It was for an age-based record, to be the youngest person to sail alone and non stop around the world, that was behind Jessica Watson's departure from Sydney Harbour last October. Whether she's awarded that record won't matter to the tens of thousands of people who'll be waving pink flags and cheering Jessica's return in Ella's Pink Lady to Sydney tomorrow, and given such a massive welcome it probably won't matter to Jessica. She and her parents and her promoters will talk about personal fulfilment and courage and being an inspiration for her generation. We should remember, though, that Jessica set off in pursuit of an age-based record, and we need to think about that. Jessica at 16 is still a minor and under the control of her parents. It is unlikely that she could have set off without her parents' approval, and in my column in The Herald today I argue that this means that the decision for Jessica to risk her life by sailing alone around the world was made by her parents. It seems to me that a decision to put our life on the line should be made by the person whose life it is, and only an adult can properly weigh the risk and reward.

By their very nature age-based records will be contested by children ever younger, and for that reason alone they should be outlawed. Sooner rather than later one of these children will pay a price they could not properly assess. The next child to try to become the youngest to sail alone and non stop around the world may be 14. Too young or old enough? Twelve? Should the parents' decision be sufficient?