[sailingdog]

Exactly how is he a minor??? He can legally vote, own property, join the military and go off and get shot up in some foreign land... While it would be better if he had more experience, I'm pretty sure that he will learn a lot on the trip, both about sailing and about himself. Granted, the captain is going to have to do some more intensive training and handholding until he gets up to speed... but unless he's truly stupid or incompetent, he should be able to handle it.

Originally Posted by otaga05

I have to disagree with the majority of the sentiments expressed here. This sounds like a profoundly stupid thing to do. I really have to wonder what the delivery skipper is thinking. At very least I would sit down with the young man and make sure he knows what he is getting into. At 20 he is not an adult, and legally he is still a minor. It is easy to assume that even if an inexperienced sailor is not helping, he will not be a liability, but that is just not the case. I once had to deal with an inexperienced sailor on a crew of four who hurt himself on the third day of a long crossing when he moved about the cabin without holding on properly in rough seas. He was making dinner and was thrown across the cabin and landed on his back on the stove. Broke the stove and hurt his back. He was out of action for the rest of the trip and not only were we down to three people to stand watch, but we had to expend time and energy we didn't have to care for the injured crew member. What will he do if he is on watch the second day out with an experienced crew member and his partner goes COB? He won't have a clue how to get the boat back to him and by the time he wakes up the sleeping crew and gets them topsides the COB will be sleeping with the fishes. On a crew of four everyone should know how to handle the boat by themselves and skipper a COB recovery. I wouldn't take a 20 year old with three days of sailing experience off shore if you paid me, for his sake and for mine. The question you have to ask yourself is how will you feel if this Adolescent gets hurt or causes another crew member to get hurt and you just kept your mouth shut. So maybe you piss off a your neighbor and his kid, so what, they will get over it. If it bothers you, speak your mind.