Column-Logbook for the Algemeen Dagblad
June 23, 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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Tropical aquarium


With so many kinds of corals around and all the tropical fishes swimming under the bow I really have the impression that Guppy and I are floating in some sort of tropical aquarium. I am now in Bora Bora and my arrival was quite something. Still at sea I spotted an anchorage with a big yacht near to it so I thought that it would be deep enough for Guppy. But as I carefully navigated the coral reefs I came about a huge brain coral and bumped into it! And again at the second try. So I gave up and I went to another mooring further away, a floating one. This a bit scary because you never know how long it has been there and if it has been maintained properly so there is always the possibility that you might drift away along with the mooring. Luckily this did not happen. So I dived under Guppy to check on her hull and clearly she was undamaged. Bora Bora is really great and it is easy to understand why so many people come over here for their honeymoon. It is really a beautiful green tropical island with clean white beaches and fantastic diving spots. I have been cycling around the island and gone hiking with an American couple. We made a long trip through the mountains on top of which we could see Bora Bora and all the surrounding islands too. Just wonderful! Also I went sailing with my MiniCat, cleaned-up Guppy, and today I will go snorkelling with a local couple. So I am busy-busy all the time. I will be staying here until the weekend, and then I will head for the island of Niue which is one of the largest coral atolls in the world. This will be a 1100 nautical miles leg for eight days of sailing. There I will have almost reached the halfway point of my journey. Great!

Regards, Laura