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13-year-old Laura Dekker around the world

33K views 230 replies 67 participants last post by  hellosailor 
#1 ·
#180 ·
Found

in the Dutch Antilles-

BBC News - Missing girl sailor Laura Dekker found safe in Antilles

Missing girl sailor Laura Dekker found safe in Antilles

Laura Dekker began sailing solo when she was 10 years old
A Dutch teenager barred from sailing solo around the world because of her age has been found on a Caribbean island after disappearing, police say.

Laura Dekker, 14, is in police custody on the Dutch Antilles island of St Maarten, three days after relatives in the Netherlands reported her missing.

A Dutch police spokesman said the girl had been found "safe and sound".

Miss Dekker has been under supervision since a court blocked her bid to be the youngest person to sail the globe solo.

When did she leave the Netherlands? Why? How did she get to St Maarten? Did somebody help her and was she alone?

Bernhard Jens
police spokesman
Police said earlier they did not suspect any crime had been committed.

The court order in the city of Utrecht placed Miss Dekker under state supervision, while living with her father, until the end of her school year in July 2010.

After she vanished on Friday, her boat was found moored at its berth and she appears to have left her father's home on her own.

An unconfirmed Dutch newspaper report said she had withdrawn 3,500 euros ($5,000) from her bank account.

Questions

Utrecht police spokesman Bernhard Jens said the girl had been recognised by a woman living on the island who had been alerted to her disappearance by media coverage.

"We have lots more questions," he told AFP news agency.

"When did she leave the Netherlands? Why? How did she get to St Maarten? Did somebody help her and was she alone?"

At the time of the much-publicised court ruling in October, Miss Dekker's spokeswoman said she was disappointed but that the teenager could still set the record if she were to sail next year.

Miss Dekker is a seasoned sailor who was born on a yacht off the coast of New Zealand during a seven-year world trip.

She had a yacht by the age of six and began sailing solo when she was 10.

Her father, Dick Dekker, supports her attempt at the record, while her mother has expressed some concerns.

Miss Dekker had planned to spend about two years aboard her 8-m (26-ft) boat, Guppy, to break the record set in August by a 17-year-old UK boy.

Mike Perham tackled 50ft waves, gale force winds and technical problems during the 45,000-km (28,000-mile) circumnavigation, which took him nine months
 
#182 · (Edited)
I think that's where a lot of these characters go wrong... like that goofball with the "Tin Can" homemade Tri that couldn't do 200 ocean miles before falling apart after months of publicity..

The Tin Can Blog - David Vann's Epic Journey Around the World - Esquire

It seems anyone who pre-publicizes these kinds of efforts generally set themselves up for spectacular, very public failure or notoriety (Zac Sutherland an exception here).

Two other notable voyages were undertaken with little or no publicity, one (Kimchow) ultimately was unsuccessful and that was really too bad, the other was by Tony Gooch of Victoria BC (non-stop singlehanded circumnavigation) who didn't even contact the media until he was within a day's sail of completion. (Both Canadians, btw!!)

Kim Chow Around the World Circumnavigation

TAONUI.COM

A couple of very different approaches... makes you wonder about the real motivations, doesn't it?
 
#188 ·
Its a freaking boat. Thats all. Can she sail it one mile? yeah? How about twenty miles? Okay?

Can she sail it a hundred miles?
And again tomorrow?
And again the next day?

Nothing to do with drugs, prostitution, drinking, driving automobiles, running for office, signing contracts, or borrowing money.

This is the typical way people like you want to think. You are trying to use a bunch of totally non related things to justify your position.

Taken to its extreme....since she cannot legally vote, can she be allowed to walk to the school bus unaccompanied?

Let me guess...not if you are in the business of selling supervision.
 
#189 ·
For the record, if an adult wants to single-hand it is their choice as long as they do not endanger others.

We are talking about solo circumnavigation by a minor not taking her best friend to the Mall up the road. There is a big difference. Even driving cross country, to use that example, she would have help nearby, repair services available, and safe places to wait for weather or get some rest.

We are talking sailing 24/7, alone, for how long? And for what? It won't guarantee her a happy life, or cure cancer. A line in a record book, until a kid with parents more irresponsible than her's allows their child to beat it.

This latest stunt strikes me as one of two possibilities:
A) an impulsive act by an immature person which was doomed from the start.
B) a coordinated act with multiple enablers and an unknown organizer.
 
#191 ·
J windvane, and the others...

Perhaps this is what is wrong with America and our kids...they WILL live down to our expectations, how ever absurd they may be...and that if people like you prevail..many kids will never leave the front porch or experience life.

We, collectively, individually, or in any group or label you want to apply have no say so in how this kid is raised and what she "should" be allowed to do...

Had some overprotective know it all not gotten involved in the first place, she would be well on her way and NEWS FLASH - either succeeded or failed.

I have a son who when he was 13-14 was far more mature, and had a better head on his shoulders than many 30 somethings. Age has nothing to do with ability (or inability for that matter).

Why is it that every "expert" has to jump in on every situation and offer their one and only analysis to the perceived problem. I would suggest that many of you experts do not have kids, or if you do they are an aside.

Weird how she, at 14 made it to the Dutch Antilles...where were all your "protections" then...certainly SOMEONE should have done something..and yes - bad stuff happens all the time, to good people. I am living proof of that.

She has every right to do what she wishes, she has yet to blame or incriminate any one else...this should be between her and her custodian or parent, wherever or whoever they are.

Let the kid go...she will find out soon enough what life is all about.
 
#192 · (Edited)
Why is it that every "expert" has to jump in on every situation and offer their one and only analysis to the perceived problem.
Because it's fun!

Seriously, analyses=opinions. Different ways to look at things. That's what a forum is about - and what keeps things spicy.

I mean, you just offered your analysis. So it's all good.

BTW - My expert analysis is that these people should TAKE their young kids on a circ - not push them away from the dock and party for a year while their "mature"-yet-very-minor spawn battle the elements alone. Convenient for the partying parent? Sure. Responsible, mature custodianship? Not so much. (At least that's what the "experts" in the Dutch courts said).
 
#195 ·
It scares me that the fact is, that Governments have takin over wiping our kids asses and we still pay the bills.. We have had our Parenting takin away , unless we do it the STATE Way..
An American lady visiting england a while ago , had a child throwing a temper tantrum.. so she whack it on the butt ,, the public assholes went into a frenzy and attacked the lady and TOOK her child, and the Court and the Ghestopo backed them up.. WHO Tramatized the child, it wasnt MOM.
What a bunch of CRAPP.. we have NO rights in this world beyond what BIG BROTHER allows us to retain and that is fewer and fewer every day..

:hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead

as far as the Kid goes,, Hell, if she Dies out there its Natural Selection..:cool:


A friend after one of those POSTAL things , told me she could NOT se HOW a person could Do such a thing.. I thought for 1/634th of a Second and said,, "I CAN" :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead :hothead

:D yes, i am Scary :p
 
#197 ·
Cry me a friggin river... a 14 year old empties her bank account (and as you can't work at that age in NL, that was someone else's money), bails on her family, friends, relations and decides to start anew with a guitar and suncream...??? Her "dream" has been shattered. Oh my, what is one to do! Suck it up and move on - that's life. Everything is a concession to something or someone.

14, alone, flying half way across the world is not your stable, grounded reaction to this. It'll be nice in a few days when the parent's begin to get a stench around them and are finally shown for what they really are - manipulative, glory seeking, societal rejects that don't have the balls to live their own adventure but try to do it as a surrogate with their own kid. If it was a "dream", don't ya think she could wait a couple of years?
 
This post has been deleted
#198 ·
BB and the group

It certainly may be the parents dream, but don't be too quick to say it ain't a normal reaction...I knew many girls way back, that much to their parents shagrin, that "ran away" when they were early teens, some from abusive family and fathers, some from Boys, some from problems...may be not the best solution, but it works for many

but I do have to give her credit...collected the money from the bank (hers or not:)...got an airplane ticket, got through security at the airport with a guitar and gear, made at least the one flight, likely two flights to get the islands, all this without "help"...

Whether it is "riding across the USA on a Harley", roadtrip, working the fishing boats, hiking the appalachian trail or what ever the dream of youth was for you....this girl did it... SHe appears happy in the pictures, so very little traumatization, no lack of self-confidence,

perhaps a "normal" 14 year old with a pretty deep bag of skills, that has been set aside, and in her world no one has "explained" why she CAN'T go...this is a kid that has been on the go without restrictions for some time..

I wish her happiness and success in her search...
 
#201 ·
BB and the group

It certainly may be the parents dream, but don't be too quick to say it ain't a normal reaction...I knew many girls way back, that much to their parents shagrin, that "ran away" when they were early teens, some from abusive family and fathers, some from Boys, some from problems...may be not the best solution, but it works for many

but I do have to give her credit...collected the money from the bank (hers or not:)...got an airplane ticket, got through security at the airport with a guitar and gear, made at least the one flight, likely two flights to get the islands, all this without "help"...

Whether it is "riding across the USA on a Harley", roadtrip, working the fishing boats, hiking the appalachian trail or what ever the dream of youth was for you....this girl did it... SHe appears happy in the pictures, so very little traumatization, no lack of self-confidence,

perhaps a "normal" 14 year old with a pretty deep bag of skills, that has been set aside, and in her world no one has "explained" why she CAN'T go...this is a kid that has been on the go without restrictions for some time..

I wish her happiness and success in her search...
I too wish her happiness, and hope one day she can do her trip and enjoy it. The "dream" thing doesn't change because of a launch date - it's not like she has cancer or something and has 6 months to live and NEEDS to do it now. The only reason for the "now" is because she feels ready and it's the only way to be famous (which is clearly the underlying "dream" of this whole thing). Maybe I'm coming across as a scrooge, I don't really mind.

Oh, and you have to wonder why, if she is so capable and stable, that the British authorities put her under protective custody when she did her trans-channel crossing. I don't know about you, but I could get into just about any port without question or query, but somehow they decided it was in her best interest to be protected.... just another example of how this is wrong from day one...
 
#204 ·
Ironically this girl has more sailing experience sailing alone than Zac did before he embarked on his journey. As a matter of fact Zac had never sailed alone. His alone experience consisted of 4 hour watches during crossings with his parents. Laura owner her first boat at the age of 11 and spent 7 months sailing it on her own.
 
#205 ·
SailKing - I tend to agree that there is a fair level of sexism involved here. I will confess that it is much easier for me to think of a 15-16 year old boy doing this than a 15-16 year old girl. Part of that is because I can imagine too many horrible things happening to a girl simply because most of the world through which these kids will be sailing perceives women as at least a soft target - and in some places, much, much less than that.

That's another reason I personally draw the line, in my American mind, at 18. Male or female - they're adults. Let them do whatever they want to do.
 
#206 ·
What Smack said is kind of my thinking, not about what gender they are, but I do have an age cut off in my mind of about 15. Like I said earlier in this thread, I just feel that below about 15 they simply aren't mature enough mentally to do something like that. I know there are people here saying otherwise but human beings develop from children into adults along a fairly predictable trajectory, as children their brains simply aren't functioning in the same way as an adult's brain is functioning, simple as that. I know the relativists are going to say (because they have) that it doesn't matter, what's the difference between 17 and 16, or 18 and 12 ? But there is a difference, 12 isn't 16, not in the same way that a 40 year old is essentially the same as a 50 year old in terms of how their mind works. These aren't just numbers that you can add and subtract, and draw relationships from, a 12 year old kid is not functioning as an adult and I don't care how much experience they have. I do realize, however, that children mature at different rates, and that is why I have been saying I think it is more about resourcefulness than about "sailing". With the proper gear you could teach a 5 year old to push the button to tack the boat, but that isn't what this is all about.

All that aside, I never said any of us had the right to stop her.
 
#207 ·
My boy when 13 and weighing just 113 pounds set a world record. Should he have been prevented from doing it because of his age? In retrospect it would have been a terrible thing since he now is having some health problems that will prevent him from EVER doing it again. I'm glad he did at 13!
If there are parts of the world that view women as "soft targets" then maybe we need to turn our attention to putting an end to that situation. We can live in space, put men on the moon and explore Mars but we can't make our own planet safe from the scumbags and psycho religious goat F***** morons? (yeah, I'm talking about you terrorist scum bags hiding behind some idiot fake religious conviction)
If we as humans are truly "civilized" then we need to quit holding back our kids. They're more likely to get run over and killed while walking to school under protective custody than they are doing a huge number of things when they "dare to dream of great deeds". The Netherlands choose to pick on a young girl with a dream rather than getting involved in what they really should be doing which is ridding the world of the predators that make our oceans and dry ground dangerous!
Good god! I hope I never forget what it was like to be a kid and to have dreams. If I do then may I please have the good sense to vacate the planet because I have become a waste of breathable air!
 
#209 ·
He didn't have quite enough sailing experience to handle the trip at the time so in that light no.
On the other hand he was old enough (and did) go out, kill a deer, blood trail it and recover it, bring it home, hang it, gut it, cut it up and freeze it after processing it himself (something, I might add, that most grown men can't do).
If he at the time had sailing experience equal to his hunting experience then yes he would have been allowed to try it. AND yes, if he had enough experience and the desire to try I would have allowed him to make the attempt. No B.S.
In that light let me make this statement. Age alone should not be the sole reason for being entitled to do something. I know of plenty of people that while of age, have no business even driving a car or any business voting for that matter.
 
#210 ·
I can sympathize with the 16 or 18 year old being an acceptable age age. But even in this thread many can't agree on what that age might be. On the other hand some children mature faster than others. There are children that do things at an early age that many adults will never accomplish both mentally an physically.

For me the determination comes down to the ability of the individual and in this case the parents to make all reasonable efforts for the child to be safe and successful if that is their collective decision.

This little girl was burn and raised on a boat and has been sailing for longer than some in this thread. Now, maybe she ran away because SHE felt unable or scared to carry through on her dream. This would tell me that she is not ready mentally. Funny how things have a way of working out.

I guess I just believe decisions should be made by those immediately involved and not based on what i or others might feel. We as a nation have gone to the extreme of protecting our children to the point they can not even play the way you or I did when growing up for fear a knee might get skinned.
 
#212 ·
Is she ready for it? Read for yourself. Not third hand or after someone's opinion. Look at LauraDekker.nl de Jongste solozeiler ter wereld! - â-¦ Home â-¦ the Dutch version only.

There are too many points which prove she was not ready and still is not ready. Wouldn't it be better she and her father made plans for all (or most) points listed, in advance like good cruisers do?

Points are made by the council of child-protection and the office youth-care.

She had no plans or permission for home-school, not enough experience in solo sailing with use of new safety and navigation appliances, no or not enough healthcare experience, No plan and experience in sleep management, No complete safety-plan, No list with escape harbours, No communication plan with shore, No plan for for safety in ports of call, No secondary energy source onboard, No or not enough skills in solving problem situations, …….

This is where it is all about!
 
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