Emergency rescue effort is launched for teen sailor Abby Sunderland *Found alive*

[SaltwaterServr]

Well to my defense...my link doesn't mention which route he took.

:

Ah, no it doesn't. Hos's just mentions that he took the Tibet approach, but not why.

You're both exonerated.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

From the article I posted.



I doubt he made the climb on the China side.

From my understanding, without his father or guardian, he would have had to go up from the China side. He's not going up in a mixed expedition at 16. So guessing by the brotherly love politics of the region, he went up with his father. Can't find the article about that particular aspect of the climbing laws. Read it in January or so. I think it might be 17 that you can climb it in a mixed group.

And his dad gave him a crazy look when he said he wanted to go sailing solo around the world.

 

[CowboyWay]

I'd throw the damn parents in jail for their complete lack of responsibility in raising a child.

Simply friggen ridiculous. Its mind blowingly stupid.

Hey, I'm going to go buy my 5 year old a pet rattlesnake. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

 

[Hostile]

I think I am the only parent not freaking out over this. To me it is no different than letting a kid race motorcycles or ride bulls or any other number of dangerous activities, like climbing mountains.

If she loves this and they support her love for it, I guess it is their right to do so.

I hope the girl is okay, but I can't fault the parents here. I can't say I would let her go alone either if she were my daughter, but I'm not her Dad. I do not know her the way I know my daughters. They aren't capable. She might very well be capable. I am not someone who can judge that since I don't know sailing. Perhaps I would feel differently if she was related to me, I don't know.

 

[Hostile]

From my understanding, without his father or guardian, he would have had to go up from the China side. He's not going up in a mixed expedition at 16. So guessing by the brotherly love politics of the region, he went up with his father. Can't find the article about that particular aspect of the climbing laws. Read it in January or so. I think it might be 17 that you can climb it in a mixed group.

And his dad gave him a crazy look when he said he wanted to go sailing solo around the world.

The previous record holder made the ascent from the Tibet side, but a year previous he made an attempt from the Nepal side. He began the 1st attempt at 14, turned 15 on the climb. He was 15 on the 2nd attempt and turned 16 on the climb.

I get what you are saying, but youngsters are attempting that climb.

 

[Hoofbite]

I think I am the only parent not freaking out over this. To me it is no different than letting a kid race motorcycles or ride bulls or any other number of dangerous activities, like climbing mountains.

If she loves this and they support her love for it, I guess it is their right to do so.

I hope the girl is okay, but I can't fault the parents here. I can't say I would let her go alone either if she were my daughter, but I'm not her Dad. I do not know her the way I know my daughters. They aren't capable. She might very well be capable. I am not someone who can judge that since I don't know sailing. Perhaps I would feel differently if she was related to me, I don't know.

Pretty much how I feel as well. I'm not a parent but I just don't see where people can lay the blame all over their feet. Clearly this family is a little more interested in sailing than your typical group. Odds are the entire family does it and I'd bet this girl is far more capable than most.

If she has the experience, training and knowledge to do it I see no reason why you hold her back.

 

[WoodysGirl]

One thing to consider. I believe this is her 2nd attempt to sail around the world. The parents allowed their 17 year old son to do this, as well.

So, her attempting to sail around the world isn't anything out of the world for them. The only criticism in the article was the timing of her sail, not that they allowed her.

It's sad and I really hope they find her.

 

[DallasCowpoke]

I think I am the only parent not freaking out over this. To me it is no different than letting a kid race motorcycles or ride bulls or any other number of dangerous activities, like climbing mountains.

If she loves this and they support her love for it, I guess it is their right to do so.

Agreed.

20/20 just did a whole hour on kids who do these kind of activities, including the 13 yr old climber.

Here's the segment on the Sunderland girl.

Her parents were FAR from unaware of the risks or half-***** irresponsible, and know their daughter is MORE than capable.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I hope they find her safe and sound.

Abby's father struggled with emotions

He needs to keep that in check. He allowed his 16 year old daughter to try something most people would claim is insanity.

 

[poke]

I think I am the only parent not freaking out over this. To me it is no different than letting a kid race motorcycles or ride bulls or any other number of dangerous activities, like climbing mountains.

If she loves this and they support her love for it, I guess it is their right to do so.

I hope the girl is okay, but I can't fault the parents here. I can't say I would let her go alone either if she were my daughter, but I'm not her Dad. I do not know her the way I know my daughters. They aren't capable. She might very well be capable. I am not someone who can judge that since I don't know sailing. Perhaps I would feel differently if she was related to me, I don't know.

thank goodness you posted. i was starting to think i was the only person who thought this way.

 

[CoCo]

I think I am the only parent not freaking out over this. To me it is no different than letting a kid race motorcycles or ride bulls or any other number of dangerous activities, like climbing mountains.

If she loves this and they support her love for it, I guess it is their right to do so.

I hope the girl is okay, but I can't fault the parents here. I can't say I would let her go alone either if she were my daughter, but I'm not her Dad. I do not know her the way I know my daughters. They aren't capable. She might very well be capable. I am not someone who can judge that since I don't know sailing. Perhaps I would feel differently if she was related to me, I don't know.

I was in several posts back saying I didn't have enough info to judge the situation so you're not alone.

I just think most of the responses here are too absolute for my tastes. And believe me, I am not a big risk-taker with my loved ones. But I also try to consider the issue beyond a knee-jerk reaction.

My 20 year old son leaves on a mission trip to S.Africa this month. Part of the time he will be working in an orphanage with a high aids population. Now its done all the time, and I trust the precautions being taken but at the same time he's certainly adding a significant element of risk to his otherwise controlled life. He I believe understands as well. But I know the reason that he feels called to this trip. And I respect the call. As I stated earlier, there are times when the call requires risk. And I think you must respect a real calling.

I'm certainly not suggesting my son's trip is on par with this girl's. I'm only trying to illustrate a point. Maybe this girls parents are irresponsible nuts. I don't know. I don't know enough specifics. That is why I am abstaining from judgement on this issue.

 

[masomenos]

Glad to see there are some other people who don't think the parents are monsters.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

If this girl is not found alive and well, it really won't matter. The Parents are going to know for themselves if that decision was a damn fool idea or not.

They will know better then anybody I suspect.

 

[CoCo]

thank goodness you posted. i was starting to think i was the only person who thought this way.

IMO, this is a sad commentary on this board. That is, some people think twice about posting a dissenting opinion here because of the crap that will ensue from posters unwilling to ever consider another perspective.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

One thing to consider. I believe this is her 2nd attempt to sail around the world. The parents allowed their 17 year old son to do this, as well.

So, her attempting to sail around the world isn't anything out of the world for them. The only criticism in the article was the timing of her sail, not that they allowed her.

It's sad and I really hope they find her.

Which is something she, as a more experienced adult, could have better understood for herself.

A parent or legal guardian has the responsibility to keep a child from putting themselves at risk of injury or death no matter if the child is in the upper 1% in skill level for that activity.

Just because they can, does not mean they should especially considering the child could be killed in the attempt.

 

[CowboyWay]

Criminally negligent in my book. 16 years old. Sailing around the world by herself. I don't care if she's the next Jacques Cousteau. She has no business doing this sort of thing. Her parents are damned fools.

Wasn't it just a few years ago the 12 year old was flying around the world? One day he's giving an interview on the Today show, the next day he crashed and died.

Good Parenting.

 

[CliffnDallas]

I hope they find the child alive.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

I hope they find the child alive.

That's the important thing right now.

 

[vta]

If the parents are to blame and if this kid isn't all right, they'll be paying the ultimate price in the end.

It is an overly ambitious attempt in my opinion, but I hope they all escape with one good scare and nothing more.

 

[Hostile]

Unrelated to the right or wrong of this.

I would love to know how to sail, but I would never attempt what she is attempting at any age. I can't even imagine enjoying myself alone out there for that long. If I was a good sailor or had a girl that was it might be different, even fun.

I love the ocean. I love challenges. I just don't think this is one I ever would have tried.

I still can't fault her or her parents for it. Especially since her brother accomplished it. I am not sexist. If they let him try it, they almost have to let her if she is a qualified sailor, and I see nothing in any article that tells me she isn't.

Tragedy or not, I can't fault anyone for having adventure in their soul. Mine was firefighting at 14 years old. I did it for seven years. I can't know the adventures I have had, and fault another kid for theirs.