Laura Dekker is Galapagos-Bound

It’s been awhile since our last report on Laura Dekker, the 15-year-old Dutch girl who wants to become the youngest solo circumnavigator aboard her Jeanneau Gin Fizz Guppy. After crossing the Atlantic — from Cape Verde to St. Martin — in December, Dekker cruised the Caribbean, and spent 10 days crewing aboard the tall ship Stad Amsterdam. She arrived in Shelter Bay, Panama, and spent a week and a half exploring the area, making new friends and acting as line-handler on another yacht before getting the green light to take Guppy through. On April 12, Dekker entered the Pacific. On Tuesday, Guppy sailed away from the Las Perlas bound for the Galapagos and, as of yesterday, she was making steady progress with no problems.

For all of the negative press Dekker’s adventure has received because of her age, not the least of which has come from Latitude, we are impressed by her progress and apparent seamanship. As we have from the start, we continue to wish her nothing but the safest of journeys.