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Laura Dekker - Source: ONE News -
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A 13-year-old Dutch girl is fighting to be declared a New Zealander to help achieve her dream of sailing around the world all on her own.
Laura Dekker dreams of breaking the world record to be the youngest person to sail around the world solo.
But child protection authorities in the Netherlands are trying to stop her. They are concerned about the dangers of a solo voyage for a girl aged 13, although her parents approve of the venture.
Dekker's lawyer Peter de Lange says the authorities' fears are groundless.
"The average maximum time she will be sailing alone during those two crossings, the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean part, is three weeks. And during the rest of the sailing trip she will be on the mainland. So during this time she can study, have contact with her parents or friends," he says.
Kiwi round-the-world sailor Sharon Ferris says age is not so much a factor on the open seas, but experience.
"I think if she's got the skills and the capability then she should be encouraged to do it, because the world needs good role models these days and she's obviously one of them," Ferris says.
Netherlands authorities are so concerned about the teenager's wellbeing they have asked a court to grant custody to Child Protection so it can do what her parents refuse - halt her bid to set sail.
That is something the teen finds a bit overwhelming. She had to stand before the judge and says the issue is "all a bit exaggerated".
But the teenager does have another option. She was born off the coast of New Zealand and is fighting to be declared a Kiwi to dodge the Netherlands authorities.
If she gets a New Zealand passport she is hoping to start her round the world trip from New Zealand shores.
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