"I want to show children and teenagers how they can go their own way and fulfil their dreams. They should learn to overcome obstacles and face challenges instead of always choosing the path of least resistance. Just like I experienced and learnt at their age."
These are the words with which the now 23-year-old Dutchwoman Laura Dekker describes her current endeavour. Over seven years ago, she herself set off on a round-the-world voyage with her "Guppy" after having to overcome numerous hurdles.
Specifically, Dekker is planning to build a boat, the "Guppy XL": a two-master, seaworthy, 24 metres long and equipped with many berths. She wants to take it on a cruise, accompanied by children and young people.
Dekker: "They should lend a hand on board and learn how to manage a sailing ship. Because then they automatically learn what it means to work in a team, to tackle tasks together and to take responsibility for themselves and others." All of this is lost nowadays because young people often don't have to take care of anything themselves and are no longer taught to be independent.
Dekker plans to sail in stages along the coasts of Europe with children aged nine to twelve. She also wants to go on longer trips with twelve to 17-year-olds, for example across the Atlantic to the Caribbean.
A compilation of Dekker's adventures
Her project is still in its infancy. Dekker is therefore currently looking for sponsors to support the Building a ship financially. She estimates that she needs one and a half to two million euros. She has therefore launched an online fundraising campaign ( www.gofundme.com ).
The reactions to her project so far, which she has received from all over the world, have been extremely positive. Dekker is therefore also optimistic. In three years, the sailor hopes to set off on her first voyage with "Guppy XL".
Background: the sailing girl and her boat
From 2011 to 2012, the New Zealand-born Dutchwoman sailed around the world in her "Guppy"; Dekker was only 14 years old at the start of the voyage. When she publicised her plans two years earlier, she met with great resistance. Youth authorities even wanted to ban the trip. With the help of her father in particular, Dekker nevertheless managed to realise her dream.
In August 2018, the "Guppy" was lost on a reef off the Cook Islands. Dekker had previously left the boat in New Zealand, where she had been living in the meantime, to an organisation that helps children. After a book about her journey was published in 2013 ("Ein Mädchen, ein Traum", Delius Klasing), Dekker only returned to the attention of many sailors in this country a few months ago: Deutsche Bank had hired her for an image campaign.
