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Lois Friedland
Lois' Adventure Travel Blog

By Lois Friedland, About.com Guide to Adventure Travel

Would You Let Your Teen Sail Around the World Alone?

Monday July 6, 2009
Zak Sunderland's parents may not have been happy when he came to them saying he wanted to sail around the world alone, but they were supportive. Zak, then 16, bought a 32-foot sailboat with money he earned from various jobs, fixed it up and named the boat Intrepid. He left Marina del Rey, California in mid-June and is now about 400 miles from home. You can follow the tale of this sailor, who turned 17 on the boat and is determined to become the youngest person to ever sail around the world. Read his blogs, which he has been filing throughout the journey, on his website, Zak Sunderland.
Comments
August 5, 2009 at 6:33 am
(1) virginia bed and breakfast says:

Sailing is a nice hobby but it requires hard working enthusiasm like zak.This Guy is brilliant he has a passion to explore the world all alone.If any Teenage boy or girl have a passion like zak parents should happliy allow them to sail alone it requires trustworthiness,how much faith you have in GOD and in youself. I will certainly allow my kids to go alone and have a confident life.

October 23, 2009 at 5:47 pm
(2) Sandra says:

Absolutely not. I trust my child but that is just too dangerous for an adult let alone a minor. Pirates, sudden bad weather and many other hazards says a big no.

February 8, 2010 at 6:22 pm
(3) Patty says:

No Way, would I let my child or grandchild be out there in the ocean for 6-8 months alone. There is so much that could happen being out there alone. What if they a appendicitis attack, or a shark attack, high winds that the boat tipped over. I think that any child would panic. You are out there in the middle of NO WHERE and thousands of miles from land. It is NOT safe and I don’t know why any parent would let their child under the age of 18 to be able to make a choice to do this. They are not muture enough to make that kind of decision.

Patty

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