When 16-year-old Laura Dekker tied the knot off St. Maarten on Saturday 21st, she became the youngest person to circumnavigate the world alone. It’s a remarkable achievement. As Laura and her now not-so-bright-red 38ft Gin Fizz ketch Guppy entered the Simpson Bay Lagoon, hundreds of spectators went wild. Mega yachts blew their sirens, people cheered, vuvuzelas screeched and drinks flowed at the yacht club bar. Exhibiting the same skills that saw her tackle the oceans of the world, Laura brought Guppy alongside the dock at the St. Maarten Yacht Club and stepped ashore into the arms of her family. Laura’s voyage wasn’t without problems, but it wasn’t to do with the sea. Officials in Holland tried to prevent her from sailing and at one point even took her away from her parents and placed her in care. If Laura reads this Blog, and she might because I have interviewed her twice, she will be annoyed that I have brought up the subject of her fight with the authorities. She makes no secret about the fact that what the authorities did now haunts her. The sailing press is more inclined to focus on Laura’s remarkable achievement; however, much of the media is still banging on about her problems before she set sail. Some go as far as saying the officials were right and the voyage, by someone so young, should not have been allowed. Hypocritical bastards! These are the same reporters that every week fill the tabloids with photos of teenagers rampaging through British towns and cities, fueled on cheap booze and ecstasy, puking, pissing on war memorials and lying unconscious in the street. These are the same governments who introduced draconian laws to protect people from themselves, to coddle and control. Who turned kids into namby-pamby wimps whose only exercise is to lift the latest model cell phone to their ear or demand their parents buy them expensive and worthless designer training shoes. The Nanny-State … you got what you wanted, control. Along the way you gutted a whole generation. You would never see Laura Dekker lying drunk in the gutter in the freezing rain waving her legs in the air and showing her underwear, or lack of it, while her mates take pictures with their cell phones to later share on YouTube. Laura Dekker took on the establishment and won. She showed them what can be achieved by someone so young. Teenagers owe her a huge debt of gratitude. Sadly, too many of them are too dumb to know it. Commentsallewaert 01/29/2012 07:39
Haar vader is Dick Dekkers. ken 01/29/2012 07:56
in one ! 01/29/2012 08:26
As a fellow single-handed solo circumnavigator I will be proud to have my name alongside Laura's when it is added to 'The List' of the Joshua Slocum Society. A magnificent feat for such a young person. P Hillegonda 01/29/2012 08:43
Allewaert....I presume that you have never met Dick Dekker? Otherwise you would not have made that idiotic remark. If it was all about money, then they should be very rich, with over 40 million viewers having watched Laura's arrival on the news. Dick has total trust is his daughter's capabilities. And capable she is.....that is without question. Father, daughter bond is also healthy, tender and respectful. 01/29/2012 08:50
allewaert, thank you for leaving a comment. I don't speak Dutch so had to rely on Google Translator. I am sure this is a fairly accurate translation: trienke 01/29/2012 08:59
My goodness, this dutch comment above is not what sailors stand for. There was a very good piece in " de Vaarkrant" about Laura, which was very positive too, like your publication. Thank you for it. I am of opinion that only those who have been at sea on a sailing vessel know how one can be taken by it and know how lovely it is. We have another one: Henk de Velde! Your translation was quite good. 01/29/2012 13:04
Merci Monsieur Gary E. Brown d’exprimer un point vu courageux puisque notre société actuelle est une société de moutons et de formatage des individus. Les Pink Floyd en 1979 dénonçaient déjà dans « The Wall » le formatage des jeunes par cette société de tyrannique et dégénérescente. Car il s’agit bien de lâcheté que de ne pas vouloir prendre le moindre risque dans ses choix, et a laisser la société assumer les responsabilités pour eux. Pourtant la hollande a connu bien des grands navigateurs ambitieux et conquérants. rightstuff9 01/29/2012 22:26
Excuses for Dutch, because they're quick shooting from the hip. Especialy when they feel a sting because a determined person stands out. Lamenting about they also want to take there kids on vacation in schooltime. Because sailing round the world is a vacation and a peace of cake for the Dutch all born with VOC-mentality. Richard W 01/30/2012 01:57
@ rightstuff9 Thank You for Your comment which I couldn't agree more! 01/30/2012 03:23
Here is a rough translation of comments made by Jacques Lamblot, using Google Translator and my own terrible understanding of French - Gary Bill Sandreuter 01/30/2012 05:13
Everyone should consider opinions that differ from theirs - even if they are expressed in polarizing, uninformed, or emotional ways. The internet lets us perceive the diverse opinions within the world's population - and provides the opportunity to advance our understanding of each other. Jan Heckman 01/30/2012 23:25
I am a 69 years old Dutchman, "post-active" (retired) and an avid sailor. Miles Long 02/02/2012 15:16
Those who dare to accomplish the seemingly impossible...and succeed...pass on their genes to succeeding generations. Leave a Reply |  
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