Please select your home edition
Edition
Allen Brothers

15-year-old solo sailor Laura Dekker reaches Fiji

by Nancy Knudsen on 18 Jul 2011
Laura exploring in her dinghy in Tonga SW

Laura Dekker, 15-year-old Dutch sailor embarked on a solo world cruising voyage in her 38ft ketch Guppy, has reached Suva in Fiji, and is now well on her way to have conquered her second ocean.

Leaving from Europe almost one year ago (she is on Day 331 now) after a long fight with Dutch authorities to allow her to embark on such a journey, Laura has had a mostly uneventful journey. She has negotiated successfully through some of the most challenging waters and overcome all navigational problems like a true seasoned cruising sailor.

In her voyage from Tonga to Fiji she has had to negotiate many islands and reefs as well as fishing boats, as it is quite a complicated sail, even for cruisers with plenty of crew.

Laura reflected, in her undemonstrative way, her pleasure at arriving in Suva, saying, 'Guppy has come through unscathed from the reefs and I dropped anchor in Suva at midnight.'

The young sailor then slept the rest of the night before preparing to get out her dinghy to go through customs and immigration clearances in the busy port this morning.

The other piece of good news for Laura revolves around her HF radio which had 'died', and appeared to be unable to be repaired.

In Laura's words, 'Icom America came up with very good news. They will sponsor me with a whole new SSB radio! I'm REALLY SUPER happy, because when I do my next trips I do not have to wonder where everyone is and how they are doing ...'

Well done, Laura, Sail-World commends your achievements so far!

Cyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERHyde Sails 2024 - One DesignV-DRY-X

Related Articles

43 Copa del Rey MAPFRE Day 2
Early Bird rises to coastal challenge to retain perfect scoreline The four divisions which are competing for the ORC European Championships titles at the 43rd Copa del Rey raced their statuary coastal race around the Bay of Palma and out to its western fringes today.
Posted today at 9:28 pm
2025 iQFOiL Youth & Junior Worlds, day 6
Medal Series line-up locked in With just one day to go before the champions are crowned, Day 6 at the 2025 iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championships delivered high-stakes racing and emotional turning points.
Posted today at 9:18 pm
Rolex Fastnet finishers wait with bated breath
Aiming to claim the elusive prize for IRC Overall Celebrations were finally subsiding this morning in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin's Port Chantereyne following Peter Harrison, Pierre Casiraghi and the Yacht Club de Monaco team's superb victory in the successfully rejuvenated Admiral's Cup.
Posted today at 9:12 pm
Anticipation rises in centenary Rolex Fastnet Race
The podium places in the different classes have begun to take shape Of the 444 yachts competing in the centenary edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race, some 380 are eligible for overall victory under IRC Time Correction.
Posted today at 3:42 pm
Admirals Cup: Day 8 - Minnows win AC25
Two small sailing countries have struck a hammer blow for the sport, taking top places in AC25 In a result that is a hammer blow for the sport and the revival of major offshore teams trophies, Monaco and Hong Kong have provisionally taken first and second in the world championship of offshore racing.
Posted today at 3:15 pm
A Crown for the Principality
Yacht Club de Monaco wins the 2025 Admiral's Cup The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) is delighted to announce the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) as the winner of the 2025 Admiral's Cup.
Posted today at 12:41 pm
49er & 49erFX Junior Worlds kicks off in Rungsted
Officially opened last night with a vibrant Opening Ceremony Today, we proudly welcome 105 teams and 210 athletes from across the globe to Rungsted for the start of the 49er and 49erFX Junior World Championship 2025.
Posted today at 10:56 am
RS Feva Worlds Qualifying Series complete
Sailors split into three flights of yellow, blue, and red Two days of qualifying series with 168 boats on lake Bourget, Club Nautique Voile d'es Bains, sailors split into three flights of yellow, blue, and red.
Posted today at 10:24 am
A defining finale to the Admiral's Cup 2025
Provisional results are in and the overall winner will be officially announced today At the end of the 5th day of the Rolex Fastnet Race just 7 boats in the Admiral's Cup fleet were still racing. The majority had moored up in Cherbourg and the dock was filled with sailors and supporters sharing a beer, a slice of pizza and their stories.
Posted today at 9:50 am
Etchells prepare for 2029 Worlds in Geelong
With the Etchells Australasian Summer Championship in January The next Etchells World Championship in Australia will be held at the Royal Geelong Yacht Club in January 2029. To help Australian sailors prepare, on 8-11 January 2026 the Royal Geelong Yacht Club will host the Etchells Australasian Summer Championship.
Posted today at 9:20 am