Flanked by her father (left) and lawyer, Laura Dekker faced the media Monday. The court wants psychologists to assess the teenager’s capacity to undertake such a risky voyage.
(Bart Muhl/Associated Press)
Dutch court stalls global sail for girl, 13
Flanked by her father (left) and lawyer, Laura Dekker faced the media Monday. The court wants psychologists to assess the teenager’s capacity to undertake such a risky voyage.
(Bart Muhl/Associated Press)
UTRECHT, Netherlands - Dutch judges yesterday called a 13-year-old girl’s plan to sail solo around the world “undeniably daring and risky,’’ but refused to scupper it completely, in a high-profile clash between child-care authorities and liberal Dutch parenting.
A panel of three judges at Utrecht District court ordered authorities to take temporary guardianship of Laura Dekker, delaying her plan to set sail next week on her 26-foot yacht, Guppy, and become the youngest person to sail solo around the world.
In her first reaction, Laura appeared unfazed by the ruling.
“I wouldn’t go if I or my boat wasn’t up to it, so things have stayed the same, except it is going to take a little longer,’’ Laura told Dutch national broadcaster NOS.
The court appointed a child psychologist to report on her capacity to cope with the risks she faces and the possible harm of two years of isolation.
The ruling came a day after 17-year-old Mike Perham of Britain grabbed the crown that Laura covets.
After crossing the finish line, the teenage sailor listed some of the physical skills Laura will need to complete her trip.
“It’s whether she’s got the physical strength, the mental strength, and the technical ability,’’ he said. “You know, can she strip an engine blindfolded? You know, can she build boats, is she an electrician, is she a mechanic as well - because you can’t just be a sailor to do a trip like this.’’
The Utrecht court will make a final decision in Dekker’s case on Oct. 26.
Laura ignored the legal storm swirling around her and took advantage of fresh winds whipping across the Netherlands yesterday to - what else? - go sailing.
Her lawyer, Peter de Lange, said that if Laura gets the green light in two months, her record bid would still be on track, although she may have to take her boat to Portugal to avoid autumn storms that regularly lash the Bay of Biscay.
Laura’s father, Dick Dekker, was in court for Friday’s decision but said nothing to a scrum of reporters following the case. He is divorced from Laura’s German mother, who has made no public comment.
Laura was born on a boat in New Zealand and spent the first four years of her life sailing around the world with her parents. She also spends her holidays sailing off the Dutch coast.
In May, British authorities briefly detained Laura after she arrived alone in the eastern port of Lowestoft and said she planned to sail home alone, de Lange said.
© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.
