Speaking of Circumnavigations...

[Joe]

Laura Dekker just transitted Panama Canal and is preparing for the South Pacific chapter in her adventure. If I ever did the circumnavigation thing... I'd do it her way. She is taking the true cruiser's approach..Waiting for weather windows, leapfrogging her way from one interesting destination to another and taking the time to learn about each place. There seems to be a wide network of Dutch cruisers, but she seems to be perfectly able to meet new people and make friends quickly. She has occassional visits from family members along the way. So she hasn't been too homesick... she even made a trip back to the Netherlands a few weeks ago for some promotional activities.

Her blogs are somewhat simple... she's nowhere near the journalist that Jessica was, in english anyway, don't know how to rate her dutch... also, no Skype, no live broadcasts on National TV... and she doesn't have near the funding that the other girls did... but...I like what she's doing.

My biggest question is what route she intends to take when crossing the Indian Ocean, Through the middle east or around south africa. That will be at least a year away.. she has plenty of time to decide... Which Route Would You Take?

Laura Dekker -

 

[HukilauMike]

Was this the girl who was the subject of the court battles about whether her country was going to allow her to leave on her voyage? How old is she? I don't mean to stir up the usual hornet's nest here, I'm just having trouble remember which one is which in the pantheon of teenage circumnavigators.

 

[Joe]

Yes... she's fourteen ... going on 25. The case was in the Dutch court and it took a while to get approval....and IMHO the age thing has become a non issue. She has a tremendous amount of experience.. for any age. Plus... it's a cruise, not a race or record attempt.

 

[HukilauMike]

Right, now I remember. Thanks.
I must admit, I don't get it. As much as I questioned the motives and wisdom of the other two girls' voyages, at least I understood why they were going solo. But as you say, Laura's voyage does seem to be a cruise, and I don't understand anyone who wants to cruise alone. I will sail for a few hours by myself, but for me, the greatest joy in cruising is sharing the experiences. Maybe I've hit the age where I don't feel the need to do something just to prove that I can, but I can do without the loneliness and sleep deprevation. Another example of "to each his own".