Philosophy
Laura Dekker, 14, who won a legal battle to sail earlier this year, left at around 0900 GMT aboard her 8m (26ft) boat Guppy, Dutch media said.
Her manager said she had left in a very good mood despite calm conditions, but did not want to speak to the media.
Early reports suggested Ms Dekker sailed from Portugal, but later reports suggested she may have been elsewhere.
In April Ms Dekker won a court case against Dutch social services, who had argued that the voyage could harm her emotional and social development.
The teenager will spend months living alone on the boat.
Media had gathered in Portimao, Portugal, at her scheduled departure time of 1200 GMT on Saturday, but there was no sign of Ms Dekker or her vessel.
Her manager, Peter Klarenbeek, said she had departed earlier in the day. Hours afterwards, the AFP news agency reported her representatives as saying she had sailed from the British enclave of Gibraltar.
"She left from the port of Gibraltar," said Marijke Schaaphok, whose company is handling Ms Dekker's media representation, saying she had spoken to Peter Klarenbeek.
The teenager left her home port of Den Osse in the Netherlands on 4 August, accompanied by her father Dick Dekker, and arrived in Portugal ten days later.
Ms Dekker will make more than 20 stops along her route, and has more than two years to complete the trip in order to break the existing record.
If she returns before she turns 17 in September 2012 she will seize the record, set in May this year by 16 year-old Australian Jessica Watson.
Her first port of call is expected to be either in the Canary Islands or Madeira.
'Well prepared'
The director of Dutch media firm Masmedia, Marijke Schaaphok, whose company will film the voyage via remote cameras aboard Guppy, told Associated Press she had no concerns about Ms Dekker's wellbeing.
"She grew up with her father on a boat so she's completely different from a normal 14-year-old girl.
"She's very wise and a little bit impatient, but she's a very nice girl and she knows exactly what she wants."
Ms Dekker's lawyer Peter De Lange said Ms Dekker was well prepared and had practised first aid and sleep management techniques.
"Laura has salt in her veins", he told the AFP agency.
Earlier this month Ms Dekker told reporters before leaving Den Osse: "I am not really afraid." Asked what she would miss most, she replied: "Spot", referring to her dog.
Ms Dekker had been under state supervision since October 2009 after a court in Utrecht placed a guardianship order, citing fears for her social and emotional development.
But the order was lifted in July by a court in Middelburg.
Her mother had expressed concerns about the solo voyage, but has since lifted her objections.
Ms Dekker was born on a yacht off the coast of New Zealand during a seven-year world trip.
Laura Dekker update
- Laura Dekker And New Film Of Her Voyage..."maidentrip"
"Why a 14-Year-Old Girl Decided to Sail Around the World Alone" A film follows the journey of Laura Dekker as she attempts to circumnavigate the globe. by Sam Price-Waldman January 3rd 2014 The Atlantic In 2010, 14-year-old Laura Dekker took...
- Laura Dekker Update
"How Young Is Too Young? Dutch Sailing Phenom’s Record Attempt Raises Safety Concerns" by Erik Malinowski August 6th, 2010 Wired Just two months after Abby Sunderland, a 16-year-old from Southern California, was rescued from a failed attempt to...
- Laura Dekker...why Not?
"14-year-old Laura Dekker has Dutch court's -- and her mom's -- permission to sail around the world" Laura Dekker has convinced a Dutch court that she's done her sailing homework and is ready to attempt to beat Jessica Watson's record...
- Thrill Seekers To Be Restricted?
Now the debate begins. "Should There Be Age Limits on Thrill Seeking?" by Allie Townsend June 21st, 2010 Time Since her circumnavigation attempt ended in a dramatic search-and-rescue mission more than a week ago, 16-year-old Abby Sunderland has become...
- Abby Sunderland And A Parent's Perspective
"A lesson in brave parenting" The parents of 16-year-old solo sailor Abby Sunderland aren't crazy or insane, they're subversives, bucking the overprotective parenting trend. by Bruce Barcott June 16th, 2010 latimes.com What in heaven's...
Philosophy
The auspicious voyage has begun--Laura Dekker has set sail
"Teenager Dekker 'sets sail' on world record bid"
A Dutch teenager hoping to become the youngest solo around-the-world sailor has begun her voyage, her manager says.
August 21st, 2010
BBC NEWS
A Dutch teenager hoping to become the youngest solo around-the-world sailor has begun her voyage, her manager says.
August 21st, 2010
BBC NEWS
Laura Dekker, 14, who won a legal battle to sail earlier this year, left at around 0900 GMT aboard her 8m (26ft) boat Guppy, Dutch media said.
Her manager said she had left in a very good mood despite calm conditions, but did not want to speak to the media.
Early reports suggested Ms Dekker sailed from Portugal, but later reports suggested she may have been elsewhere.
In April Ms Dekker won a court case against Dutch social services, who had argued that the voyage could harm her emotional and social development.
The teenager will spend months living alone on the boat.
Media had gathered in Portimao, Portugal, at her scheduled departure time of 1200 GMT on Saturday, but there was no sign of Ms Dekker or her vessel.
Her manager, Peter Klarenbeek, said she had departed earlier in the day. Hours afterwards, the AFP news agency reported her representatives as saying she had sailed from the British enclave of Gibraltar.
"She left from the port of Gibraltar," said Marijke Schaaphok, whose company is handling Ms Dekker's media representation, saying she had spoken to Peter Klarenbeek.
The teenager left her home port of Den Osse in the Netherlands on 4 August, accompanied by her father Dick Dekker, and arrived in Portugal ten days later.
Ms Dekker will make more than 20 stops along her route, and has more than two years to complete the trip in order to break the existing record.
If she returns before she turns 17 in September 2012 she will seize the record, set in May this year by 16 year-old Australian Jessica Watson.
Her first port of call is expected to be either in the Canary Islands or Madeira.
'Well prepared'
The director of Dutch media firm Masmedia, Marijke Schaaphok, whose company will film the voyage via remote cameras aboard Guppy, told Associated Press she had no concerns about Ms Dekker's wellbeing.
"She grew up with her father on a boat so she's completely different from a normal 14-year-old girl.
"She's very wise and a little bit impatient, but she's a very nice girl and she knows exactly what she wants."
Ms Dekker's lawyer Peter De Lange said Ms Dekker was well prepared and had practised first aid and sleep management techniques.
"Laura has salt in her veins", he told the AFP agency.
Earlier this month Ms Dekker told reporters before leaving Den Osse: "I am not really afraid." Asked what she would miss most, she replied: "Spot", referring to her dog.
Ms Dekker had been under state supervision since October 2009 after a court in Utrecht placed a guardianship order, citing fears for her social and emotional development.
But the order was lifted in July by a court in Middelburg.
Her mother had expressed concerns about the solo voyage, but has since lifted her objections.
Ms Dekker was born on a yacht off the coast of New Zealand during a seven-year world trip.
Laura Dekker update
- Laura Dekker And New Film Of Her Voyage..."maidentrip"
"Why a 14-Year-Old Girl Decided to Sail Around the World Alone" A film follows the journey of Laura Dekker as she attempts to circumnavigate the globe. by Sam Price-Waldman January 3rd 2014 The Atlantic In 2010, 14-year-old Laura Dekker took...
- Laura Dekker Update
"How Young Is Too Young? Dutch Sailing Phenom’s Record Attempt Raises Safety Concerns" by Erik Malinowski August 6th, 2010 Wired Just two months after Abby Sunderland, a 16-year-old from Southern California, was rescued from a failed attempt to...
- Laura Dekker...why Not?
"14-year-old Laura Dekker has Dutch court's -- and her mom's -- permission to sail around the world" Laura Dekker has convinced a Dutch court that she's done her sailing homework and is ready to attempt to beat Jessica Watson's record...
- Thrill Seekers To Be Restricted?
Now the debate begins. "Should There Be Age Limits on Thrill Seeking?" by Allie Townsend June 21st, 2010 Time Since her circumnavigation attempt ended in a dramatic search-and-rescue mission more than a week ago, 16-year-old Abby Sunderland has become...
- Abby Sunderland And A Parent's Perspective
"A lesson in brave parenting" The parents of 16-year-old solo sailor Abby Sunderland aren't crazy or insane, they're subversives, bucking the overprotective parenting trend. by Bruce Barcott June 16th, 2010 latimes.com What in heaven's...