Posted on 06/13/2010 6:52:35 PM PDT by naturalman1975
That girl must have an industrial strength guardian angel, which is the only reason she didn't end up as shark chow. She was knocked out by the wave that broke her mast and lay there unconscious for who knows how long. During a raging storm. God loves that child, and He protected her. I just have to wonder if her parents would have let her go, if she were their only child, rather than one of eight.
Probably the same place they got the money to insure the venture against something bad happening, like having to be rescued.
Looks like the Aussies have a different take on the situation...thank goodness they have not become a bunch of wimps whining about people taking on challenges. So the case is closed as to who is paying for the rescue.
I remember reading Thor Heyerdahl's Kon-Tiki when I was in fourth grade...it has been an inspiration all of my life...people taking on a challenge, not because they have to, but because of the challenge itself. Western Civilization set itself apart because of this mindset...know of any great African seafarers? I hope she tries it again.
I have to agree. This stunt was for nothing more than personal conquest and/or fame. I'm not going to assume one or the other, but a 16 year-old girl sailing around the world contributes nothing to the greater good of man. I'ts been done countless times before.
It's true, doesn't matter what got her there, the rescue goes forward and anyone called on should respond as if it were their own family. It's the way things are.
Having said that, making an assumption of entitlement like this family did should be frowned on in a serious way. They should be taken to civil court and billed for it... even if they can never pay it all back, they shouldn't profit from this at the expense of the folks who dropped everything to save her butt.
Almost immediately after the kid was saved, the parents put up a website begging for donations to retrieve the boat.
I haven’t heard of any similar effort to collect funds to reimburse any of the kid’s rescuers.
Yep, Magellan first sailed around the Cape of Good Hope at age 17.....if these nanny state freepers had there way he would have been home playing video games with his Mommy making him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich....with the crust cut off of course! LMAO.
But was he 16 at the time of his voyage?
“Surely there is some way to require an insurance policy or bond for this sort of thing.”
There probably was not an insurance company willing to insure it. The odds were too poor, plus they wouldn’t want to cooperate in a teen girl’s risking her life for braggin’ rights.
I wholeheartedly concur. And I can't help but wonder why this thing wasn't fully insured. It's another indication that they expected everybody else to pull their fat out of the fire when and if things went wrong.
Not to mention we sent adults into space, not children.
American Sailing Association would say the same about Columbus and Vespuci.
Wimps.
Columbus was sent here to expand the richness of the Spanish Empire and he did not do that for purely altruistic reasons himself.
As many had risked everything to build this nation for personal gain as did those seeking sanctuary and a new start.
Insult? This young woman, regardless of anyone else around her, embodies that spirit. She was no ignorant foolish girl, for such a child would not be able to pilot a sailing vessel around two continents.
Good question, Mrs. Sunderland. How much did you collect from sponsors for her to do this? I guess that was your price.
““What price would you put on a child’s life?””
At 16 she has every right to risk her life!
Yes, but not alone & not trying to set a record.
This brat wasn't trying to discover anything, other than fame.
Magellan was born in 1480, he sailed around the world and reached India sometime in 1521 are 1522. Now if you can add you will see he was in his forties.
These parents are lower than whale poop. I wish the authority that recognizes records in sailing would make the boat put up bond for any cost related to rescue or admin expense for a country. Plus require 18 years old as the entry level.
I am so frosted about this. Sending your kid to her potential death is child abuse in the first degree. The kid failed, was behind schedule, put in for repairs and was then advised by her father to continue the march. Put those parents in a Dingy in the middle of the Southern Ocean in Winter. Let’s see what hero’s they are. That girl was facing weather worse that what crashed her for the next two months.
Honor the rescuers. The fishing boat crew that got her lost production, and the captain, almost his life. Fell into the water. I’m hot about this.
Fortunately, that's not how it works but a little more humility and appreciation for what they have done for this woman and her child isnt' too much to ask.
Try this biography of Magellan that says he sailed around the Cape of Good Hope at 17:
http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/projects/renaissance/magellan.html
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