Column-Logbook for the Algemeen Dagblad
April 21, 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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Sailing with a school of 20 dolphins behind me


Yippee! I have started the big crossing of the Pacific Ocean. Earlier this week I was at anchor for two days off the Las Perlas but now I am heading for the Galápagos Islands. In two days of sailing I have seen more sea creatures than during the whole crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. I have seen a whale, a shark, many rays and today I was followed by a school of some twenty dolphins. Although I had already seen dolphins from time to time, I had not yet seen so many of them at the same time. I took many pictures of them. The Pacific Ocean is nice to sail because beside many other reasons, the swell here is much longer so the boat doesn't rock so much and it is getting warmer which is not unusual. In a few days I will cross the equator that is on my route in any case and on a solo circumnavigation it must be crossed at least once. The only unpleasant thing at this time is the lack of wind. It often disappears during the day and then comes back at night, so I had to run the engine on the first day which I didn't like. But yesterday things were much better so that in 24 hours I covered 140 nautical miles [259 kilometres or 161 land miles] which is a lot for one day. I don't know yet how it will be today. With a little luck I should be in the Galápagos Islands in 7 or 8 days at which time I want to go see one of the Sea Shepherds projects which is an organization that I support. It is committed to protecting life in the world's oceans, and it is now involved in a project to protect turtles that are about ten times older than me. I am curious.

Regards,

Laura