I’m so happy for Laura Dekker.
Laura is a 14yro Dutch girl with big ambitions and lots of persistence.
She wants to circumnavigate the world, singlehanded (with stops).
If you remember Laura was told by a court a few months ago that she couldn’t go because she was too young and inexperienced. She’s just managed to talk them round and, as I understand, has already set off!
Whether she completes it or not, as far as I’m concerned, isn’t the point. She’s managed to get to the starting line which, for her, has been incredibly tough in itself. I can only start to imagine her frustrations!
Jessica Watson – a 16 year old Australian, recently successfully completed a non-stop circumnavigation.
But I have so much respect as well for American teen Abby Sutherland as well. She set out on a circumnavigation, got demasted in the south seas and ended up getting rescued.
What makes Abby, Jessica and Laura different is that they had a dream, and they gave it the best they could. It wasn’t easy for any of them – there were hurdles to get to the start line but they all got there. If they hadn’t have tried. None of them would have got there.
This is the AP story about Laura’s breakthrough!