Abby Sunderland, a 16-year-old American, is another sailor who hopes to become the youngest to sail around the world. In a few weeks, she plans to depart for a nonstop six-month voyage.

I haven’t heard about any government criticism of her or any attempts to put her in state custody. That could change before the middle of December, but it seems likely that she’ll set sail without any state interference.

Abby Sunderland, Laura Dekker, and Jessica Watson are three teenagers with similar goals but divergent experiences — and those differences are a result of the actions of their respective countries’ governments. They’re a reminder that policies can change the course of people’s lives.

To learn more about Sunderland, check out her blog.