Laura Dekker - Youngest Circumnavigator to Sail Alone Around the World

[thomm225]

It's a pretty good video with Laura Dekker explaining as it goes.....

She had a bit of a background unlike most teens which helped enable her to successfully sail around the world

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRU8tIxroN8

[David M]

I hope she is not the one who sailed around Antarctica and called it sailing around the world. Someone actually did that.

I know a retired submariner whose boat went through the ice at the North Pole. Some of the crew walked around the boat and they called it walking around the world. They also walked so fast that they beat the sun around the world.

As I see it, if one has not sailed at least the circumference of the world (21,639 NM) then they do not hold that claim.

[thomm225]

Looks like she sailed about 27,000 miles. And did it as a teenager.......alone.

[David M]

Excellent. Quite an accomplishment. She must have blown the minds of distant cultures who never imagined such a thing.

[keith4001r]

And cue the folks who will bash her in 3...2...1...

[nwdiver]

Originally Posted by keith4001r

And cue the folks who will bash her in 3...2...1...

It was debated to death here, WHEN IT WAS HAPPENING, I just hope it doesn't lead to someone younger trying.......and if they do try we all ignore it........

[Foolish]

I met Laura for a beer when she visited Victoria last year. Very nice girl who accomplished something quite amazing. She now lives, with her husband, on a small boat in Oz. Plans to keep on living that way forever I guess.

Laura circled the globe near the equator, with lots of stops along the way. My other good friend, Jeannne Socrates (the oldest woman to solo circumnavigate) crossed paths with Laura in South Africa.

It was based on her adventure (and two other solo circumnavigators) that the sailing world stopped acknowledging "youngest" feats of daring-do. They did not want even younger attempts that might end in tragedy.

And by the way, Jeanne is just arriving back in Victoria for another attempt at being the oldest human (male or female) to circumnavigate after an aborted attempt last year. At the same time, Stanley Paris is attempting the same on his brand new carbon fibre boat. He's 80 I believe.

[akprb]

We raised our daughters onboard, 4 and 1 when we started.......

One day, well over a decade later, I found myself watching "Maidentrip" on Amazon.

One daughter came downstairs mid movie and caught me in tears.

What a story........was moved by her relationship with her father, their challenges with their government, the trip itself and her Frank and honest commentary.

Gosh, I can't wait to get back out there :-)

[De.windhoos]

Originally Posted by David M

I hope she is not the one who sailed around Antarctica and called it sailing around the world. Someone actually did that.

I know a retired submariner whose boat went through the ice at the North Pole. Some of the crew walked around the boat and they called it walking around the world. They also walked so fast that they beat the sun around the world.

As I see it, if one has not sailed at least the circumference of the world (21,639 NM) then they do not hold that claim.

No that was Lisa Blair. First female to try sail around Antarctica below 45 parallel non-stop. She had to make 1 stop after she broke her mast, but then sailed back to where it happened and completed her circumnavigation.
I don't know about you, but I have the utmost respect for any sailor who sails the roaring forties, furious fifties or screaming sixties! And I'm in awe when people doing it solo.

[silverbeard1]

David M untie the dock lines & venture outside the break walls, But first, put down the Drink. Slip sailors have a habit of spilling when ever someone makes a little wake. LOL

[Fence Man]

We just watched it again last night. Quite an impressive young lady.

[TheThunderbird]

I love and admire it and them all

But i dislike it if done for record-breaking
I just hope it is not the case

[oregoncycle]

She did this for the shear joy of sailing and the challenge it provided..

[coastalexplorer]

Having watched several versions of her story. I got a sense of her humility and her honesty that it was all about her dream not what any other people thought. I did not pick up on any intention of desiring to claim a record. It seemed more of a case of others pointing that out as such; So Laura reiterates that fact.

Clearly from birth to the time she left she had a very unique childhood where the training for what she set out to accomplish was a way of life that she accepted and took ownership of. The result being almost parallel to the ultimate sail training objective. or perhaps quite a bit beyond it.

How many people toward the end of their life talk about their 'Bucket List' and world travel? then set off on a futile attempt to achieve it? This planet is just to large to see it all in one life time. By the time you get back to the same place twice it all will probably have become changed.

I support youth education so I feel very emotional to see a young person make such a outstanding start to her life. and I hope Laura sails back some time soon to the islands that she had to miss to keep her weather window open.

[Maka]

An amazing feat. She is a special human being.