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Dutch Teen Sails 'Round the World

Laura Dekker completes voyage in Caribbean

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 21, 2012 3:00 PM CST

(Newser) – Dutch teenager Laura Dekker sailed into the Caribbean harbor of St. Maarten to a cheering crowd today after circumnavigating the globe, the Telegraph reports. Controversies surround the 16-year-old sailor, who fled Holland in 2010 when officials tried to stop her voyage. Dekker claims to be the youngest round-the-world sailor, but it's unofficial: Guinness World Records stopped recognizing "youngest" sailors after Dekker announced her sailing plan at age 13.

The free-spirited teen won a 10-month court battle with Dutch authorities before embarking from an undisclosed port in Portugal in August 2010. In blogs she wrote at sea, Dekker expressed her anger at Dutch officials and said her five court appearances would “haunt her for a long time." She added that the controversy has grown so tiresome, she may move abroad—to New Zealand, say, where she was born on a boat during a 7-year trip made by her parents.

Laura Dekker, center, is surrounded by media as she walks to her boat in Den Osse, south west Netherlands, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010.
Laura Dekker, center, is surrounded by media as she walks to her boat in Den Osse, south west Netherlands, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010.   (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski)
In this Dec. 19 2010 file photo, Laura Dekker poses on her sailboat Guppy after arriving at Simpson Bay Lagoon near Philipsburg on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten.
In this Dec. 19 2010 file photo, Laura Dekker poses on her sailboat Guppy after arriving at Simpson Bay Lagoon near Philipsburg on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten.   (AP Photo/Judy Fitzpatrick, File)
Dutch Laura Dekker, 14, talks to the press in Den Osse on August 4, 2010.
Dutch Laura Dekker, 14, talks to the press in Den Osse on August 4, 2010.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 9 comments
toeser
Jan 22, 2012 9:39 AM CST
Amazing kid.  I doubt many people understand the enormity of her accomplishment.  I doubt I do.
OuttaHere
Jan 21, 2012 9:15 PM CST
Every once in a while an old fart like me looks at youngsters like her with a dream and I get a tear in my eye. This young woman and the young man who climbed the tallest peaks on all the continents let me know that all is not lost with the younger generations even though most of the time I think it is.
fractal
Jan 21, 2012 4:49 PM CST
Honey, everybody wants to immigrate to New Zealand.  Get in line.

 
Holland • Guinness World Records • Laura Dekker • sailing record

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