Column-Logbook for the Algemeen Dagblad
July 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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In Fiji


There are more photos of me in Fiji than I thought. There is one of my mother with her long hair pushing me in a baby wheel-carriage around a market in Suva, the Fiji Island's capital. I went for a short visit to that very same market and I even spotted where the photo had been taken - I am going to take a picture of myself at the very same place. It is a bit strange to be back after fourteen years. I would really like to go sailing to Whangharei, the town where I was born in New Zealand. Sadly I don't have time to do so but on my next world trip I will for sure. And it is the same for all those beautiful places I had to leave much too soon. Fiji sure is beautiful. I arrived here Sunday in the evening and that made it complicated, not just because it was night and I had to go around the reefs but also because you can't leave your boat before the customs and immigration representatives have come aboard for their inspection. In my case I had to wait for a whole day. As I was finished with the clearance procedure the Sogno d'Oro came chugging in to anchorage – that is Henk Oosterwijk's sailboat, the solo sailor I came to know via SSB radio when I was still off the coast of Tonga. We departed from Tonga at the same time but Guppy is a longer boat which means that she is faster than Henk's Midget sailboat. I had promessed Henk that I would treat him to some pancakes on his arrival. But the customs officers decided it was too late to start the clearance procedure for him so I was not allowed to go aboard Sogno d'Oro. Still I went anyway and brought pancakes over to him - I know too well that you don't feel like cooking after a crossing. I don't plan to stay in Fiji too long but I will take the time to visit around a little. I am also invited on a diving tour for a few days aboard a square-rigged sailing ship that is anchored nearby. Until next week - most likely from the Pacific Ocean again.

Regards,
Laura