Teenage Sailor Laura Dekka Has Left The Canary Islands On Her Cicumnavigation

Teenage Dutch sailor Laura Dekka, who is attempting to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world, has resumed her voyage after departing A Canary Island marina.

Writing on her blog Friday, Dekker said she has already sailed 240 nautical miles (276 statute miles) since leaving Spain's Canary Islands on Wednesday and has 540 nautical miles to go to her next port of call, the Cape Verde islands, off west Africa.

The 15-year-old started her trip from Gibraltar on Aug. 21 in her twin-masted sailboat Guppy and has spent two months in the Canary Islands waiting for the hurricane season to pass.

Strengthening winds are pushing her along at 7.6 knots, she wrote, "so I am making very good progress." She expects to be at sea for a week before seeing the islands.

Dekker's venture stirred an intense debate about whether young people should be allowed to sail the world's oceans alone.

Source Laura Dekka and The Washington Post

Dutch Teenage Sailor Arrives In The Canary Islands

14-year-old Dutch sailor Laura Dekka who is aiming to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world says she has reached Spain's Canary Islands off but declined to say exactly where she was.

In an email to The Associated Press, Dekker said she would not specify where she was for fear of attracting the press. She also said she did not know how long she would stay in the Canary Islands. The trip has been shrouded in secrecy since the start. Dekker has also sold exclusive TV rights to her voyage to a Dutch media company. Laura's website features links titled "My Coordinates" and "Where is Laura," but neither was working when I last visited the site, I also walked round our local marina, Corralejo, here in Fuerteventura but sorry I could not see her, so no scoop for World Marine Guide. As we reported on the 23rd August she is expects to stay in the Canaries while waiting for the Atlantic Hurricane season to end. During her stay she will be able to catch up on her schoolwork, receive family visits and install cameras on her yacht for a film to be made of the voyage, she is also considering a trip home.

Source www.worldmarineguide.com