Column-Logbook for the Algemeen Dagblad
March 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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This is the journey of my dreams


I did not know that just one week in the Netherlands could be that tiring! Don't get me wrong, it was really very nice go back but it was exhausting. It happened all in a straight sequence, flying, running, doing speeches and interviews, but also giving sailing lessons at the HISWA and with many other things to do. Still, I spent all the time I possibly could with my parents, my family and my friends. In the end I could not do all the things I had planned doing. On Wednesday, my father and my grandparents took me to Schiphol airport and here I am now back home aboard Guppy. In a few days I will set sail, first to Curacao or Aruba for provisions and diesel in prevision of the Pacific Ocean crossing, and then on to San Blas Islands. Many sailors like me make a last stop there before going through the Panama Canal. In itself going to the San Blas Islands is exciting to me. I have heard that real Indians live there and that you can pay for things with coconuts. One coconut is worth ten cents [ 1/10 Dollar US ]. I am curious to see this with my own eyes. I have been asked many times why I am not sailing non-stop around the world like Jessica Watson did. The answer is that the way I am doing my journey is for me to sail around the globe while at the same time seeing as much as I can of the people and the countries I will visit. As such each new destination is a lesson in geography, biology, history, English or... I believe I will learn more than I would have in two years at school. So even though it would be great if I finish my journey as the youngest person ever to do so, it is also important to me that this be the journey of my dreams. I am on this journey for myself, not because of anyone else.

Until next week, Laura