Dutch bid to thwart young sailor

“Social workers in the Netherlands have taken legal action to try to stop a 13-year-old girl from sailing around the world on her own.
They want Laura Dekker to be made a ward of court, so that her parents, who support her plans, temporarily lose the right to make decisions about her.“

This, of course, sounds completely insane, but no more insane than the fact that she was born on a yacht during a round-the-world trip and did seven-weeks solo when she was eleven. Now she’s looking so set off around the world and apparently already has sponsors, but that nasty, no-good Dutch government never lets anyone have any fun. She’s aiming to beat the record for youngest sailor to circumnavigate the planet, currently at seventeen and held by American Zac Sunderland.

Of his travels, Sunderland said, “In other countries, 13 people are living in a dirt hut and when you meet them, they’re the kindest, most generous people,” which is basically what the rest of America thinks about ‘other countries’. Dekker, on the other hand, had something a little more insightful.

“I want simply to learn about the world and to live freely.”

Me too Laura, me too.