How Young is Too Young to Cross the Ocean Alone?

Photograph by Bart Muhl/AP

Laura Dekker is a girl with a dream–to be the youngest person to circumnavigate (sail around) the world alone in her yacht, Guppy. Laura isn’t new to sailing. She was born on a boat in New Zealand, and was sailing solo on lakes when she was six years old. She sailed across the English Channel to England and back at her father’s insistence that she prove herself before tackling the open ocean. Laura is 13 years old.

A Dutch court has ruled that Laura is too young to make the trip alone, and has placed her under state supervision for two months to make sure she stays on dry land.

Do you think 13 is too young to sail solo around the world? How old do you think someone should be before sailing such a huge distance alone?

Read more about Laura Dekker on the BBC.

Read about a man’s attempt to circumnavigate the world on his own power on National Geographic Kids.

Comments

chelly
September 2, 2009, 8:30 pm

too bad but it’s kinda mean to to that to a girl with adream
hulahaley
September 2, 2009, 9:03 pm

wow this is amazing!!!!!
adream2follow
September 3, 2009, 3:13 am

no matter what you should always follow your dreams
rissa1324
September 3, 2009, 11:44 am

I think you are never to young to accomplish your dreams.

Go get ‘em Laura!
PokerFace514
September 4, 2009, 12:39 pm

I agree with adream2follow…You can never be to young or to small to acheive and follow your dreams!!!
Go For It Laura Live Your Dreams!!!
emshemie3
September 10, 2009, 6:44 pm

I believe Laura should be allowed to do it. I will be praying for her!
ElleAye
September 12, 2009, 8:58 am

Kids should explore the world in a young age.

Adventure knows no age.
sweetspiritc
September 14, 2009, 2:43 am

hello!
i am sweetspiritc
and i think this is awesome!! and im new i just made a account and i was wondering if someone could help me? because i wanted to make a craft thing and i don’t know how to! do if someone could help me that would be great!

love sweetspiritc :0)
hockeybabe2009
September 17, 2009, 5:35 pm

Don’t give up Laura!
Keep chasing your dream and don’t let anyone
tear you down.

Wishing you all the best,
Carly S.
PurpleAnimalLUV
September 22, 2009, 4:04 pm

No age is too young to explore. Keep it up Lauren just like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. he never gave up on his dreams and neither should you Lauren, I’m with you! But really, you are being watched to make sure you stay on the land?!?!?!? They can’t stop you emotionally, physically they can stop you but “One man that has a mind and knows it can always beat ten men who haven’t and don’t” and “I know but one freedom and that is the freedom of the mind.”

Let NOTHING stop anyone’s dreams!!!
marineboy8991
September 29, 2009, 6:45 am

They should let her do it! They are mean!!!
holla
September 30, 2009, 6:50 pm

they should deffenitly let her, i mean she has the right!!!!:0 everyone has the right!!;) even me and you!!!
Stardust
October 2, 2009, 10:45 am

I am 13 too and I would be furious if they stoped me doing anything I wanted to do. Keep on trying and NEVER give up. I belive you can do it and I am with you on this. Good luck in the future ang keep your faith.
Stardust
xxx
98
October 8, 2009, 5:52 pm

I think Laura should first prove herself and then she should be allowed to.
-98
thecampbell5
November 29, 2009, 11:40 am

I think that if she wants to do it, she should, and I disagree with the state having her under supervision to stay on land for 2 months.
19bean99
June 16, 2010, 1:44 pm

You should always follow your dreams.Just be very careful and make sure you have an expert and food with you.(=