** Laura Dekker wins appeal **

[lenseman]

Court says Dutch teenager Laura Dekker can set sail

Laura Dekker in court, 24 August 2009 Laura Dekker began sailing solo when she was 10 years old.

A 14-year-old Dutch girl who wants to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world has won a court's permission to attempt the voyage.

The court in Middelburg lifted a guardianship order imposed last year, which placed Laura Dekker under the care of child protection services.

Laura must complete the two-year trip before she turns 17 in September 2012 to break the record.

The Child Protection Council of Utrecht, in the central Netherlands, asked the Middelburg district court a week earlier than scheduled to extend the girl's supervision by 12 months, citing fears for her social and emotional development.

Last December, a court ruled that Laura could remain with her father, despite his support for her plan to sail solo round the world.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10772051

 

[30boat]

I can see an ad in a few years going more or less like this:
-Foul weather gear with integrated diapers for the discerning solo sailor.Also available is a ,dedicated insulated bottle pocket with a heating element (at extra cost ,batteries not included)).

 

[lenseman]

One of the the routes that Laura Dekker intends is via Suez and the Gulf of Aden!

Everyone agrees. Laura Dekker should avoid a large part of the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden during her upcoming voyage around the world. And that's because of Somali pirate activity.

On Tuesday, a judge ruled that 14-year-old Laura Dekker may begin her solo sailing voyage around the world. The judge laid the responsibility for the decision as to whether she should go in the hands of the girl's parents. Laura wants to establish a new record as the youngest person to sail single-handed around the world.

Sailing advice
Privately owned yachts are being advised not to sail via the Gulf of Aden. The warnings come from, among others, the International Sailing Confederation ISAF, the European anti-piracy organisation Operation Atlanta, and NATO. Commodore Michiel Hijmans, from the Netherlands, is currently commanding NATO's Operation Ocean Shield in its bid to prevent piracy. He emphatically advises Laura Dekker against sailing through the Gulf of Aden.

"I would advise her not to choose the northern route. The Gulf of Aden and a large part of the Indian Ocean are currently under threat from piracy. The pirates usually pick slow-moving, easy-to-board vessels, and a sailboat is an obvious example of that."

http://www.rnw.nl/africa/article/watch-out-pirates-laura-0

 

[FlyingDutchman]

One of the the routes that Laura Dekker intends is via Suez and the Gulf of Aden!

It says it all.