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Dutch girl, 13, blocked from global solo sail - 8/29/2009 6:58:23 AM

rulemylife

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I have mixed feelings about this.

The primary question is whether the government should have the right to interfere in parental decisions about how to raise their children when there is no evidence of abuse.

On the other hand, does the government, and/or society have a responsibility to protect children too young to make rational decisions from poor parental decisions?

Dutch girl, 13, blocked from global solo sail

UTRECHT, Netherlands (Reuters) – A 13-year-old Dutch girl's plans to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world were temporarily blocked on Friday when a court placed her under state supervision for two months.

Laura Dekker, who was born on her parents' boat in New Zealand and spent her first four years at sea, had intended to begin a two-year voyage on September 1 on her 8.3 meter (27 ft) yacht Guppy.

"I'm not scared because I know that I can do it and my boat is good," she said in an interview with state broadcaster NOS, when asked about the court ruling. "...It's basically stayed about the same, only it will take a little longer," she added.

In a case that captured the attention of the sea-faring Dutch, child welfare authorities said it would be irresponsible to let her depart. A court in Utrecht agreed the trip posed risks to Dekker's psychological development.

The court stopped short of removing custody from her parents, who support her planned trip, and she will stay with her father, who will share custody with the state.

The court ordered a psychologist and child protection authorities to examine how she would cope alone on the boat. The ruling came a day after British 17-year-old Mike Perham became the youngest person to sail around the globe single-handed after nine months at sea.

Dekker's lawyer, Peter de Lange, said he was confident her trip would go ahead. "She is happy with the ruling, and now we can prepare this (journey) in a mature and responsible way," De Lange said.

Her father, an experienced sailor, was in court for the verdict, but did not speak to reporters.

Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende told a weekly news conference the risks and Dekker's schooling must be taken into account. "I can very well imagine that from various perspectives there are great concerns," he said.

Post #: 1

RE: Dutch girl, 13, blocked from global solo sail - 8/29/2009 7:07:15 AM

chiaThePet

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I say let's tie her to the bow of the boat and get this cruise under way.

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RE: Dutch girl, 13, blocked from global solo sail - 8/29/2009 9:44:02 AM

Aneirin

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The parents I feel are irresponsible for allowing their daughter, who is barely a teenager to risk her life on the high seas. Fine, boats have improved, soon everyone will be upto challenging the world's high seas, but the sea is not to be taken as a playground, it can be a killer and shit does happen, whales, semi submerged cargo containers, storms, failure of boat compentry etc, boats sink, lives are lost, and of those lives, very experienced people. The Government stance on this issue, I believe to be correct, if parents are quite happy to risk the life of their young daughter, then they show incompetance and a lack of care.

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RE: Dutch girl, 13, blocked from global solo sail - 8/29/2009 9:47:17 AM

Rule

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I am Dutch and I say: "Let her sail!"

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RE: Dutch girl, 13, blocked from global solo sail - 8/29/2009 11:36:39 AM

rightwinghippie

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Anerin, the thing is the Playground can be a killer and shit happens. Walking to the playground shit can happen. I am assuming that the girl is trained and certified to run a boat. And that the boat is prepared and equiped.

I guess it is risky, but It's not the State's business. Through out most of history she would be considered an adult. And millions of 13 year olds will be doing far more dangerous things at the same time.

Plus there is no point in trying to stop someone who wants to sail around the world by themselves....Her brain isn't like most peoples.

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RE: Dutch girl, 13, blocked from global solo sail - 8/29/2009 11:41:48 AM

Loki45

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Aneirin
The parents I feel are irresponsible for allowing their daughter, who is barely a teenager to risk her life on the high seas. Fine, boats have improved, soon everyone will be upto challenging the world's high seas, but the sea is not to be taken as a playground, it can be a killer and shit does happen, whales, semi submerged cargo containers, storms, failure of boat compentry etc, boats sink, lives are lost, and of those lives, very experienced people. The Government stance on this issue, I believe to be correct, if parents are quite happy to risk the life of their young daughter, then they show incompetance and a lack of care.

Let's not forget pirates. If the parents have enough money for their kid to have her own boat, there's not a pirate out there who wouldn't want her to ransom.

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RE: Dutch girl, 13, blocked from global solo sail - 8/29/2009 11:44:14 AM

hlen5

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I remember a 7 year old allowed at the controls of a plane for some cross-country trip or something. The difference is there was someone else in the plane just in case. Is there any safety back-up plan for the girl, like another boat sailing in tandem with her??

13 is too young in my opinion (and I think letting a 7 year old fly a plane is nuts, too) to let her go off alone.

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RE: Dutch girl, 13, blocked from global solo sail - 8/29/2009 12:07:06 PM

rightwinghippie

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I would assume there would be a back up plan, GPS lifeboat, sattalite phone, ect. I assume she will be in regular radio and internet contact.

As for pirates, most of the time she will be sailing the wide ocean. Pirates hang around places where they can catch ships, not the middle of the ocean. I assume she would go south of Africa and S America, not through the canals. I doubt she would be in the South China Sea either. There is a risk, but she could be attacked walking to the playground also. And I bet she has a few guns on the boat

(in reply to hlen5)

Post #: 8

RE: Dutch girl, 13, blocked from global solo sail - 8/29/2009 12:12:57 PM

onlinemasochist

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quote:

ORIGINAL: hlen5

Is there any safety back-up plan for the girl, like another boat sailing in tandem with her??

Yes. Her parents are rich people, and would do two things. First, follow her with their large and very seaworthy motoryacht. Second, pay for an helicopter to survey regions with increased risk.

The main reason for the Dutch government to prohibit her intended voyage is the fact that the voyage will take 2 years, during which she cannot go to school.

(in reply to hlen5)

Post #: 9

RE: Dutch girl, 13, blocked from global solo sail - 8/29/2009 12:18:50 PM

rightwinghippie

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Thats too bad. It would be the education of a lifetime. Some internet classes, her education would be fine...

She is obviously a functioning lunatic, so let her pursue her path. 2 years alone on a boat...she's nuts. But she's not hurting anyone, so let her sail.

(in reply to onlinemasochist)

Post #: 10

RE: Dutch girl, 13, blocked from global solo sail - 8/29/2009 12:28:23 PM

seababy

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There is a huge amount of mental toughness needed for long distance solo sailing. Its an endurance sport. I'm still trying to get my head around a 13 year old being able to do this. The 17 year old British kid was impressive enough.
I would love to see how her boat is set out. Pictures I need pictures!

(in reply to rulemylife)

Post #: 11

RE: Dutch girl, 13, blocked from global solo sail - 8/29/2009 12:32:36 PM

TurboJugend

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We have strict laws here about going to school. Rules/laws are not made for acceptions.

She already tried to cross the chanel between the Uk and Holland. What I heard on tv here and radio is that her parents werent'even there.
The UK put her in a protected home or so, so her dad could take her home to Holland ( and he first didn't want to). So we are not the only ones who think it is not wise.

(in reply to seababy)

Post #: 12

RE: Dutch girl, 13, blocked from global solo sail - 8/29/2009 1:37:30 PM

calamitysandra

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Rules about attending school are as rigid in the Netherlands as they are in Germany. Homeschooling? Online school? Unschooling? Forget it and drag your behind into an actual, state sanctioned school until you are at least 16. Compulsory school attendance all the way.

Now, she has offered to undertake online schooling, seems to have the skills and experience necessary, has a safety net and backup plan in place, and parents who stand behind her and sponsor the whole thing.

Let her go!

< Message edited by calamitysandra -- 8/29/2009 1:38:23 PM >

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Post #: 13

RE: Dutch girl, 13, blocked from global solo sail - 8/29/2009 8:15:49 PM

Aneirin

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Maybe my feelings are jaded, for I believe in the thing that children until they reach the age of consent, are children, no matter how adult they appear. We talk these days of how children have lost their youth, grown up too quickly etc, if others think the same as myself, then why condone a young person being forced to grow up quickly. The sea, will force this child to grow up quickly, it is either that, or disaster, out on the sea, you are sailing for your life, as anything other will invite disaster. The sea is to be respected, not taken for granted and tamed by children.

Say the situation should occur, a big storm, the likes of that have put very advanced yachts at the bottom of the ocean, (I know, because the million plus racing yacht my cousin spent the last four years building is now at the botton the atlantic, proving even with the best skipper shit happens, and the skipper of this yacht, was one of Britain's best). So say a big storm, boats sink, say she gets out from a demasted rolled over and half sunk yacht, who is going to rescue her. Maybe a regional coast guard chopper can lift her off, but only in the right conditions, say whoever lifts her off, learns her age, what would other countries think. She may have rich mummy and daddy following in whatever, but in a storm, there is little chance of getting near, she will have to ride it out, be that clinging to a keel, or even in a storm tossed rubber dinghy, and I can tell you liferafts are no fun at all.

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Post #: 14

RE: Dutch girl, 13, blocked from global solo sail - 8/29/2009 9:11:40 PM

ThatDamnedPanda

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quote:

ORIGINAL: rightwinghippie
Plus there is no point in trying to stop someone who wants to sail around the world by themselves....Her brain isn't like most peoples.

Seriously, though, I'm of two minds on this. On the one hand, I start getting real uneasy whenever the government starts telling parents how to raise their children; but.... on the other hand.... I've always thought that the reason kids have parents is to keep them from doing really stupid things like - you know - sailing around the world by themselves. I think a good argument can be made that this is over the line, beyond the bounds of responsible parenting and well into the realm of neglect.

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Post #: 15

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