Australia, August 28: A 13-YEAR-OLD Dutch girl’s attempt to become the youngest person to sail solo around the globe was blocked on Friday by a court which placed her under state supervision for two months
Laura Dekker, an experienced sailor who was born at sea on her parents’ boat in New Zealand, had planned to set sail on a two-year voyage on September 1 on her 8.3m yacht Guppy.
Child protection authorities argued it would be irresponsible to let her depart, and the court in Utrecht agreed, saying the trip would put Laura’s psychological development at risk. She will remain with her parents, who will share custody with the state.
The court voiced “serious concerns” about Laura’s mental and physical development on the boat, and ordered a psychologist and child protection authorities to examine how she would cope with loneliness, sea winds and lack of schooling, as well as her general physical safety.
Laura’s lawyer, Peter de Lange, said he was confident the issue could be resolved and that her trip would go ahead.
“She is happy with the ruling, and now we can prepare this (journey) in a mature and responsible way,” Mr De Lange said.
Laura, whose parents support her trip, had warned prior to the ruling she would emigrate to New Zealand, where can also claim citizenship, if the court prevented her from attempting the voyage.
But Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant reported her New Zealand passport had expired.
—Agencies