13-year-old could be barred from round-the-world sailing trip

Aug 25th, 2009
Social workers in Holland are to take the parents of a 13-year-old yachting enthusiast to court in a bid to prevent her from being allowed to sail around the world on her own.

Laura Dekkler first learned to sail at the age of six and has been heading out onto the open seas on her own since the age of ten.

Now, the teenager has her sights set on breaking the record for becoming the youngest person to circumnavigate the world on her own, a title currently held by America's Zac Sunderland, who achieved the feat at the age of 17.

However, while Laura's parents support her plans, social workers are seeking to make her a ward of court.

An application for the youngster to miss two years of school has also been denied by the Dutch education authorities.

The plans have been questioned by a number of experienced Dutch sailors, with the BBC citing Bernt Folmer, director of the Enkhuizen School of Seamanship, who argued that a 13-year-old would be unlikely to complete such a journey.

"When she's got a broken mast on heavy seas, can a girl make herself safe again? I can't see it happening," he reportedly told Radio Netherlands Worldwide.

Sunderland completed his round-the-world voyage in 13 months and two days, departing from and arriving into the port of Marina del Ray in California.