Laura Dekker Grounded Again
Posted on 21 July 2010 by LynThomas in sports
Laura Dekker, the would-be youngest solo around the world sailor, has been thwarted once again, as Dutch child protection services asked judges, in the Netherlands, to extend her supervision by 12 months.
Laura says she is ready for a two year solo sail around the world. She is determined to complete the trip before she turns 17 on Sept 2012.
Council spokesman said the request has been made from fear for the girl’s social and emotional development. “A 14-year-old child cannot appreciate the risks of a solo trip of this nature.”
Laura’s plans to set sail last September were thwarted by the intervention of child care officials and a subsequent court ruling placing her under their supervision until July 1, when the school year ended.
In December, she breached the court order, running away to the Dutch Caribbean island territory of St Martin. Police escorted her back home and the supervision was extended to August 1st.
Her lawyer Peter de Lange said “We were able to show the court today that she has met all the court’s conditions, and an independent sail expert has approved her sailing plan.”
“Laura has obtained a first aid diploma, registered with a distance education facility to continue her schooling at sea, gained solo sailing experience and learnt sleep management techniques,” said De Lange.
In May, after a grueling two hundred ten days at sea and a twenty three thousand nautical mile journey, Australia’s Jessica Watson, became the youngest person to sail around the world non-stop, solo and unassisted. Jessica completed the challenge just three days before her 17th birthday.
In June, a U.S. teenager was plucked from her stricken yacht in the Indian Ocean, as she attempted the solo sail.
Guinness World Record no longer has the ‘youngest or oldest solo sail around the world category. Australian Jesse Martin won the record in 1999, at 18.
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21 July 2010
[...] Once again, Laura Dekker, the would-be youngest solo around the world sailor, has been thwarted, as Dutch child protection services asked judges, in the Netherlands, to extend her supervision by 12 months. Larua still plans to succeed before her 17th birthday… [...]
How can you trust this article with inaccurate information. The US teenager, Abby, did not crash into the cargo ship…it was Jessica…! Get your facts straight.
Thanks for that Comment. We can only report what we are told by others.
it’s about time , someone with common sense has tried to put a stop to this nonsense. Parents are throwing their kids into seas and oceans without a second, third, fourth OR fifth thought about their well-being.All for the “glory” Nothing but attention hogs and fame-mongers. You would take the chance of losing CHILDREN to the open waters just for 15 mins. of attention. Parents should be arrested for negligence!!!!