Laura Dekker sails into NZ

19/03/2013 11:29:18 a.m.

Richard wrote:

I suspect the truth is somewhere between the PR image and the projection people place upon her. I watched her boat being prepared in Shelter Bay, Panama by (presumably) her father and other crew, and it looked to be a professional, properly funded operation. As to those who bemoan the fact that she wasn't chained to a school desk? You've got to be kidding if you think what this young person has experienced and accomplished in the school of life is not more valuable than any book learning.

11/03/2013 8:44:07 a.m.

STEN DANIELSON wrote:

Dontask me to publish my honest jugment over Marie de Vries artcile about Laura. It should be censored as insulting! Let me only say that I am a great fan of Laura, that she has shown a phantastic courage and sail skillfulness and like other young solsosailors as Mike Perhem, Zac and Abby Sunderlandand and Jessica Watson
has survived all adventures. They are all, not least Laura, brilliant examples for all youth! As a blogger (sign George")wrote a couple of days ago: "Laura is a headhard woman with a heart of gold". We need such people! God
bless her!

Sten Danielson, Stockholm, Sweden

28/11/2012 1:11:35 a.m.

amir wrote:

very good

13/09/2012 5:49:15 a.m.

Bob Lemke wrote:

I don't pity Laura, instead have nothing but admiration for her. If her dad is a boat bum, he is in good company on this forum. To raise a child who has such self confidence should be what Dick is judged on, not the lack of material possessions. If given a free reign, a person like Laura will always land on their feet. I've had some correspondence with Laura's former agent, he had nothing negative to say about her family, and only positive comments about Laura. She is in a position to guide her own life now and I have no doubt she will do a fine job as for what works for her and what makes her happy. I hope she goes through the paperwork of gaining an emancipated minor status for herself so that she is able to conduct business on her own behalf. By publishing her book in NZ, she will save quite a bit in income taxes over what she would of had to pay in the Netherlands. I hope she gets it published before the Christmas buying season. Dick did a great job raising Laura, and she will do just fine in any endeavor she sets that headstrong mind of hers to doing. Hammond, as a Dutch citizen you were also privy to all the local negative press during the trial, and now that Laura has turned her back on the Netherlands you might be feeling betrayed. This long article by Geoff Cummings tells the story, warts and all. I've known of the wrist slashing during her darkest time fighting for her dream but didn't want that to over shadow her tough, fight on, attitude. Hammond, take the time to read it and you will learn something about Laura that the Dutch news filters would have never let see the light of day. She finally feels comfortable with media, but that has only been the case since arriving in NZ. In closing the Dutch had their chance to champion Laura's efforts but instead petty local bureaucrats needed to stroke their own ego, so Laura has turned her back on the entire lot. Many Dutch were positive.

9/09/2012 4:35:25 a.m.

Georg wrote:

Great achivement, Laura, Gods bless, all the best! Georg

7/09/2012 2:12:23 a.m.

European wrote:

It is the kind of reactions like that of Marieke de Vries that made Laura leave the Netherlands. This, and some more negative information, has been spread bij some dutch childcare authorities and partly by some media companies that did not get an exclusive contract for reporting about Laura's journey. The least one can say is that the Dutch public has not been informed objectively and there has been created a very negative attitude against Laura and her family. In most other European countries people think that Laura is an inspiration for their kids - a girl of now 16yo that not only has dreams, but puts everything in it to make them come true! I think New Zealand has welcomed a valuable new resident that, with only very little support, could be a well known name in the sailing sports in the comming years.

5/09/2012 3:44:03 a.m.

À visser wrote:

Well done laura

5/09/2012 2:48:44 a.m.

À visser wrote:

Well doen Laura

5/09/2012 1:40:55 a.m.

Marieke de Vries wrote:

Living in the Netherlands, Laura Dekker's background is rather well known to us. Her parents got divorced when she was very young, the father has more or less permanently lived on public assistance for the last fifteen years and Laura grew up in poverty. Laura's voyage should have created revenue to pay off the debts the family incurred, but since nearly all contracts the family signed with media and sponsors were broken, the plan did not work out. Now Laura, at the age of sixteen, finds herself at the other end of the world, without any plans or income, no school qualifications, nothing whatsoever. The family has created a myth that she was born on a boat in New Zealand waters, spent her childhood in New Zealand and has always wanted to return. Fact is that she was born in a hospital in Whangarei, and the parents (who came to NZ as tourists) tried to apply for residency on the grounds that they were entitled to stay since they needed to look after the child (who was NZ by birth). The ploy did not work out, and they were expelled when they overstayed their visa. All in all, Laura has spent less than three months on NZ soil.

This girl is to be pitied with the kind of parents she has.

Now she is back, apparently. I wonder if she will invite her parents for family reunification.