MAKING WAVES

Tomorrow is the annual Try Sailing Day in NSW and the ACT, where 29 sailing and yacht clubs welcome greenhorns to the canvas fold. Best of all, the experience is free. All you need to do is don some sensible clothing, a hat and sunnies, and turn up at a club to set sail under the watch of a dab sailing hand. Parents or a guardian must accompany kids younger than 18. Participating clubs at www.bia.org.au

ETC

ART OF LOUNGE

Give glory-seeking Jess a stern talk

LET us wish the 16-year-old Jessica Watson well as she attempts to sail solo around the world. Her attempt has promoted much discussion between those who think it is an admirable endeavour, those who think it is insane and those who think it is admirably insane. Me? I'll go with all of the above, please. And the sad truth of it is there that will be no definitive answer as to who is right and wrong until we know her fate €“ either Australia's youngest heroine, with parents who backed her dream against the tide, or a great Australian tragedy, born of parents who didn't end the folly. One quote that stands out, however, was from her father, Roger, when he told 60 Minutes last week: "It would be devastating if we lost her ... but I still think it would be worse to say, 'No you can't go,' because of that risk, because of what she's put into it." Sir, why not the other alternative? Like this: "Darling, we're going to back you to the hilt, and we admire you for wanting to sail around the world. We only ask that you eschew all the hoopla about being, 'The youngest to do it,' and instead focus for the next two years or so in gaining the experience necessary, by doing progressively longer trips to maximise your chances of completing it safely. The only upside of going so young is the extra hoopla, and that doesn't seem a good enough reason to us, for the added risk you take." Just a thought.