I can understand that parents worry, but kids are stronger than you think, they need the space to learn by mistakes, and yes, one or two might die every now and then – but that happens too in our modern system. The question is whether you would prefer your kid drowns while sailing to the North Pole or is hit by a car on his way to band practice (or perhaps shot by some kids who went “postal” because of our modern upbringing).

In the Swallows and Amazons, the parents did the right thing, because they had brought up their kids to be self-reliant, and the younger kids were put in charge by the older, more responsible kids. Because the older kids had been treated as self-reliant, they were able to look after and teach the younger kids.

We forget that kids reach maturity at about 12-14; thats when Nature says they are old enough to breed and bring up kids. In many parts of the world, kids are adults at that age. Old customs also show that – the Bar Mitzvah is at 13, for example. Just because we have pampered them like housecats and extended their childhood (extended education isnt bad, dont get me wrong), does not mean that if we take away that artificial support, that they dont have the inner strength to look after themselves like adults can.

A fifteen-yr-old boy is as able to handle a sailing ship as a 45-yr-old man. And yes, sometimes the boat might capsize, regardless of age.