THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Two Dutch child care agencies disagreed yesterday about whether a 14-year-old sailor is ready to embark on a risky solo voyage around the world.
Youth workers who have been monitoring Laura Dekker for months told a closed-door court hearing they believe she is now ready to set sail and asked judges to end a guardianship order imposed last year amid fears for Dekker’s safety.
“Based on the sail plan Laura has shown us and on signals from school, we say there is no need to prolong’’ the guardianship, said Joost Lanshage, a spokesman for the Bureau for Youth Care, the agency that has monitored Dekker.
But the Council for Child Care, a more senior agency, said it is still concerned about her emotional development and asked the court to prolong the guardianship for another year.
A ruling is scheduled for Tuesday.
Dekker’s lawyer Peter de Lange did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
Dekker was made a ward of the state last year after her plan to try to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world raised concerns over her physical ability and her social development.
Both her parents, who are divorced, back the plan.
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