Dutch delay 13-year-old Laura Dekker's plans to sail solo (Photo)

On : 2009 Aug 30

Laura Dekker Photo

Laura Dekker - a 13-year-old Dutch girl's plans to sail solo around the world on a yacht were delayed when a court placed her under state supervision for two months.

Laura was born on a boat in New Zealand and spent the first four years of her life sailing the world with her parents. She also spends her holidays sailing off the Dutch coast. Earlier this year, Laura was briefly detained by British authorities when she arrived alone in the eastern port of Lowestoft.

She had intended to begin a two-year voyage on September 1 on her 8.3 meter (26 ft) yacht Guppy in a bid to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world.

"I'm not scared because I know that I can do it and my boat is good," she said in an interview.

"It's basically stayed about the same, only it will take a little longer," she added.

She had intended to continue education during her two year voyage via e-mail and self study.

Dutch judges called her plans to sail on her 26-foot yacht, Guppy was "undeniably daring and risky". The court ordered authorities to take temporary guardianship of Laura Dekker and to examine how she would cope alone on the boat.

Laura's father, Dick Dekker, who is divorced from Laura's German mother will share custody with the state.

The decision of the court came a day after 17-year-old Mike Perham of Britain became the youngest round-the-world solo sailor who covered 28,000 miles in just nine months. The court will make a final decision in Laura's case on Oct. 26.

Read more about Laura and see photos of her and the yacht Guppy, on her website http://www.lauradekker.nl/ (It's in Dutch). Wish her bon voyage in the comments section below.

Laura Dekker Photos Laura Dekker to Sail Around the World Laura Dekker photos

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Comments

# Denise -8/30/2009 3:48:56 PM
Good Luck Laura, I hope you make it to be the youngest girl to sail around the world.

I am proud of you.

God Bless you.

Denise

# Peter -8/30/2009 7:47:15 PM
Being from Den Haag myself, with a 38 foot sailboat but now living in the US I am pulling for you. Good Luck

Peter

# Barry -8/31/2009 6:19:24 AM
Laura,I just hope you can cope with the isolation.The trip is only one part of big picture.All I can say is, to be prepared for anything.The sea is unforgiving and cruel.Be Safe and Good Luck.....Barry

# tom sheepandgoats -9/1/2009 7:24:57 AM
The court ordered authorities to take temporary guardianship of Laura Dekker and to examine how she would cope alone on the boat

How would they possibly know?

This girl has handled ships alone through international seas. She has interacted with all and sundry port personnel. The child authorities, on the other hand, have read a lot of books and sat through a lot of college courses. My sneaking suspicion is that Laura's far better equipped to analyze them then they her

# brittany -2/1/2010 12:53:23 PM
laura why would you do that that is the most horrible thing you can do and by running away from home wouldnt make anything better it just makes thins worse and you know what  i bet you that all of your friends at school will probly wont be you friend because of what you did and hopefully when you are older you wont be in jail for the rest of you life because we all dont know if you are going to do something even more ridicules then what you did so think about what you did.


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