Please select your home edition
Edition
Mackay Boats 728x90 TOP

15-year-old has just started circumnavigating, but the book is out now

by Sail-World Cruising on 9 Oct 2010
Laura Dekker on her way at last - her grandmother’s book now has a happy ending SW
Jessica Watson's book wasn't published until after she returned from her amazing voyage around the world, but the family of Laura Dekker are getting in early.

Riek Dekker had already started writing her book about the tribulations that her 14-year-old granddaughter Laura was experiencing when she was prevented by the Dutch courts from embarking on a solo circumnavigation.

The difference, she says now, is that the story has a happy ending.


The would-be solo sailor contemplated suicide when authorities continued to block her around-the-world attempt, her grandmother has related in the book which has just been published this week..

Riek Dekker says the family were very worried last year when the thwarted sailor girl absconded to St Maarten in the Caribbean.

In an interview with a Dutch newspaper, Riek quotes Laura as saying 'The time before I decided to run away and when I tried to slash my wrist was the hardest. I did not want to hurt anyone else, so I hurt myself. I really felt that I wanted to die. But heck, I couldn't do that to my family. So given the choice between death and disappearance, it was: off to St Maarten.' Laura managed to book a plane and fly to the island on her own in December 2009. She was spotted by a member of the public after a few days.

When the Netherlands' Child Care Bureau finally lifted its objections to Laura's solo trip, having ascertained that she was well-prepared, she set out on her record-breaking attempt on her sailing vessel Guppy from Gibraltar.

'She got up and hugged the mast,' Riek Dekker, Laura’s grandmother, told Dutch radio station Q-music shortly after the decision was announced. Riek said the decision was a huge relief for the family, and opines that Laura’s case was not handled correctly by child welfare organizations and the court.

The story of Laura's life, her love of sailing, her desperation when prevented from going sailing solo, her near suicide, her running away from home to the Caribbean, and the final happy ending are all detailed in the book, out now and published in the Dutch language.
Barton Marine Pipe GlandsC-Tech 2020 Battens 2 728x90 BOTTOMRooster 2025

Related Articles

Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup Day 2
Philip Köster triumphs again in Pozo Izquierdo The 37th edition of the Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup delivered a thrilling second day this Sunday, once again marked by strong winds and the talent of the world's best windsurfers.
Posted today at 8:47 pm
A perfect start to the 5th annual AEGEAN 600
Cloudless blue skies, crystal clear waters and perfect 12-15 knots of northerly wind At the very southern end of the Greek mainland at Cape Sounion in Attica, today's start to the 5th edition of the AEGEAN 600 was perfect: cloudless blue skies, crystal clear waters and perfect 12-15 knots of northerly wind.
Posted today at 8:39 pm
29er Europeans at Lake Garda day 4
One race, one storm, and one big lay day vibe With qualification wrapped and the fleet now split into six groups—Gold, Silver, Bronze, Emerald, Purple, and White—Day 4 of the 29er Europeans kicked off with early optimism and an earlier-than-usual launch in pursuit of the morning breeze.
Posted today at 7:09 pm
iQFOiL Worlds a Aarhus day 1
Full foiling conditions launch the World Championship with four high-intensity races for both fleets The iQFOiL World Championship kicked off today in Aarhus with dynamic and demanding conditions that truly tested the world's top foiling windsurfers. The wind was anything but steady, shifting in both direction and intensity throughout the day.
Posted today at 7:01 pm
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais overall
American Magic Quantum Racing win Rolex TP52 Worlds after breezy week in Cascais. Doug DeVos' American Magic Quantum Racing crew were crowned 2025 Rolex TP52 World Champions today in Cascais, Portugal.
Posted today at 6:54 pm
Red Bull Sailing Academy Opens
A new hub for current and future superstars to reach the top of their sport Marina Monfalcone, North Italy, made waves yesterday, as sports superstars gathered to open the Red Bull Sailing Academy, marking the beginning of a new era in the sport.
Posted today at 12:53 pm
Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup Day 1
Philip Köster edges out Marcilio Browne in one of the closest finals ever Philip Köster edges out Marcilio Browne in one of the closest finals ever as Pozo delivers 50 knot winds and waves.
Posted today at 11:42 am
America's Cup: French give the Brits the "Hurry-up
Frustration builds between Cup factions over lack of progress with Protocol. Last weekend's missive from the French America's Cup challenge team is further evidence over the building frustration with progress towards the 2027 America's Cup in Naples.
Posted today at 11:12 am
The oldest video footage of Moth sailing
A look back into our video archive, to when the name of this class first settled down We delve into our video archive to find the oldest possible videos that show Moth racing. Are these International Moths, British Moths... or was the name still Olive, Inverloch 11ft, National Moth or Brent One-Design?!
Posted today at 11:00 am
GKSS Match Cup & Nordea Women's Trophy overall
It is the first time the Match Cup Sweden title has been won by a Danish Skipper Denmark's Jeppe Borch/ Team Borch Match Race, and France's Pauline Courtois/ Match in Pink by Normandy crowned the new champions of Marstrand in a day of fierce weather for the final of 2025 GKSS Match Cup Sweden and Nordea Women's Trophy in Marstrand.
Posted today at 7:14 am