Column-Logbook for the Algemeen Dagblad
January 10, 2011
Translation for Zeilmeisje Laura Dekker on Facebook
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Each week in her column-logbook for the Algemeen Dagblad Laura Dekker will relate her journey around the world aboard her sailboat Guppy on her attempt to become the world's youngest circumnavigator.
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Island hopping in the Caribbean


The most important reasons my world tour is going smoothly is that I don't think about possible problems before they actually happen. If something happens then I solve the problem on the spot. This is the way I am and this explains how I came to be aboard the "Stad Amsterdam". I had already been aboard several times visiting when I was asked if I would like to join for a tour as a member of the crew - "but we are sailing out in about four hours.” Well, of course I wanted to join! But the captain put down two conditions: as a minor I had to bring a written permission by my parents, and I had to take my schoolwork with me... Sigh... We have been at sea for a week now. Usually the “Stad Amsterdam” occupants are middle-aged people but this time they are students form the University of Maryland who are on a study trip that includes the visit of many volcanoes and the like. As I said, I am travelling as a part of the crew and I do night watches when it is great to be out on deck and look at the sails and the stars above me, and see the water glowing from the phosphor as the ship cuts into the sea. I have practiced using the sextant which was great! Using the position of the stars against the horizon, and knowing the date and the time I can exactly calculate our location. This is very useful in case of a malfunction of the digital navigation equipment. We were in the green and beautiful Dominica island but only for a very short time, so I will certainly come back with Guppy. We are now island hopping our way back to Sint Maarten where I will have to think about what islands I will visit on my way to the Panama Canal.

Regards,
Laura