Column-Logbook for the Algemeen Dagblad
April 13 (?), 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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There is not a column by Laura this week.
This is a translation of the journalist Suzanne Docter article for the Algemeen Dagblad on that week.

"Zeilmeisje Laura goes through the Panama Canal"

PANAMA CITY - This week Laura went through the Panama Canal, the only leg on her journey when she can't do just by herself – nor anyone else. At the world famous Miraflores locks Laura was looking very surprised. Several dozens of Dutch nationals stood on the sides waving to her.

'Look Laura, can you see all the people on the watch-tower? They are all waiting for you'. This comment for the young sailor, who is steering her ship into the world famous Miraflores locks at this very moment, maybe would sound like a joke. But as Laura takes a second look indeed there are many fans, dressed in orange shirts and carrying the flag of The Netherlands. She laughs hilariously. 'Are they here for me... There must be another Dutch boat coming through?' she thinks as she waves towards the tower. No, the people are waving back to her.

One day back at anchorage off the city of Colón. Around 3 PM Laura is waiting for the pilot who will guide her trough the Panama Canal. Spending her time wisely she jumps into the water, snorkel and putty knife with her. Indeed Guppy is not going as fast as she could. Laura dives under her boat and cleans the propeller from algaes and snails. 'That makes a big difference in speed'.
A little later, pilot Francisco shakes the hand of the 15-year-old HAVO student [school between junior high and high school] - "Soon I change to class five" -, who is surprised to learn that she is Guppy's captain. He winks and then briefs her on the approach to the first lock and the ship heavy traffic. Unaffected by this Laura knows that this is a usual thing which all goes to show that she has grown during the nine months since her departure. But not height wise, she still can't top Madonna, not even on high heels, but as for personal development... She has shaken off the very last rest of her childishness and now demonstrate politely but plainly what she wants and how she wants it.


CROCODILE

Guppy has become the home for this petite and diminutive tanned blonde, the walls of her cabin decorated with pictures of friends, family and places. 'During the past year I have been getting used at living alone. It will feel strange tonight to have all that many people here with me', she says of the crew she has to be with because of the regulations. This crew is made of a Panamanian pilot, who will go back home in the evening and four line handlers that Laura can choose. Laura has asked friends to be 'cable operators'. 'Sailors help each other and I have recently been a line handler for another boat to get the hang of it'. Just a little time before she goes through the very first lock that will lift Guppy 27 metres up [81 feet] Laura greets an Australian captain. Laura's yacht and his will be tied together as they go into the lock at snail pace. Exchanges take place. 'Have you noticed that big crocodile on the shore', the Australian asks seriously, it just slipped into the water where it is now'. But Laura's attention is called somewhere else, not forgetting about those 'drifting logs', but to the strong cables that are being throwned at the yacht from the lock's sides. Not only do they have to be tied to eachside of the boat, they also have to be kept tight as the water level rises up inside the locks. Laura knows that sometimes the handling of the cables goes wrong. 'I don't really want to know how many fingers or toes lie at the bottom of the middle lock' she says.

PANCAKES

Heading for the locks Laura is guided to her temporary mooring on the large lake surrounded by tropical rainforest. It is just a buoy where she will spend the night. A little later her Australian friends and an American couple join in. Laura plays a little guitar and bakes pancakes for her guests. Beers and make believe stories are shared. Did Laura know that there once was a surfer who went through the Canal or that there had been a Japanese with no hands that circumnavigated the world? Laura then spends the rest of the night sleeping in a hammock under the starry sky at a neighbour’s catamaran. Around five in the morning a group of howler monkeys start screaming from the rain forest waking everyone up.

Laura has a new pilot onboard who urges her to hurry up. By noon she has to be at the Miraflores locks. So everyone realizes that the stay inside the Panama Canal lake is over. The evening ends with a barbecue when all line handlers bid farewell to Laura. In a few days she will be on the Pacific Ocean, heading for Australia. 'I don't find it too difficult to be on my own again, as a sailor one is bound to meet many other ones. You meet again and part in many unusual places. Little by little I am making my own family here at sea.