Jessica Watson

[erikdj]

Originally Posted by Stillraining

Unless you have heard differently ..they are not letting her sail though.

Good. Finally someone has some sense. There's enough armchair sailors and sponsors who seem bent on vicariously living through this child.

[artbyjody]

Is it society, common sense or discrimination.

Historical question - what age was Christopher Columbus when he first set sail and then discovered Americas..

[erikdj]

Originally Posted by artbyjody

Is it society, common sense or discrimination.

Historical question - what age was Christopher Columbus when he first set sail and then discovered Americas..

The average lifespan of a man in the 15th century was 30 years. I'm not sure that's a fair comparison. The age of consent for marriage was also 12. Not sure we want to roll back to that either.

[artbyjody]

Originally Posted by erikdj

The average lifespan of a man in the 15th century was 30 years. I'm not sure that's a fair comparison. The age of consent for marriage was also 12. Not sure we want to roll back to that either.

And your point is - dismissing a right of passage because of age alone.. seems barbaric in a way... because historically - history is defined by those young because they didn't have the life to look forward to...

[erikdj]

Originally Posted by artbyjody

And your point is - dismissing a right of passage because of age alone..

I agree with you in part. It's not her age alone, but coupled with her seemingly lack of poor judgement in the incident that left her dismasted. Her own log stated that she saw the freighter on radar at 2am and noted that she went below to take a nap. She collided less than 15 minutes later.

So from that I conclude (as did the Queensland maritime authority) that at her age (maturity level is perhaps a better word), she lacks sufficient experience and judgement to proceed safely.

Not every 16 year old is the same. But this one sure seems pretty immature and inexperienced.

[artbyjody]

Originally Posted by erikdj

I agree with you in part. It's not her age alone, but coupled with her seemingly lack of poor judgement in the incident that left her dismasted. Her own log stated that she saw the freighter on radar at 2am and noted that she went below to take a nap. She collided less than 15 minutes later.

So from that I conclude (as did the Queensland maritime authority) that at her age (maturity level is perhaps a better word), she lacks sufficient experience and judgement to proceed safely.

Not every 16 year old is the same. But this one sure seems pretty immature and inexperienced.

I am 40 and ran aground at something documented. Your pint point is? Age is not relevant... experience is or desire to gain it.. I rest my case..

[erikdj]

Originally Posted by artbyjody

I am 40 and ran aground at something documented.

We all make mistakes, certainly--I won't debate with you on the example you raised. There are simply too many factors and really not germane to this topic. But I doubt you looked out at a beach off your bow, shrugged your shoulders and went below to fix a cocktail. Jessica's error was egregious and demonstrative of someone who is inexperienced or lacks clear judgement. Either of which is correctable with time and a lot of sailing.

I hope she succeeds in circumnavigation some day. But it seems that this particular 16 year old child needs more time and experience as master of her vessel.

[artbyjody]

[quote=erikdj;538251]We all make mistakes, certainly--I won't debate with you on the example you raised. There are simply too many factors and really not germane to this topic. But I doubt you looked out at a beach off your bow, shrugged your shoulders and went below to fix a cocktail. Jessica's error was egregious and demonstrative of someone who is inexperienced or lacks clear judgement. Either of which is correctable with time and a lot of sailing.

I hope she succeeds in circumnavigation some day. But it seems that this particular 16 year old child needs more time and experience as master of "

You would be wrong - my running aground.. see the BoatUS story sept edition, sometimes mistakes are not the lack of experience but more of circumstance regardless these are are the tools to learn from..

Even me - can see it.. cut her some slack..

[erikdj]

Originally Posted by artbyjody

You would be wrong - my running aground.. see the BoatUS story sept edition, sometimes mistakes are not the lack of experience but more of circumstance regardless these are are the tools to learn from..

I looked up the September 2009 issue but couldn't find a story that sounded like the one you described. If you have a link, you can PM me, I'd be interested to read it or post it here if you don't mind. In any case, we obviously differ in our interpretation of what happened to Jessica the first day she was out on her boat trial. I don't think that in her case it was a matter of circumstance, but of negligence. There are things that are beyond our control (the weather being a sailors biggest), but we mitigate those risks through action. A lot of the choices we make are based on knowledge, skill and experience (like not leaving at the peak of hurricane season, etc).

You're not the first person to interpret or dismiss the incident with the freighter as something beyond her control and, indeed, I hope you're right. Because if not, then only blind luck will keep Jessica safe, and as those of us who sail know, there isn't a whole lot of blind luck to carry one around the world on a boat.

[seabreeze_97]

With age comes wisdom. How many times have we heard that? I look back at things I did 20 years ago, or things I said, attitudes towards things.... I come to a situation that was similar to something many years ago and think, now when I was 20 I would've just......, but now I'm gonna do this.....and it's usually less inspired. I feel the same concern for any youngster's safety, but it's ONLY because I've been around long enough to see the dangers for what they are. Anyway, I thought we were supposed to be developing into a more enlightened society, not a nanny planet. Isn't it better that these youths go on their adventures with the support they have, than have them steal away in the night, alone? If some kid said they were gonna sail away with no support, some would decry them as being so foolish when there are such great support methods in place. Here, we have kids that are willing to take the challenge, and despite having worldwide support in some form or another, they're called foolish for thinking such a thing. Maybe they won't all make it. Maybe they're not supposed to. That's life. Remember?