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Old 08-28-2009, 02:25 PM
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News Dutch 13 year old sailor put under state care

Okay, this is why the call the Netherlands a Nanny State I guess:
Quote:
A Dutch court has put a 13-year-old girl under state care for two months, stalling her bid to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world.

The decision by three Utrecht judges means Laura Dekker's parents, who support her plans, temporarily lose the right to make decisions about her.

A child psychologist will now assess her capacity to undertake the voyage.

Miss Dekker, who was not at the court, will continue to live with her father, Dick Dekker.

Mr Dekker - who did not make any immediate comment on the ruling - had earlier had a request for her to miss two years of school turned down.

Miss Dekker had planned to spend about two years aboard her 26ft (8m) boat, Guppy, to break the record set this week by a 17-year-old UK boy.

Mike Perham tackled 50ft waves, gale force winds and technical problems during the 28,000 mile (45,000km) circumnavigation, which took him nine months.
BBC NEWS | Europe | Dutch sailor girl put under care

Earlier this week it appeared the British already placed her in foster care before :
Quote:
British police earlier this year briefly held the 13-year-old Dutch girl, Laura Dekker who is planning a solo sailing trip around the world, her lawyer has confirmed.

In May, Ms Dekker sailed her 8.3m yacht Guppy from the Netherlands to Lowestoft on the English coast, the Volkskrant daily reported on Thursday.
When she prepared to set off for the return voyage across the North Sea, local authorities judged it too dangerous for a 13-year-old to be at sea alone. They telephoned the girl's father Dick Dekker and asked him to come over and accompany his daughter on the trip home.

Solo crossing
When Mr Dekker refused to comply with the request, Lowestoft authorities placed Laura in a children's home. On her website, Laura briefly refers to this episode in veiled terms, saying "In England I met a couple who run a children's home. They were very kind and showed me many nice spots in England."

Mr Dekker then changed his mind and travelled to the UK. When Laura was with him on the Lowestoft quayside, he decided she was able to go and make the crossing on her own, as had been the plan all along, and sent her off. The British police then contacted their Dutch colleagues, who alerted the social services' youth care bureau.
Solo-sailing Laura was in British custody | Radio Netherlands Worldwide

Apparently her mother is not all that happy about the whole thing though:
Quote:
Laura's divorced parents are experienced yachtspeople and approve of her ambition to become the world's youngest around-the-world solo sailer. Her father supports her wholeheartedly, while her mother appears to have resigned herself to it, in order to preserve the relationship with her daughter.
I can imagine she may be relieved the court has stopped the girl.
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Old 08-28-2009, 02:28 PM
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Default Re: Dutch 13 year old sailor put under state care

Detained for a thought crime. No actual voyage had been commenced.
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Old 08-28-2009, 02:30 PM
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Default Re: Dutch 13 year old sailor put under state care

Well, she's not been detained.

I am not sure about this, on the one hand I don't like the state intervention too much but on the other hand, someone has to be an adult here and tell her no. Or at least try to assess whether she is up to it (they might still say yes).
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Old 08-28-2009, 02:33 PM
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Default Re: Dutch 13 year old sailor put under state care

I stand corrected, a voyage from The Netherlands to Britain had already occurred before she was detained by British police.
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Old 08-28-2009, 02:42 PM
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Default Re: Dutch 13 year old sailor put under state care

I think it's cool. I hope she gets to do it. She's the same age as a lot of sailors and ship captains were in days of olde.

Mostly, I can't imagine what the state thinks she can learn in two years of school that would be more educational than a solo trip around the world.
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Old 08-28-2009, 02:44 PM
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Default Re: Dutch 13 year old sailor put under state care

I was reading an article on this girl yesterday, she spent 9 weeks at sea, alone when she was 11. :blink:
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Old 08-28-2009, 02:47 PM
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Default Re: Dutch 13 year old sailor put under state care

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Originally Posted by Ensign Steve View Post
I think it's cool. I hope she gets to do it. She's the same age as a lot of sailors and ship captains were in days of olde.
If we're doing this dayes of yore style, then let's do it right. She needs to pretend to be a boy and then lie about her age.
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  #8  
Old 08-28-2009, 02:48 PM
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Default Re: Dutch 13 year old sailor put under state care

Either that or start birthin' babies. And die in childbirth.

I am serious about the educational part, though.
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Old 08-28-2009, 02:49 PM
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Default Re: Dutch 13 year old sailor put under state care

That works too, one way or another, she'll end up with that crippling iron deficiency.

ETA: Damn, you edited in the bit about dying. I guess she'll die iron deficient.
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Old 08-28-2009, 02:49 PM
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Default Re: Dutch 13 year old sailor put under state care

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Originally Posted by Adam View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ensign Steve View Post
I think it's cool. I hope she gets to do it. She's the same age as a lot of sailors and ship captains were in days of olde.
If we're doing this dayes of yore style, then let's do it right. She needs to pretend to be a boy and then lie about her age.
And then die of scurvy.
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Old 08-28-2009, 05:20 PM
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Default Re: Dutch 13 year old sailor put under state care

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Originally Posted by Watser? View Post
I am not sure about this, on the one hand I don't like the state intervention too much but on the other hand, someone has to be an adult here and tell her no. Or at least try to assess whether she is up to it (they might still say yes).
If both parents are experienced sailors, I can't think of anyone qualified to make such an assessment who is better motivated to ensure she's not taking anything likely to be a fatal risk.

NTM
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  #12  
Old 08-28-2009, 05:30 PM
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Default Re: Dutch 13 year old sailor put under state care

That must be one hell of a life insurance policy.
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Old 08-28-2009, 05:35 PM
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Default Re: Dutch 13 year old sailor put under state care

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Originally Posted by California Tanker View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Watser? View Post
I am not sure about this, on the one hand I don't like the state intervention too much but on the other hand, someone has to be an adult here and tell her no. Or at least try to assess whether she is up to it (they might still say yes).
If both parents are experienced sailors, I can't think of anyone qualified to make such an assessment who is better motivated to ensure she's not taking anything likely to be a fatal risk.

NTM
Let me reiterate:
Quote:
her mother appears to have resigned herself to it, in order to preserve the relationship with her daughter
Seems to be some emotional blackmail going on there. Maybe an emotionally undetached person would be better motivated.


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Old 08-28-2009, 05:56 PM
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Default Re: Dutch 13 year old sailor put under state care

I think it's really cool that she has the maturity and skillz to be able to do it, and agree with ES on the educational opportunity of a fucking lifetime. I wouldn't want my young teen out there without me though. If the solo part is super important, than an accompanying separate boat maybe.

Quote:
had earlier had a request for her to miss two years of school turned down.
Do they not have a legal home school option there?
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Old 08-28-2009, 05:57 PM
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Default Re: Dutch 13 year old sailor put under state care

No, there is no such option here as far as I know.
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Old 08-28-2009, 06:09 PM
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Default Re: Dutch 13 year old sailor put under state care

They are a Nanny State when it comes to school it seems! However it looks like there are ways around the compulsory education laws

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Old 08-28-2009, 06:57 PM
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Default Re: Dutch 13 year old sailor put under state care

Quote:
Seems to be some emotional blackmail going on there. Maybe an emotionally undetached person would be better motivated.
Could be for any reason other than thinking she's not capable.

I mean, my parents are resigned to my poncing around the world going from war to war. They're not happy about it (Actually, they're strongly opposed but have given up on advising me to stop), but that doesn't mean that they don't think I'm capable of it.

NTM
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Last edited by California Tanker; 08-28-2009 at 07:17 PM.
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Old 08-28-2009, 06:59 PM
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Default Re: Dutch 13 year old sailor put under state care

True, but you are an adult. Big difference.

I would not have such reservations with what the girl wants to do if the main motivation wasn't to set some kind of record. That's why she has to do it now and not say in a couple of years. She wants to be the youngest person ever to do this.
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Old 08-28-2009, 07:26 PM
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Default Re: Dutch 13 year old sailor put under state care

As opposed to being the youngest person to climb Mt Everest, or the youngest person to cycle across Europe or something? Why not make a name for yourself? Is the question if they're capable of doing it, or is the question over some arbitrary decision like 'must have finished secondary school and reached 16 years of age?'

And are you suggesting that because I'm an adult, my parents don't love me as much as they did when I was 13?

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Old 08-28-2009, 07:33 PM
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Default Re: Dutch 13 year old sailor put under state care

It's both. There wouldn't be as much of a problem if she finished her schooling. And yes, the question whether she is capable is obviously connected to her age.

I assume your parents still love you but have accepted that you are old enough to make your own decisions.
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Old 08-28-2009, 07:44 PM
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Default Re: Dutch 13 year old sailor put under state care

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It's both. There wouldn't be as much of a problem if she finished her schooling.
Do you think she can learn more in a state school than she can sailing around the world?
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Old 08-28-2009, 07:48 PM
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Default Re: Dutch 13 year old sailor put under state care

Personally, no.

I don't see how she can learn so much more that way at 13 than at say 17 or 18 either though.
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Old 08-28-2009, 08:13 PM
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Default Re: Dutch 13 year old sailor put under state care

I'm glad they stopped her. Sailing around the world, by yourself, at 13? It sounds cool, but let's not forget about sharks, capsizing, icebergs, foreign ports, and any multitude of dangers she could encounter.

Bad, bad idea.
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Old 08-28-2009, 08:20 PM
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Default Re: Dutch 13 year old sailor put under state care

She obviously has the sailing skills and the drive and the maturity. And sailing is not illegal at age 13 that I am aware of. We let teenagers drive, lots of dangers everywhere. I don't think that should be reason enough to prevent her completely.

Requiring an escort boat so someone is nearby in case of trouble? That I can see.
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Old 08-28-2009, 08:31 PM
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Default Re: Dutch 13 year old sailor put under state care

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It's both. There wouldn't be as much of a problem if she finished her schooling.
Do you think she can learn more in a state school than she can sailing around the world?
Learn more about what? There are a lot of things that you can learn in a state school that you probably can't learn while sailing around the world solo, and vice versa.
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