Dutch Teen Realizes Dream After Ordeals
She spent 47 days crossing the Indian Ocean. When she arrived at the South African city of Durban, her legs became weak and she had to exercise them at the dock. "I can hardly believe what I have done," Dekker said on Saint Martin Island, "During the voyage, I sometimes asked myself: 'What are you doing?' But I never thought of giving up. This is my dream, and I want to achieve it." During her journey, she often saw dolphins. Near South Africa, she saw whales for the first time, "They dived into the sea right in front of the boat and splashed water onto the boat."
Watson did not stop during her voyage, but Dekker stopped multiple times, including Panama, the Galapagos Islands, French Polynesia, Tonga, Fiji, Australia, and South Africa. About 400 people welcomed Dekker at the dock on Saint Martin Island. She cried with joy, waving to the crowd accompanied by her family.
During the voyage, Dekker encountered broken sails, battled severe weather, slept on a damp bed, narrowly avoided colliding with ships twice, and endured cockroach infestations. Meanwhile, she found ways to entertain herself: surfing, diving, cliff jumping, and playing the flute.
The previous record was set by Australian teenager Jessica Watson, who took 210 days to complete her circumnavigation in May 2010, just three days shy of her 17th birthday.
At 3 PM local time on the 21st, Dekker maneuvered her 11.5-meter-long sailboat, "Guppy," to arrive at Saint Martin Island. On January 20, 2011, she departed from here, setting sail westward. On September 20 of the same year, she celebrated her 16th birthday.
The Guinness World Records organization and the World Sailing Speed Record Council previously announced that they would not recognize the youngest age record for solo circumnavigation because such activities were too dangerous for minors. Some people supported Dekker's actions. American girl Jody Bell, aged 10, is Dekker's "fan" and went to the dock to welcome Dekker with her mother Merlin. Their T-shirts read: I'm crazy about the 'Guppy' sailboat. "My daughter and I have been following Laura," said Merlin, "We think she's amazing. We are inspired." Dekker originally planned to go to New Zealand after completing her voyage. On the 21st, she said she would first finish her studies.
Youngest
Sixteen-year-old Dutch teenager Laura Dekker arrived at Saint Martin Island in the Caribbean on the 21st, becoming the youngest person to sail around the world alone.
Controversy
Dekker's parents lived on a boat. She was born on a boat and made her first solo sailing trip at the age of six. At ten, she conceived the idea of sailing around the world alone. Initially, Dekker planned to set off in early 2010. However, Dutch child protection authorities believed that Dekker was too young, and single-handed sailing was dangerous, unable to ensure her safety. The education department said Dekker should attend school. The Dutch court then prohibited Dekker from setting off and placed her under the supervision of child protection officials.
Amid hardships, Dekker fled to Saint Martin Island but was sent home by the police. In July 2010, the Dutch court ruled that as long as Dekker's parents agreed, she could set sail. On August 21, 2010, she departed from Gibraltar, changing her plan to make Saint Martin Island her starting point.