I have raced sailboats, and have been a Mariner for over 35 years, and I can’t imagine why a caring parent would let their 14 year-old boy go out to sea for any reason. When did the kid start boating, at 10 years of age? It doesn’t make much sense, to me.
Kids that grow up on the water and have some boating experience would not be in much danger if they stay in protected waters, know how to read the weather and have a FM radio for emergencies.