A Young Sailors Prayer Needed

[Timothy]

The age of Emancipation in CA is 14.  Had the family gone through the legal procedure  and she was emancipated, she could have made the decision herself.  CA seems to feel age 14 is old enough to be making your own decisions.

California law states in order to get a declaration of emancipation from a judge, the minor have to prove ALL of the following criteria. The minor must be at least 14 years old, the minor must not want live with their parents and the parents do not mind if the minor moves out, the minor can handle their own money, the minor is employed and has a legal way to make money.

http://www.saclaw.lib.ca.us/pages/emancipation.aspx

Thanks for clarifying.  Probably a law in California to prevent greedy parents of child actors from bilking the kid of his earnings.  Recently deceased Gary Coleman comes to mind.

Was she emmancipated?

As to letting the kid shoot a FA Uzi under MY supervision, probably!  But under the supervision of a stranger who's qualifications are suspect?  Not a chance!  I wouldn't let a grown man shoot a FA without first taking them through the basics but thats only my opinion which matters little in the grand scheme of things.

[Solus]

Thanks for clarifying.  Probably a law in California to prevent greedy parents of child actors from bilking the kid of his earnings.  Recently deceased Gary Coleman comes to mind.

Was she emmancipated?

As to letting the kid shoot a FA Uzi under MY supervision, probably!  But under the supervision of a stranger who's qualifications are suspect?  Not a chance!  I wouldn't let a grown man shoot a FA without first taking them through the basics but thats only my opinion which matters little in the grand scheme of things.

Other states have Emancipation laws, even if Gary Coleman never lived there.

She was not Emancipated.  My point was that being age 16, of itself, does not mean a person is not capable of making decisions for themselves.   

I agree with this statement about the UZI.  My post was intended to show that the situation with the nine year old and the UZI was very much different than the situation with Abby.

[Timothy]

I agree with this statement about the UZI.  My post was intended to show that the situation with the nine year old and the UZI was very much different than the situation with Abby.

Understood and I agree.  As I've already stated, some 16 year olds are far more mature than their parents. 

I know personally, my parents had a hard time convincing ME never to jump off a cliff on my skiis or jump my dirt bike over a revine or any number of really dangerous things I was doing on my road bike, driving my Mustang, etc....etc....etc..... 

We (my siblings and I) were allowed at a very early age to handle a speed boat or our small sailing vessel alone, without supervision but that has nothing to do with a sail around the globe.  Michigan also required all sixth graders at the time to take a mandatory boaters safety course at their schools so we had some instruction.  I don't know if that practice still exists.

I'm not taking sides, just having a conversation.

[TAB]

TAB, you seem to be saying that because her boat was rigged for one handed operation, it somehow means she had a skill set that could be taught in a few weeks on the water?

Are you implying that if her rigging was set up for more complicated operation, it would have increased her skill set?

You also seem to be saying that after two weeks of training a brand new sailor could make the trip from CA to HI?...as long as nothing broke.  Are there never any storms between CA and HI, or are you saying two weeks total helm time will prepare someone for the largest storm that will be encountered on that trip?

the boat was set up for basicly automatic tacting and jibbing.  litterly button pushing.  what I'm saying is in 2 weeks some one would have the skills needed to make that trip(in a boat like the one she was in), but not the exp or the knowledge to do it safely.  just like a kid at 16 with a dl can legally drive, does not mean they can do it safely.

[Timothy]

Heck....sailing is all about terminology...

tack, jibe, halyard, sheet, luff up, port, starboard, mainsail, jib, genoa, sloop, schooner, ketch, line, rope, abaft, amidships, abeam, beam reach, et. al.....  Heck, I must be a sailor, I'm wearing Sperry Topsiders right now!

Learn those and wear a life vest....you're good to go!  Oh yea, and Bernouli's law of physics...

Sextant?  "We don need no freekin sextant"...  give me three pencils, a few rubber bands and a compass...

The kids alive, she's got a story to tell.

 

[Sponsor]

[TAB]

Heck....sailing is all about terminology...

tack, jibe, halyard, sheet, luff up, port, starboard, mainsail, jib, genoa, sloop, schooner, ketch, line, rope, abaft, amidships, abeam, beam reach, et. al.....  Heck, I must be a sailor, I'm wearing Sperry Topsiders right now!

Learn those and wear a life vest....you're good to go!  Oh yea, and Bernouli's law of physics...

Sextant?  "We don need no freekin sextant"...  give me three pencils, a few rubber bands and a compass...

The kids alive, she's got a story to tell.

 

which the parents will be selling to the highest bidder... just watch

[Timothy]

which the parents will be selling to the highest bidder... just watch

They're from California, what did you expect?

[TAB]

that was thier plan from the start.

[Solus]

the boat was set up for basicly automatic tacting and jibbing.  litterly button pushing.  what I'm saying is in 2 weeks some one would have the skills needed to make that trip(in a boat like the one she was in), but not the exp or the knowledge to do it safely.  just like a kid at 16 with a dl can legally drive, does not mean they can do it safely.

TAB, it is only wise to set your boat up that way for a solo round the world trip.  The fact that it was set up that way and could be sailed without the detailed experience of sail handling does not mean she did not have that skill.

I remember way back when I new solo round the world sailing speed record was set and the prevailing wisdom said the guy did not stand a chance because his boat was not set up for max speed.  He did, however, have it set up with an autopilot system which allowed him to sail 24/7 and set his record.   I don't think anyone would attempt an around the world trip without that setup. It would not only be not competitive, it would not be wise.


We have two issues here. 

One is whether she was capable of making the trip and another involves the her parents willingness to benefit financially due to their families activities.

From all I have read, the 16 year old was capable, prepared and enthusiastically willing and intent on making her journey.

There seems to be no doubt that her parents were willing to profit from the families adventures.  No matter how much you dislike reality shows, that does not the parents plan was to have their children risk their lives to get a TV show.  My belief is that the possibility of the TV show did not influence the parents estimation of their daughters skill and capability to make the trip.  It also appears the planning for the trip began before any TV deals were made. 

I'd guess that the possibility of financial reward influenced the decision but from a cost aspect.  Spending over 1 mil for a boat is easier if there is the possibility of recouping that expense.

I find it amusing that comments were made about the family selling the story to the highest bidder.  Don't know about the rest of yas, but I tend to pick the highest bidder when I have something for sale. 

I have read a report that speculated that this families strong religious beliefs lead to the parents making a poor decision about their daughters skill and ability to make the trip because they believed God would protect her no matter what. 

Lots of guessing and lots of speculation by folks who can't know what motivation the parents had.