Dutch teen in battle to sail solo

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Thirteen-year-old Laura Dekker wants to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world, and her parents think that’s a great idea.

But the Dutch Council for Child Protection is so concerned about the dangers of the marathon voyage it has asked a court to grant it temporary custody of Laura so it can do what her parents refuse to: Halt the trip.

Judges at Utrecht District Court will announce Friday whether they will scrap Laura’s record-breaking plans. In the meantime, the legal battle has ignited a wide-ranging debate in this traditionally seafaring nation about the role that parents should play in their children’s risky adventures.

The rat race to become a so-called “super child” — the youngest to accomplish some grueling feat — can be fueled by ambitious parents, laser-focused children with talent or youngsters with a deep need to please or be praised, psychologists say.

Dutch social workers fear that could be an issue in Laura’s case, for she lives with her Dutch father who is divorced from her German mother.

“Laura has divorced parents and it is very normal for a child of this age to be very loyal to the parent [he or she] is living with,” Child Protection spokesman Richard Bakker said. “How much does she identify herself with her father, who is a good sailor?”

Laura and her father appeared at a court hearing Monday to discuss the council’s request, but the mother did not show up, Bakker said.

Laura was born in New Zealand while her parents were on a round-the-world sailing trip and spent the first four years of her life on the ocean.

Laura said she had been sailing solo since she was six and began dreaming of sailing around the world when she was 10.

“In the beginning, they asked if I was sure I really wanted to do it,” she said. “They have sailed around the world so they know what could happen and that it’s not always fun, but I realize that too. But I really wanted to do it so my parents said, ‘Good, we’ll help you.’”