Forget about too young, how about too small a boat?
Anyone know the record for the smallest sailboat to cross the Atlantic? (and by whom, and when)
Hey, remember that 11 yr. old girl who was going to be "The youngest girl to ever fly an airplane across the country..." ?? How'd that turn out?
I know a circumnavigation in an 8ft boat is recorded and I also recall some ocean journey (possibly a circumnavigation) in a 6'10" boat.
My son first took the controls of an aircraft when aged 6. By the time he was 14 he was happily performing stunts. At the age of 10 my daughter after 20 minutes instruction was happily helming a KL13.5 in Quiberon bay. So much so I set her off just her and her mother(qualified sailor but very uneasy about it). My daughter was calming her mother down! When exposed to challenging situations children can be incredibly adaptable when the fears of others are not imposed upon them. My fears are that the beaurocratic processes will crush the spirit in this girl. What we have not heard about is the backup and planning support for the trip. It is not two years 'alone' but a travelling experience by boat taking up to two years. Remember careful planning (timing, weather routing etc.) can be used to minimise risks. Psycological assessment!!!!! It would be interesting to learn what the psycologists would have said about Ellen MacArthur before she started her teenage adventures.
Cheshirecatman
