I think its pretty clear its to take Greta back to Europe. It has the feel of a quick decision, but Im no mind reader so how would anyone know? But I think I recall reading an article (or maybe just a headline as I don't read articles about her) only a few weeks ago that she (ie her parents) were looking for a (free?) way to get back home.
Of the many things I don't know, so I am just generalising the comments to anyone, is if Riley and Elayna have done much in the way of cold weather sailing? Hasn't all their stuff been tropical downwind passages? As I look out the window of my boat in London... I can tell you that its cold, windy and wet and Im really not qualified to sail today. But virtually every day of the last month has been either cold, wet or windy, or all 3. Each week a gale/storm or crappy weather. I know London is a lot further north than Hatteras... but Cape Hatteras has a reputation for a reason. and that line Cape Hatteras - Bermuda - Azores - Spain/Gib is a line that storms start Great Lakes to the Caribbean and hit Hatteras and then turn on that line to the Azores.
Yes, they will probably be fine, a tad cold but thats just a bit of experience, go put on more clothes and hunker down. However the risk percentage is much higher than the 'proper' months to sail.
Now, a word about persuasion.... and this is not meant to be a politically loaded statement whatever... (these, again, are general comments)
We all know not to be locked into time frames imposed by friends and relatives, but sometimes we do get persuaded. Why? Because Great Aunt Betsy has a persuasive personality. (I have a mate who is an ex-police murder detective... he can fry my brain in 5 seconds)
I get the feeling that Greta's parents are very persuasive people and have taught the child persuasion. Otherwise how could she scream at elected politicians and gain some worldwide attention?
So I think its vital we guard ourselves in the future for people who might use some weird trick to persuade us to lock ourselves into their route or timing.
Again, I think back to those records to be the youngest to fly a plane across the usa, or sail solo around the world... Young male pilots would get younger and younger each year until girls took over and kept pushing the records younger and younger... In flying until a 6 year old "pilot" wearing a "Women Fly" hat crashed by taking off into a storm to make a media appointment.
Her death didnt stop the insanity. It only stopped when everyone refused award a record.
So it switched to sailing.... Until a little girl who was asleep when a ship crashed into her because she didnt put her AIS on... nearly died... and finally whoever records these 'records' told the world the would take no more records.
Now the world seems to be locked into the "Around the World without Flying" Google it!
https://www.bing.com/search?q=Around+the+World+without+Flying&form=OPRTSD&pc=OPER
Now the age is going down and down... so this week a 16 year old, next week, 14, week after a 4 year old politically savvy round-the-worlder-without-flying....
So, we need to be aware of persuasion in all its forms and ensure our decisions are *our* decisions and no one elses.
Mark