Dutch Court Rules Against Laura Dekker's Sailing Odyssey

By Daniel Bigler :: Friday October 30, 2009

The final verdict is in: A Dutch court has decided to bar 14-year-old Laura Dekker case from setting sail around the world solo.

“Concerns for her safety are so grave that they constitute a serious threat to her interests should she set sail now,” the presiding judge ruled in the Utrecht district court in the central Netherlands.

“Laura Dekker is hereby placed under the care of child care services until July 1 2010.”

She’ll be forced to remain where she is for now, at least until the end of the school year in eight months when the court’s order expires.

Laura, at least, seems to be taking the decision fairly well:

“It’s probably the most prudent if I just finish this school year” which ends in May, she said, citing the arrival of winter weather and a need for preparations before she departs on her 26-foot (8-meter) boat named “Guppy.”

As for me, I’m thinking up a whole host of cuss words to call the Dutch courts. That the need for adventure, risk and exploration doesn’t register in their minds as having an equal weight along with psychological and emotional well-being is, I think, a disheartening tragedy.

Children need to take risks, explore their unknown, and experience adventure in order to live fully.

Tagged under: adventure, free range kids, laura dekker, risk, sailing :: #

Everyone Needs Adventure

By Daniel Bigler :: Wednesday September 2, 2009

For the past couple days, I’ve had quite a bit rolling around in my head that I’ve wanted to say about the recent ruling by the Dutch courts to (at least temporarily) not allow 13-year-old Laura Dekker to sail around the world on her own. Hers is an inspiring example that doesn’t come along often, and I’m left stunned that there’s such vehement opposition to her planned journey.

Then I found that earlier today Graham – writing at the We Love You So blog – said everything I could wish to say about the ruling, in a way that’s ten times better. So, I’ll leave you with that instead:

“Every child needs an adventure of some kind. The process of becoming an adult is predicated on exercises in independence, facing up to intimidating circumstances, and finding out what it means to be alone. Laura Dekker is simply ahead of the curve.”

– We Love You So

(Via David Anaxagoras.)

Tagged under: adventure, free range kids, kids, laura dekker, sailing :: #