Column-Logbook for the Algemeen Dagblad
Thursday, October 14, 2010

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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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Souvenir


"When will you go sailing? When will you REALLY start on your Journey?" I am constantly asked this question on my website. Well, for 52 days now I am on my round the world journey. Since I left Gibraltar [August 21st], I have already traveled 1575 kilometres [979 land miles]. Many people believe that the starting point of my voyage will be when I start crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Sailing along the coasts, watching for under water rocks and ship traffic is much more stressful than crossing the ocean for three weeks! I will go across after the storm season is over which should be by the end of November. I am not in a hurry since my voyage might last for two years and my safety is what is the most important. The biggest benefit of having to wait is that I have plenty of time to spend in Gran Canary. This way I can work ahead of schedule on my schoolwork, follow a diving course just like I did today or go for a walking tour in the mountains. The island is still full of surprises for me. One moment you believe yourself to be in the middle of the Sahara desert and the nex you are standing in a coniferous forest complete with a mountain lake. I would like to keep a souvenir of each of the places I visit. At first I thought of filling a bottle with the local sand but if I start doing this Guppy will end up crammed full of these in no time which might mean trouble when they go flying through the cabin as we are sailing the open seas. It would be more reasonable to collect smaller objects. From Lanzarote, I just kept a small piece of stone. I still have two weeks in front of me to think about what souvenir to keep from Gran Canary, and then I will be "really" sailing heading for the Cape Verde Islands. As for now Guppy has to move and this evening, I will head for a new anchorage which belongs to a family who does dolphin-watching tours. I will also be allowed to berth for a week in a small harbour on the east coast of the island. Great news, my mother and my sister are coming over to visit. We have talked to each other often dor the past months but still it feels like ages since the last time I saw them.

Regards, Laura