General Discussions => General discussions => Topic started by: Julie Marie on August 28, 2009, 11:35:52 AM Return to Full Version

Title: Parents Want Their 13yr Old Daughter to Circumnavigate the Globe
Post by: Julie Marie on August 28, 2009, 11:35:52 AM
Dutch delay 13-year-old sailor's worldwide trip
By MIKE CORDER, Associated Press Writer   – 1 hr 14 mins ago

UTRECHT, Netherlands – A Dutch court ordered authorities to take temporary guardianship of a 13-year-old girl on Friday, delaying her plan to sail solo around the world until psychologists can assess her capacity to undertake such a risky voyage.

Judges said Laura Dekker would face both mental and physical risks if she were allowed to go ahead with the two-year trip in her 26-foot (8-meter) boat named Guppy.

Full Article (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090828/ap_on_re_eu/eu_netherlands_young_sailor)

And people are worried about parents allowing hormone blockers for their trans kids?

I've done a lot of sailing in my life and I know how dangerous it can be.  And I understand the lure of attempting something few have done and succeeding.  But you have to weigh the odds and be prepared to accept the consequences if the odds are stacked against you.  A 13 year old is not mature or knowledgeable enough to do this.

What are these parents thinking?  But once again, the Dutch do the right thing.

Julie