Would You Let Your 15-Year-Old Sail Solo Around the World?
Posted by Amber Robinson at 11:52 AM on May 14, 2009
Jessica Watson has big dreams. The 15 year-old from the Gold Coast wants to become the youngest person to sail solo non-stop and unassisted around the World.
Jessica has been sailing and racing dinghies since the age of 8 and has supposedly significant sailing experience in coastal and offshore passages around Australia and the South Pacific. However, a circumnavigation will cover about 40,000 kilometres and is expected to take Miss Watson seven to eight months.
Her parents support her in her mission – but family groups are decrying Jessica’s plan as ‘too risky’.
Bill Muehlenberg, secretary of the Family Council of Victoria, said the trip was “irresponsible”.
“It sounds fairly reckless indeed given that even old experienced sailors can get into a lot of strife,” Mr Muehlenberg told ABC radio.
“It is a hugely risky venture. Sure give her high marks for confidence and wanting to do something that nobody had done before but still I think it sounds fairly irresponsible to allow this kind of thing to happen certainly at this young age.”
Jessica has been inspired by Australian teen adventurer Jesse Martin, the youngest person so far to achieve the feat. He turned 18 on his trip.
“If something’s going to happen, Jessica can do it,” her father Roger Watson said yesterday.
“Jessica says she wants to inspire other young women.”
I too think Jessica’s ambition is admirable, but as a parent my first thought was ‘over my cold, dead body.’ The thought of my child out battling giant seas, pirates and her own loneliness is the stuff of nightmares. Obviously Jessica’s parents have worked though those issues.
Would you let your daughter – or son – attempt such a trip?
How utterly irresponsible and stupid!! Are the parents of this girl, aware that recently a gang of pirates, blatantly attacked a cruise ship? She is 15 years old, for heaven’s sake. Honestly, what does she really know about the dangers before her? For the parent’s to be “supporting, encouraging” this venture – to me – is akin to child abuse. A parent’s job is to nurture and protect. Not to send them out unto the wolves and hope for the best. I heard that the family does not have television?? Perhaps the should get one before she goes, they may learn something about the world. It is not all happy adventures and home comings. I, as a parent, would never forgive myself if my child perished. Perhaps the parents need to grow up, before they let their daughter out into the real world.
This just underlines how rapidly Western society has changed – 100 years ago women of fifteen (because that is what they were thought of) could go out to fulltime jobs, and at even earlier ages were starting families, working, getting on in the world. This is the case today in many non-Western societies. I am not saying that makes the choice of the parents in this situation right, but I think the shrill indignation in this case is a bit overblown. And anyway, at what age does a parent really let go and stop worrying about their child? I am guessing in my case it will be when my son turns 65!