Column-Logbook for the Algemeen Dagblad
August 24, 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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Land!


Hooray! I passed through the Torres Strait. This leg has been very tough at times weith heavy squalls and high waves that made me dizzy. The last part through the Van Dieman Gulf up to Darwin was stressful too. It was like sailing the Waden Sea, but bigger with sandbanks and strong currents and a 7 meter tidal range and so I had to sail close hauled all the time in sometime very shallow water that makes for sharp and choppy waves that come splashing over. But I made it! – not without minor damages though. I am afraid Guppy will need an entire set of new sails. Both the Genoa and the mainsail are ripped and the storm jib and the mizzen won't last very much longer. The strong tropical sun and the big waves were more than they could take. The steering wheel almost falls off now so I am steering with the emergency tiller now. Many other small things need repais too but overall everything is fine and there are only a few miles left before I am ashore. And so I have to steer with the emergency tiller. I could name many more little things but all in all everything goes well - really. There are only a few miles left to go and then I will be ashore again. Anairplane from the Australian Customs flew over us a few times and it made for a funny situation. The alarm on my radar system went off telling me that I was probably on a collision course with another boat, but as I looked around I could not see one and then...'Sailing ketch, sailing ketch' came a voice over my VHF radio, and that is when I realized that it was the airplane causing this and that it was me they were calling. They asked me many questions and wanted lots of information about me. It would seem that coming in unseen to Australia is quite impossible. I hope that the Customs people on shore will be nice to me too. I have been told stories by sailors about how for one they turned his boat upside down, for another they took canned meat from his provisions and for yet another one they sealed all of his food telling him not to touch them until after his departure... Keep your fingers crossed! Anyway, I'll enjoy a good sleep soon after very little sleep for the past two days.

Good night,
Laura