Teen Sailor's Rescue Raises Safety, Expense Issues

[sneuman]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127775304

[kd3pc]

Good article, although I was surprised by Jobson's and Larson's comments - both sailors...

We (the US) spend tons on "at risk" kids who never amount to anything, we spend even more on college costs for kids who are not ready for high schol let alone college.

I say rescue her, or any one else who is out there in eminent danger and has adequately prepared - as she did, she was well trained, in shape and did not panic...she did what she was supposed to do. Unfortunately Mother Nature had different plans.

Perhaps insurance, don't know who would touch a risk like this...is an idea whose time has come. A big thank you to Quantas for diverting a flight and to New Zealand, Chile and Australia for doing the big rescues down under.

I would hope that the US will ignore the armchair sailors and Monday morning quarterbacks and continue the long standing tradition of stepping up. I know as a sailor, it is my duty to help and assist, and would expect the same from my peers.

What say you all?

[MikeClements]

Originally Posted by kd3pc

Good article, although I was surprised by Jobson's and Larson's comments - both sailors...

We (the US) spend tons on "at risk" kids who never amount to anything, we spend even more on college costs for kids who are not ready for high schol let alone college.

I say rescue her, or any one else who is out there in eminent danger and has adequately prepared - as she did, she was well trained, in shape and did not panic...she did what she was supposed to do. Unfortunately Mother Nature had different plans.

Perhaps insurance, don't know who would touch a risk like this...is an idea whose time has come. A big thank you to Quantas for diverting a flight and to New Zealand, Chile and Australia for doing the big rescues down under.

I would hope that the US will ignore the armchair sailors and Monday morning quarterbacks and continue the long standing tradition of stepping up. I know as a sailor, it is my duty to help and assist, and would expect the same from my peers.

What say you all?

Couldn't agree with you more.

[KeelHaulin]

Maybe they will forward the bill to her parents; since she is still a Minor. That might put a stop to round three by the Sunderlands (younger child or grand-child).

[WanderingStar]

I don't see how a 16 year old could possibly have the neccessary experince to sail the world alone. She's too young to use a credit card or buy a cigarette. There's reason we don't let children get married: lack of judgement. This was a reckless stunt from the start.

[Boasun]

Originally Posted by WanderingStar

I don't see how a 16 year old could possibly have the neccessary experince to sail the world alone. She's too young to use a credit card or buy a cigarette. There's reason we don't let children get married: lack of judgement. This was a reckless stunt from the start.

She had the experience before she set sail and garnered even more during this attempt to sail around the world. She is the second child of her family that tried this... Her brother succeeded in his round the world sail.

I felt that they choose the wrong boat for this. That boat was designed for racing and usually carries a much larger crew. She viewed this jaunt as more of a race with Jessica Watson in having the shortest time of rounding the world. And that what caused them to pick a sailboat built for racing. While the other girl, Jessica, choose a much older proven seaworthy design; Yes it was slower and had been knocked down eight times during that trip.

But I do support a teenager in going for a worth while dream. Some become artists, some musicans, some in sports, those are their dreams. Then you have the kids that race dirt-bikes & miget racers, skateboard, and other extreme sports where you can be injured or killed. And I won't even go there.

But when a girl is out on the ocean single-handing a sail boat, she is far far away from ham-handed sex crazed boys and expensive shopping malls.

[sailingdog]

I'd second this... and point out that they only bought Wild Eyes in October, giving Abby less than FOUR months to gain experience on the boat and become familiar with it and its systems. I'd also point out that some of that four months the boat was in transit and not available to Abby. Also, her leaving when she did was not very good planning IMHO, though it was a necessity due to her wanting to make the "youngest" achievement.

Originally Posted by Boasun

She had the experience before she set sail and garnered even more during this attempt to sail around the world. She is the second child of her family that tried this... Her brother succeeded in his round the world sail.

I felt that they choose the wrong boat for this. That boat was designed for racing and usually carries a much larger crew. She viewed this jaunt as more of a race with Jessica Watson in having the shortest time of rounding the world. And that what caused them to pick a sailboat built for racing. While the other girl, Jessica, choose a much older proven seaworthy design; Yes it was slower and had been knocked down eight times during that trip.

But I do support a teenager in going for a worth while dream. Some become artists, some musicans, some in sports, those are their dreams. Then you have the kids that race dirt-bikes & miget racers, skateboard, and other extreme sports where you can be injured or killed. And I won't even go there.

But when a girl is out on the ocean single-handing a sail boat, she is far far away from ham-handed sex crazed boys and expensive shopping malls.

[WanderingStar]

All of which reflects a lack of judgement.
I rest my case.

[RichH]

From a posting that I made on another BB -

"Its very very sad seemingly that americans have become so frantically 'risk-adverse' so much so that they are now apparently radically limiting their own and others individual ability to dream and pursue such dreams.

One has to wonder about a nation with 1 lawyer for every 250 citizens, consumes perhaps 15% of the 'private sector portion' of its GDP in 'risk prevention' and probably will soon almost prevent any 'unsupervised' purposeful human activity ... because there may be someone doing a perceived harm, somewhere?

Eventually, one can place a bet, that Sunderlands parents will be called into a courtroom ... for child abuse, for risking a personal catastrophe, childs 'truancy', etc. In the USA the 'government now must CONTROL everything'.

Why do americans need to micro-control virtually every action and thought of human activity? Is it a national disease this almost national prohibition on living ones dream? Most importantly, doesnt this idealogue-esque addiction of micro-management and control greatly lessen the personal FREEDOMS upon which your very country was founded? Very Sad, very very SAD.

Yes indeed, Sunderland is a hero. She's become one of my heros ... her exploits have increased my desire to dream larger dreams."

-------

If Columbus was a present-day american, he probably would have only discovered Genoa.

All that said, I agree that the cost of the rescue should be paid by Sunderland Family. They accepted the risks involved which then put others at risk during the rescue; and rescues can be VERY costly. Ive been in "Rescue" for over 40 years ... and do get sometimes quite pissed when I have to put myself in jeopardy because of lame-brained and foolhardy 'adventurers'.

[mitchbrown]

RichH has expressed my feellings on the matter quite well. I would add that as a tax payer I already pay through the nose for the coast guard the local police the FBI the local fire department the local E911 system and any other form of rescue that may be used so they will do the job that they we pay them for without complaining. I can assure you that if they make jessicas parents pay for a rescue that we already payed for that your taxes wont go down.

Mitch