Dutch teen sails the world but not everyone is celebrating

AT THE AGE of 16, Dutch teenager Laura Dekker has become the youngest person to single-handedly sail around the world. But is it a cause for celebration or an issue for child welfare?

Dekker completed her year-long journey to cheers from her family and supporters at the Caribbean island of St Maarten on Saturday, proud of her record-breaking feat.

But Guinness World Records has refused to make the achievement official, having scrapped the category for youngest solo sailor after Dekker's original bid to make the journey caused controversy three years ago.

Courts in the Netherlands initially refused to allow her to go on the voyage, fearing for her mental and physical wellbeing, and she was put into state care for two months. But Decker won her battle and set sail from St Maarten on 20 January last year.

Dutch authorities this week praised her "extreme strength of character" but say they have no regrets about bringing the court case against her.

Today The Times has similar concerns about her welfare. An editorial acknowledges Dekker's "extraordinary determination" but says she should not be congratulated for being the youngest person to achieve the feat.

"Still less should we commend those, led by her father, who allowed her to do it. It was a bad decision that sets a terrible precedent for other children tempted to risk their lives in pursuit of ever more outlandish records," it says.

With reports that the authorities are again investigating Dekker and her father for breaking court orders to keep up her schoolwork at sea, it is not surprising the young sailor's greatest fears having nothing to do with the ocean.

"Over a period of 11 months, I was constantly afraid that Youth Care would lock me up," she has blogged. Dekker, who was born on a boat off New Zealand waters and first sailed solo at the age of six, has said she is considering never returning to the Netherlands. ·