Dekker, that will now try this. And you know that someone younger would try to break her record if she makes it. Where does it stop?
I’m an overprotective mom. What can I say? :)
Gee, that could happen to anyone. Even a 30 year old man trying to sail solo.
It will stop when somebody actually dies, like that young girl trying to be the youngest to fly across the US crashed and died.
They've been infected by fame fever..This poor young girl must be rescued from her balloon headed evil parents!
Stop the madness!
Back when Farragut was sailing, 10 and 12 year olds were working 10 hour days too. There is no comparing the different generations of young people as it's apples to oranges. Abby also had all the highest tech toys available to her which made up for any lack of skill.
That’s what scares me.
Yep asteroids hit the ocean all the time, also there’s always the danger of seaquakes, giant serpents, runaway icebergs.
I agree for the most part, and appreciate your gracious response.
Some FReepers, though, are denigrating this young woman, essentially calling her an illiterate slut. Not cool.
I have seen no such thing posted. Got a link?
That's a good thing, right? We all "lack skill," and rely on tools to help us achieve our goals.
Well, if they die in the attempt, they do leave their kids in harm's way, and expect everyone else to foot the bills and clean up the mess.
Because I can't see them with the ability to do much physical work or sign any checks.
Maybe Child Services should prohibit parents from taking on any life-risking record breaking attempts. Astronauts, test pilots, Evil Knievel, etc.
One guy implied that she probably *does* know how to put a condom on a cucumber ... wink, wink. Others questioned if she read anything or did any schoolwork on her boat.
Yes, some FReepers are unfairly demeaning of this woman herself.
Where is this coming from? Typically a mast lost at sea is a result of a knock down, or roll over, which usually doesn't put the crew in danger of being hit. Cutting it loose from the vessel requires bolt cutters, or hacksaw, and working on deck in high seas can be tricky & dangerous. A mast on a 12 meter sailboat hitting anyone on the head would kill them ... even a glancing blow.
Yep. It was all Abby’s fault that his ‘bulletproof’ boat got damaged.
“Maybe Child Services should prohibit parents from taking on any life-risking record breaking attempts. Astronauts, test pilots, Evil Knievel, etc.”
Back in the day....parents used to sign permission slips, now our fellow “conservatives” want the government to grant the permission to the parents.
“It’s for the Children”
I think Ms. Sunderland had no business being in those waters in the dead of winter, and that any competent team would not have attempted the passage.
Ms. Sunderland did not make that decision alone. At best, it was based on unfounded optimism, but more likely it was based on a too-aggressive attitude toward the trip, coupled with a severe underestimation of how badly the conditions could deteriorate. They may also have wanted to avoid "crushing" Ms. Sunderland's dream.
In any event, it was a foolish decision. The dream was crushed regardless, and she could easily have lost her life.
I am all for her to be homeschooled, but to be sent off around the world by herself? What is she was taken by pirates? That is happening right now. She could have been raped by any number of people out there on the open seas. I don’t even have a problem with her doing this by the problem I have is that she went by herself. Could her parents not have sent one of them with her or another adult that is trusted by the parents. There were many ways to do this, but they did not chose to do it that way. Not sure what Catholic School has to do with this...I guess I went to Catholic School by myself on occasions...
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