Young Kiwi born sailor Laura Dekker web address (17)
robplum: Laura Dekker
Born aboard of a boat off the coast of New Zealand, from a young age Laura Dekker has dreamt about sailing. But Laura is more a do-er than a dreamer. When she was six she sailed her Optimist dinghy across the lake where she lived. As she gets older, she wants to go further. – too far for some. She has already sailed her boat Guppy twice to Friesland, where she had a six week vacation, and now she intends to pursue her dreams far beyond local mudflats and waters. She wants to circumnavigate the globe – a massive aspiration for a young girl.
Born aboard of a boat off the coast of New Zealand, from a young age Laura Dekker has dreamt about sailing. But Laura is more a do-er than a dreamer. When she was six she sailed her Optimist dinghy across the lake where she lived. As she gets older, she wants to go further. – too far for some. She has already sailed her boat Guppy twice to Friesland, where she had a six week vacation, and now she intends to pursue her dreams far beyond local mudflats and waters. She wants to circumnavigate the globe – a massive aspiration for a young girl.
Another one? oh dear.
this somehow sounds familiar.......
From what I remember she is only 14 yo a Dutch citizen and the courts there made her a Ward of Court to prevent her from doing this but somehow they seem to have got around this.
The relevant authorities are no longer 'officially' recognising age related World Records as such cos eventually we will have a 10 yr old trying to break a 12 yo record? Where does it stop??
The relevant authorities are no longer 'officially' recognising age related World Records as such cos eventually we will have a 10 yr old trying to break a 12 yo record? Where does it stop??
well we will claim her asan Aussie
" of the coast of New zealand".....thats near tASMANIA ISNT IT
Oh we have not forgotten Laura Dekker, best as i can tell she is close to appearing on our Pacific Radar...
26-3-2011
Today the three boats I was with for the past days are setting sail. Probably I will meet many of them again in Panama. A lot of paperwork is waiting for me there, too. The boat has to be measured, I need to have four line handlers [people who willl handle the lines/cables while in the canal], also four long and thick cables, good boat fenders , and there is still much more which has to be organized. But I am looking forward to it. The Panama Canal seems to be very beautiful, but completely different from here. Mountains, monkeys and crocodiles – all with a view of the white beach, blue water and islands full of palm trees here. By the way, it is nuts that all the coconuts belong to the Kuna Indians, and because of that you are not allowed to eat them... Even though they are almost drowning in them since there are so many. After some busy days spent snorkelling, swimming, knee boarding (with my self-made kneeboard) and notably having so much fun of course doing schoolwork, maintenance work on the boat and preparing for the rest of the journey, I will take some rest today. Many boats will set sail today, but many other boats will be coming in though, so there is a chance to make new contacts.
Laura
ww.lauradekker.nl/English/News.html
26-3-2011
Today the three boats I was with for the past days are setting sail. Probably I will meet many of them again in Panama. A lot of paperwork is waiting for me there, too. The boat has to be measured, I need to have four line handlers [people who willl handle the lines/cables while in the canal], also four long and thick cables, good boat fenders , and there is still much more which has to be organized. But I am looking forward to it. The Panama Canal seems to be very beautiful, but completely different from here. Mountains, monkeys and crocodiles – all with a view of the white beach, blue water and islands full of palm trees here. By the way, it is nuts that all the coconuts belong to the Kuna Indians, and because of that you are not allowed to eat them... Even though they are almost drowning in them since there are so many. After some busy days spent snorkelling, swimming, knee boarding (with my self-made kneeboard) and notably having so much fun of course doing schoolwork, maintenance work on the boat and preparing for the rest of the journey, I will take some rest today. Many boats will set sail today, but many other boats will be coming in though, so there is a chance to make new contacts.
Laura
ww.lauradekker.nl/English/News.html
robplum: Oh we have not forgotten Laura Dekker, best as i can tell she is close to appearing on our Pacific Radar...
26-3-2011
Today the three boats I was with for the past days are setting sail. Probably I will meet many of them again in Panama. A lot of paperwork is waiting for me there, too. The boat has to be measured, I need to have four line handlers [people who willl handle the lines/cables while in the canal], also four long and thick cables, good boat fenders , and there is still much more which has to be organized. But I am looking forward to it. The Panama Canal seems to be very beautiful, but completely different from here. Mountains, monkeys and crocodiles – all with a view of the white beach, blue water and islands full of palm trees here. By the way, it is nuts that all the coconuts belong to the Kuna Indians, and because of that you are not allowed to eat them... Even though they are almost drowning in them since there are so many. After some busy days spent snorkelling, swimming, knee boarding (with my self-made kneeboard) and notably having so much fun of course doing schoolwork, maintenance work on the boat and preparing for the rest of the journey, I will take some rest today. Many boats will set sail today, but many other boats will be coming in though, so there is a chance to make new contacts.
Laura
ww.lauradekker.nl/English/News.html
26-3-2011
Today the three boats I was with for the past days are setting sail. Probably I will meet many of them again in Panama. A lot of paperwork is waiting for me there, too. The boat has to be measured, I need to have four line handlers [people who willl handle the lines/cables while in the canal], also four long and thick cables, good boat fenders , and there is still much more which has to be organized. But I am looking forward to it. The Panama Canal seems to be very beautiful, but completely different from here. Mountains, monkeys and crocodiles – all with a view of the white beach, blue water and islands full of palm trees here. By the way, it is nuts that all the coconuts belong to the Kuna Indians, and because of that you are not allowed to eat them... Even though they are almost drowning in them since there are so many. After some busy days spent snorkelling, swimming, knee boarding (with my self-made kneeboard) and notably having so much fun of course doing schoolwork, maintenance work on the boat and preparing for the rest of the journey, I will take some rest today. Many boats will set sail today, but many other boats will be coming in though, so there is a chance to make new contacts.
Laura
ww.lauradekker.nl/English/News.html
I think she's learnt from a very young age some awesome thing's, an example of a child that WASN'T wrapted up in cotton wool
Instead of sitting in front of JUST the computer, she is out there exploring!! GOOD ON HER!! 
I think ALOT of kid's out there could look to her and THINK if she CAN....i CAN!!! If you do your homework, and have the strength and knowledge behind you....YOU CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING...Even if you are JUST 14!!!....Let's NOT forget....girl's were having babies BACK in the day at that age!!....it's gotta be better than that at her age!! 
Laura is growing up fast
30-3-2011
After a night crossing from San Blas Islands to Shelter Bay in Panama, the
adrenaline rose to my head. The crossing was great with only a little swell
and wind speeds of 10 to 15 knots [18 to 28 kilometres or 11 to 17 miles per
hour; force 3 to 4 on the Beaufort scale]. Early this morning I arrived in
Panama, right into the thick of crowds of people and cargo ships. I have been
busy non-stop since. The press people stood immediately in front of my nose,
and because the Shelter Bay Marina sponsors me, I could not ignore them.
They always ask me the same questions over and over again and are often
clueless about me. This time, I even was asked my name......! She really did
not know, and I was so perplexed it took me a while before I could utter that
my name is Laura. Sure I was tired after the night crossing, and now I really
felt very tired of all the people around me pretending to be interested and
knowledgeable about me. My good mood slowly faded to an inner anger that I
always feel when people treat me like a celebrity. And then they often come
up with the most mind boggling or stupid questions.
Enough negativity, I should try to look at the bright side of things as I always
do. I have a berth in harbour again and I have already managed many things
for the passage [through the Panama Canal]. Besides I have met again with
the great people I was with in the San Blas Islands for a week. I wanted to
write earlier but because of all the hustle and bustle, I only got around to do
so now. So now I will take some rest and I will also try to keep my Blogs up to
date in the future.
Please see the Dutch language Blog or go to http//:solozeilster.hyves.nl for
the pictures from the past weeks.
30-3-2011
After a night crossing from San Blas Islands to Shelter Bay in Panama, the
adrenaline rose to my head. The crossing was great with only a little swell
and wind speeds of 10 to 15 knots [18 to 28 kilometres or 11 to 17 miles per
hour; force 3 to 4 on the Beaufort scale]. Early this morning I arrived in
Panama, right into the thick of crowds of people and cargo ships. I have been
busy non-stop since. The press people stood immediately in front of my nose,
and because the Shelter Bay Marina sponsors me, I could not ignore them.
They always ask me the same questions over and over again and are often
clueless about me. This time, I even was asked my name......! She really did
not know, and I was so perplexed it took me a while before I could utter that
my name is Laura. Sure I was tired after the night crossing, and now I really
felt very tired of all the people around me pretending to be interested and
knowledgeable about me. My good mood slowly faded to an inner anger that I
always feel when people treat me like a celebrity. And then they often come
up with the most mind boggling or stupid questions.
Enough negativity, I should try to look at the bright side of things as I always
do. I have a berth in harbour again and I have already managed many things
for the passage [through the Panama Canal]. Besides I have met again with
the great people I was with in the San Blas Islands for a week. I wanted to
write earlier but because of all the hustle and bustle, I only got around to do
so now. So now I will take some rest and I will also try to keep my Blogs up to
date in the future.
Please see the Dutch language Blog or go to http//:solozeilster.hyves.nl for
the pictures from the past weeks.
21-4-2011
Unlike yesterday there was no wind at all last night and so to the noise of the engine, Guppy softly slid over the moonlit sea at a speed of 3,5 knots [6,5 kilometres or 5,6 miles an hour]. Last night I heard a thump, a sound meaning that I had hit something. Most likely it was a tree trunk, there are many adrift around here. I cannot find any visible damage, probably because we weren't moving so fast when we hit, as I think. There is some wind now and Guppy is running under sail again. Luckily the sky is a little cloudier for Guppy nowadays is more like an oven during the day with the sun straight up above.
Laura
20-4-2011
Last night Guppy made very good progress. I have had wind so I travelled 140 nautical miles or so since I left [259 kilometres or 161 land miles]. Yesterday evening, I was accompanied for almost two hours by a school of about 30 dolphins. They played along with the boat, looked up pryingly and then dived away. Today I have not yet seen any dolphins, and unfortunately it is the same with the wind. The good wind has disappeared again, and Guppy and I are now slowly bobbing towards the Galápagos Islands and the equator! I think I will be sailing across it in about five days into this trip!
Laura
19-4-2011
The Pacific Ocean is great! On my trip to the Las Perlas Islands I saw dolphins, a jumping ray, a shark and a whale! I have seen more in one day than during six month in the Atlantic Ocean. The anchorage and the scenery were not so nice though, so on the following day I sailed to La Esmeralda, a small village on the south coast of Isla del Rey along with another boat. The scenery and the anchorage are better here. There are tall cliffs with much greenery. The water is a bit colder because of the cold Gulf Stream. The anchorage is not very clean and there are many jellyfishes, so I had to skip scrubbing the underwater hull of my boat. This morning I set sail towards the Galapagos Islands. At the start there was not much wind but since the wind picked up. The swell is soft and large here, and with the halfwinder, the mainsail and the mizzen up, I am going at a speed of 4,5 knots [8,3 kilometres or 5 land miles an hour]. Just so I won't break any speed records...
Laura
Unlike yesterday there was no wind at all last night and so to the noise of the engine, Guppy softly slid over the moonlit sea at a speed of 3,5 knots [6,5 kilometres or 5,6 miles an hour]. Last night I heard a thump, a sound meaning that I had hit something. Most likely it was a tree trunk, there are many adrift around here. I cannot find any visible damage, probably because we weren't moving so fast when we hit, as I think. There is some wind now and Guppy is running under sail again. Luckily the sky is a little cloudier for Guppy nowadays is more like an oven during the day with the sun straight up above.
Laura
20-4-2011
Last night Guppy made very good progress. I have had wind so I travelled 140 nautical miles or so since I left [259 kilometres or 161 land miles]. Yesterday evening, I was accompanied for almost two hours by a school of about 30 dolphins. They played along with the boat, looked up pryingly and then dived away. Today I have not yet seen any dolphins, and unfortunately it is the same with the wind. The good wind has disappeared again, and Guppy and I are now slowly bobbing towards the Galápagos Islands and the equator! I think I will be sailing across it in about five days into this trip!
Laura
19-4-2011
The Pacific Ocean is great! On my trip to the Las Perlas Islands I saw dolphins, a jumping ray, a shark and a whale! I have seen more in one day than during six month in the Atlantic Ocean. The anchorage and the scenery were not so nice though, so on the following day I sailed to La Esmeralda, a small village on the south coast of Isla del Rey along with another boat. The scenery and the anchorage are better here. There are tall cliffs with much greenery. The water is a bit colder because of the cold Gulf Stream. The anchorage is not very clean and there are many jellyfishes, so I had to skip scrubbing the underwater hull of my boat. This morning I set sail towards the Galapagos Islands. At the start there was not much wind but since the wind picked up. The swell is soft and large here, and with the halfwinder, the mainsail and the mizzen up, I am going at a speed of 4,5 knots [8,3 kilometres or 5 land miles an hour]. Just so I won't break any speed records...
Laura
1-6-2011
Even though Hiva'Oa and all of its so very kind people are real beautiful, Guppy and I have travel urges again.. There is nothing that will hold us. Guppy feels clean and tidy, the water tanks are full and - not the least that's for sure – I have real original French baguettes on board. Today I will hoist my anchors for the 770 nautical miles route to Tahiti [1426 kilometres or 886 land miles]. With all the reefs and many atolls that lie just above the water surface this will a bit more difficult run! Most of the yachts are staying here for quite some time and so this means that each one goes his own way. And so it is time to go meet new people and to visit more Pacific islands.
Laura
Even though Hiva'Oa and all of its so very kind people are real beautiful, Guppy and I have travel urges again.. There is nothing that will hold us. Guppy feels clean and tidy, the water tanks are full and - not the least that's for sure – I have real original French baguettes on board. Today I will hoist my anchors for the 770 nautical miles route to Tahiti [1426 kilometres or 886 land miles]. With all the reefs and many atolls that lie just above the water surface this will a bit more difficult run! Most of the yachts are staying here for quite some time and so this means that each one goes his own way. And so it is time to go meet new people and to visit more Pacific islands.
Laura
8-7-2011
I am moored in Tonga. Last night I tried to sail very slowly, but I still was too fast even after replacing the Genoa by the storm-jib, Guppy was still doing 3 knots! At dawn, the very much slower Midget 26' sailboat had catched up with me and we sailed in together behind a large cruise ship, following in its wake – going in between all the rocks and small islands towards the anchorage. This really was the best approach I ever did. The islands and the rocks looked so magical and beautiful in the morning light, with the palm trees standing out of all the greenery, and the whole scene shrouded in a soft light mist. Tonga is very beautiful. I spent most of the day clearing customs, which is not that easy to do over here, even though everybody is very kind about it all. I had to do a bunch of paperwork for the immigration office, the customs, the quarantine office and much more until everyone was happy.. Oh well, I have plenty of time. Then I enjoyed an ice-cold Cola on a terrace, satisfied to see Guppy lying at anchor between many other yachts - this was an exhausting trip and I should have been taking a rest instead. But oddly enough, I was not really tired even though I had not slept at all the night before. I wanted to enjoy my very first day in Tonga, and that went well. I guess tonight I'll sleep pretty good... As for tomorrow, we'll see…
Laura
I am moored in Tonga. Last night I tried to sail very slowly, but I still was too fast even after replacing the Genoa by the storm-jib, Guppy was still doing 3 knots! At dawn, the very much slower Midget 26' sailboat had catched up with me and we sailed in together behind a large cruise ship, following in its wake – going in between all the rocks and small islands towards the anchorage. This really was the best approach I ever did. The islands and the rocks looked so magical and beautiful in the morning light, with the palm trees standing out of all the greenery, and the whole scene shrouded in a soft light mist. Tonga is very beautiful. I spent most of the day clearing customs, which is not that easy to do over here, even though everybody is very kind about it all. I had to do a bunch of paperwork for the immigration office, the customs, the quarantine office and much more until everyone was happy.. Oh well, I have plenty of time. Then I enjoyed an ice-cold Cola on a terrace, satisfied to see Guppy lying at anchor between many other yachts - this was an exhausting trip and I should have been taking a rest instead. But oddly enough, I was not really tired even though I had not slept at all the night before. I wanted to enjoy my very first day in Tonga, and that went well. I guess tonight I'll sleep pretty good... As for tomorrow, we'll see…
Laura
I am eager to get back at sea and feel the freedom of being just Guppy, I and nature .. It will be a large passage of some 2400 miles to Darwin [4445 kilometres or 2763 land miles],with the notorious Torres Strait on the way.. This also means that I am leaving the Pacific Ocean, which is another milestone on my journey..
robplum: I am eager to get back at sea and feel the freedom of being just Guppy, I and nature .. It will be a large passage of some 2400 miles to Darwin [4445 kilometres or 2763 land miles],with the notorious Torres Strait on the way.. This also means that I am leaving the Pacific Ocean, which is another milestone on my journey..
Good luck Alby rob mangles
I had aspirations to concur the oceans in a yaught once.But i kept hearing that song "six months in a leaky boat".
aussielegend41: Good luck Alby rob mangles
I had aspirations to concur the oceans in a yaught once.But i kept hearing that song "six months in a leaky boat".
I had aspirations to concur the oceans in a yaught once.But i kept hearing that song "six months in a leaky boat".
yacht to
oh its not me, i've done my sailing sydney to port dounglas in a twenty foot hood.
Thats Laura Dekker a kiwi born 14 year old dutch girl who is or about to head towards Darwin
Thats Laura Dekker a kiwi born 14 year old dutch girl who is or about to head towards Darwin
robplum: oh its not me, i've done my sailing sydney to port dounglas in a twenty foot hood.
Thats Laura Dekker a kiwi born 14 year old dutch girl who is or about to head towards Darwin
Thats Laura Dekker a kiwi born 14 year old dutch girl who is or about to head towards Darwin
I knew that rob..i was refering to your last post saying you might be returning to see..
yeah but perhaps you missed another post where someone said she didn't like going below into the cabin...story of my life...
Life is but a Dream...
Life is but a Dream...
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Born aboard of a boat off the coast of New Zealand, from a young age Laura Dekker has dreamt about sailing. But Laura is more a do-er than a dreamer. When she was six she sailed her Optimist dinghy across the lake where she lived. As she gets older, she wants to go further. – too far for some. She has already sailed her boat Guppy twice to Friesland, where she had a six week vacation, and now she intends to pursue her dreams far beyond local mudflats and waters. She wants to circumnavigate the globe – a massive aspiration for a young girl.