A court will decide today whether Laura Dekker, a Dutch 14-year-old who wants to sail solo around the world, will be taken out of her father's care after she ran away to the Dutch Antilles island St. Maarten.
The decision was postponed because Laura's lawyer challenged the impartiality of the three judges hearing the case. The three were the same judges that made Laura a ward of court in October. The challenge was rejected.
Laura, who went missing on Friday, returned to the Netherlands on Tuesday after she was spotted by a member of the public, who reported the sighting to the police.
On her return she was questioned by police. She had travelled to St Maarten via Paris on her New Zealand passport, which had been renewed via London.
Laura Dekker made the headlines in September, when her plan to be the youngest person to sail solo around the world was revealed. At the time she was 13 years old. Her plans for a two-year voyage around the world on her yacht Guppy was thwarted by the Dutch authorities. She is currently staying with friends of the family.
Laura Dekker and her father Dick Dekker - ANP
Email this Article
Printer-friendly version
Well at the age of 14, i do not think she should be given permission to sail alone. She is a kid still let her wait for a couple of years more and then maybe she should sail at sweet 16:)