abby sunderland

[gunner]

off topic, but i've been following the news of her shipwreck and rescue, and i'm a bit disgusted with the criticism of her parents for allowing her to go on this adventure, and her for attempting it. by her parent's account she's a trained and competent sailor, with a well founded boat, and she simply encountered seas that would have done for any small boat in those waters, and when the emergency happened she dealt with it as best she could even with her boat dismasted and adrift. better than many of the adults criticising might have.
i understand her parents allowing her this adventure, i taught my daughter to ride a motorcycle and she got her license at 16, abby's age, and we spent her teen years chasing each other around vermont on our bikes, her cb550 and my cb750 she's a grown woman now, and i'm a grandfather, but we still share memories of riding together that i would not give up for anything. i hope abby continues to dare and do, it's far better than sitting in a rocking chair in old age with nothing to remember, a fate i thankfully escaped, though things got hairy a time or two.

[Kona]

I’m cursed with the ability to see all sides of most arguments, putting me in a paralyzing equivocation hold. I understand people’s concern about an “underage” “child”, but it’s exactly at that age we are the strongest, quickest and most agile.

I pulled some incredible stunts in my teens; mostly unknown to my parents; and I got away with them. At age 12, I was sailing a dinghy alone between coves at Catalina Island, hobnobbing with commercial fishermen and generally exploring the place. At 14, I rode a bicycle over mountains and deserts 120 miles, sleeping on the ground and drinking from windmill pumps. At 17, I lied about my age and drove sprint cars, crashing seriously a few times. I climbed Mt. Whitney and Mt. Fuji. At 18, I went to war.

I came as close as one can to dying many times, but never did. My wife’s younger brother wasn’t so lucky; he died on a motorcycle at age 15. Many young daredevils don’t make it. There are no lessons to be learned or glory to be recalled in death. And responsible parents do their best to deliver their children into adulthood alive and healthy.

But risk is an inherent part of life; there are no guarantees for any of us. One would think the safest place is in bed, until we remember that that’s where most of us die. So we get up and go out into the world, and plan to arrive safely home again, knowing we may not. I spent most of my life collecting memories, and although I regret some, I am glad for the ones I have. Whether I would recommend those risks to my own children, I can’t say. There’s that paralyzing equivocation thing again…

[asgaard aardvaark]

The only way we, both individually or as a species can grow or evolve is to constantly push our limits. If we don't, we stagnate and then we die. I would support my daughter under like circumstances. (and I wouldn't put it past her to try something like that when she's a bit older) We tend to do our children more harm than good when we try to protect them from risks. My parents were overly protective and when the time came, I was no where near ready for the military--fortunately I proved to be a fast learner.