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A Look at the Pioneers of Teen Global Sailing
Published on June 12, 2010 By Sailor Cull In Current Events

LearnToSailNet Crazy, courageous, or something else, teens are casting off on a global sailing adventure.  With the most recent circumstance of Abby Sunderland, teen world circumnavigation is getting lots of press.  But this is not something new with the likes of Robin Lee Graham, who as a teenager set out to sail around the world alone, of 1965, and Tania Aebi who embarked on the same venture at 18 years of age in May, 1985.  Both achieved their goals and have excellent books ("Dove", Graham), ("Maiden Voyage", Abei) of their story. 

 I particularly was caught up in Robin's voyage as I was a teen as well and was up dated frequently by National Geographic Magazine who covered the story.  He was sixteen when he headed west from Southern California in his 24-foot sloop called Dove.  Unlike the record breaking non stop teen sailors of today, Robin was out to sea for 1738 days.   He stopped to explore, repair; took his time.  He met the woman he would marry and did so along the way.

Tanei, on the other hand, left from New York City Harbor heading towards Bermuda.  She had hardly any sailing or navigation experience and was not properly prepared for the voyage, but through her determination and common sense, she sailed back into New York City over 2 years later.  I have met Tanei a number of times a various boat shows where she and I both had booths selling our wares: her book and my Learn To Sail cdrom.

The recent press of the search and rescue of Abby Sunderland has brought critics out of the woodwork creating a controversy of the safety of teen world solo sailing.  They question the parents' responsiblity and judgement in letting them go, some even to the extent of questioning wheather they love the kid or notoriety more!

 Are they forgetting about Robin Lee Graham who was just 16 when he set sail?

And how about Tania Aebi, who with little experience, no GPS (same with Graham) and a boat that had factory defects that could have put her in treacherous situations? 

Right now Abby Sunderland, sure defends her right to sail at 17.  After all, her brother successfully did!

From her blog:

"There are plenty of things people can think of to blame for my situation; my age, the time of year and many more. The truth is, I was in a storm and you don't sail through the Indian Ocean without getting in at least one storm. It wasn't the time of year it was just a Southern Ocean storm. Storms are part of the deal when you set out to sail around the world."

Looking around I found that Robin Lee Graham, was the 1st recorded to set out..following:

Tania Aebi,  Age 18, Completion: 892 Days

Brian Caldwell,  Hawaii, US, Age 19 Completion: 477 Days,  

David Dicks, Australia, Age 17 Completion: 265 Days

Jesse Martin, Australia, Age 17 Completion: 327 Days

Zac Sunderland (Abby's Brother), California, US, Age 17 Completion: 327 Days

Michael Perham,  England, Age 16 Completion: 284 Days

Jessica Watson, Australia, Age 16 Completion: 210 Days

So what have you to say?  Are they too young?  Is it just a Teen Sailing Fad?  Should there be a minimum age for circumnavigation?  Feel free to post your comments.  Look forward to hearing from you!

Sailor Cull

Happy Sails to You! _/)__

Check out wikipedia.org for fabulous information on these adventurists

 


Comments
on Jun 12, 2010

There are no limits when your family is wealthy. Put Pedro on a log raft and world opinion would be much different.

on Jun 14, 2010

It is never safe.  The question for you (if you are a parent) is would you allow your child to do it?  Even with the most comprehensive training in the world, my answer is no.  There are too many unknowns and there is nothing you can do about it once they set sail.

on Jun 14, 2010

I've been thinking of writing a post about this very topic, you beat me to it.

 

Nitro Cruiser


There are no limits when your family is wealthy. Put Pedro on a log raft and world opinion would be much different.

Yes, you are very right, Nitro. This was going to be part of the post I was thinking of writing.  I do not think this is brave or courageous.  This is just people trying to make a name for themselves for being a neonate.  Aren't there better things for teens to be doing.

If I were some pirates, I would find these teens.  Their routes are always thoroughly mapped out.  You know that mommy and daddy obviously have enough money.  Now with the possibility of a book deal, heck, kidnapping them would just up the booking price.

I think Abby's brother saw some pirates approaching his ship.

Isn't there a wiser way to use your money.  In 10 years no one is going to remember any of those names.

A crappy used 30 ft boat would cost around $3000 to $5000.  Then there is the need to fix it up.  Probably be a couple tens of thousands of dollars.

I'm surprised no one has went from the northern most tip of North America and driven (with a car) to the Southern most tip of South America.  Or better yet the western most part of Serbia to eastern most part of Spain.  Oh yeah, most of South American countries wouldn't be safe for a rich teenager driving their car down there.

on Jun 15, 2010

What gets people excited about the whole thing IS the element of danger.

Sure, it is possible to do it. But it is an unnecessary risk, something can happen and your juvenile dies in the prime of their life (I wouldn't call a 16-18 year old child).

It is a perverse attempt at 15 minutes of glory (and it really is only 15 minutes, nobody will remember them in the long term).

Is it child negligence to do so? yes, yes it is. But if the "child" is legally an adult it is their choice and nothing you can do about it.

on Jun 15, 2010

Sure, it is possible to do it. But it is an unnecessary risk, something can happen and your juvenile dies in the prime of their life (I wouldn't call a 16-18 year old child).

That is it in a nut shell.  Some parents do not see exposing their children to unnecessary risks as life has enough.  Others think that since there is risk in every day activities, one more is not going to make much difference.

on Jun 15, 2010

taltamir
. But if the "child" is legally an adult it is their choice and nothing you can do about it.

Yeah there is, you don't supply them with the money to do it.  Force them to work for it on there own.  You don't provide any assistance at all.  I'm sure nearly all if not all of these parents have assisted in most of the project in various manners. I'm sure most of those kids probably never got told no before in their lives.

on Jun 17, 2010

Yeah there is, you don't supply them with the money to do it.  Force them to work for it on there own.  You don't provide any assistance at all.  I'm sure nearly all if not all of these parents have assisted in most of the project in various manners. I'm sure most of those kids probably never got told no before in their lives.

I didn't supply them with the money, nor did the government... their parents supplied them with the money.

I think you misunderstood what I meant by "You"; obviously "You" was not the parents, since the whole premise of the article is whether or not the parents who send their children on such a trip are committing a crime. Also, even if I was talking about "you" being the parent of a legal adult who wants to do that then not paying for the trip is not going to stop them from it. They will raise the money and do it anyways. (but still, you shouldn't pay for it).

As for the kids never being told no in their life... that is an interesting way to look at it. Most have come at it from the angle of the whole thing being the parents idea, who push this life endangering journey on a juvenile in order to give said juvenile and themselves 15 minutes of fame. You are the first to suggest that this is spoiled children demanding to do such a thing and their reluctant parents cave in and pay for it all.

That is it in a nut shell.  Some parents do not see exposing their children to unnecessary risks as life has enough.  Others think that since there is risk in every day activities, one more is not going to make much difference.

If that were true then there would be no reason NOT to smoke, since we are already exposed to carcinogens anyways.

on Jun 17, 2010

Sorry I didn't make myself clear.  I meant THE PARENTS should not supply the kids money.  I'm willing to gamble to say that most of those kids got A LOT of help from their parents.  If anything happens, the parents should be liable.  We shouldn't split the ticket by any means.  If our navy has to go get the child then the parents should have to fork over the money or reimburst the tax payer.

on Jun 18, 2010

If that were true then there would be no reason NOT to smoke, since we are already exposed to carcinogens anyways.

Some parents do  not care.  Again, it is a matter of parental choice.  I know my sister and ex both think that way!  I am of the other side that thinks there is enough risk.