Family of teen sailor jubilant on news she is safe

[Karen]

Silly girl for the earth is flat ya know, there are dragons and water monters in the ocean. Flight is a fantasy and the moon is made of cheese.
All great explorers where called crazy and fool hearty in their time.
Is there any one here regardless of age who would try this feat or are we all too scared and just arm chair critics?

And what about sending our children off to war, is that not a million times more fool hearty and dangerous?

The soldiers in our military are volunteers, and serving the country. Her journey served no one but herself, and her own desires. Please do not compare the two.

She is not in the league of the great explorers like Magellan and Columbus, she was not sailing off into the unknown, and bring back news of new lands.

I know my capabilities, and sailing a boat is not one of them. It is not fear that keeps me from attempting that, but self-knowledge, and responsibilities here on land.

I am glad for her sake that she is safe, and applaud those who rescued her. They are heroes.

[Marigold2]

I believe that when ever someone sails off on a long trip it is to a great unknown. Same can be said for walking across the US or biking across this country you go into the unknown with weather, nature and man, all the elements are there to be a blessing or a curse.

The soldiers in our military are volunteers, and serving the country. Her journey served no one but herself, and her own desires. Please do not compare the two.

She is not in the league of the great explorers like Magellan and Columbus, she was not sailing off into the unknown, and bring back news of new lands.

I know my capabilities, and sailing a boat is not one of them. It is not fear that keeps me from attempting that, but self-knowledge, and responsibilities here on land.

I am glad for her sake that she is safe, and applaud those who rescued her. They are heroes.

[Alysser]

Maybe I'm speaking from the minority here, because I usually am, but I don't think it was foolish to let her do something like this. She's experienced, she knew what she was doing. No she didn't have all the experience she could've but I doubt the parents would've let her go had they not trusted in her skills. Would you say the same for a 60 year old who has had one year sailing experience? Experience beats age, in my opinion. Maybe I'm just sick of people telling me what I can't do simply because of my age and medical history.

I am glad she got rescued and everyone involved is unharmed.

[Marigold2]

When I was 17 I went to Germany be myself for 6 weeks. I lived with a great aunt I had only met once before. She really did not keep tabs on me at all and I had a great time. The drinking age in Germany is 16 so for me it was a bit of fun. I traveled to France and Switzerland and just had a blast meeting new people, seeing new things and exploring.
Thinking back it must have been hard on my mom to let me go for I was a bit of a stinker, still am a wild child but the experience was so good for me.
I have never stopped my three from spreading their wings. That is our job as parents to let our children explore and live life to the fullest. Yes we fear for them, but I fear the silence of cancer or heart disease even more.
I have let my children fly and for the most part they have done extremely well there have been a couple of nose dives but that is life.
It is the things in life we DON'T do that we regret mostly, not the things we did. In my case that is so very very true. I have made mistakes a plenty but the biggest regrets are the things I did not do.