Dad may lose custody of teen sailor

A DUTCH court began sitting yesterday to decide whether to strip custody from the father of Laura Dekker, a 14-year-old locked in a battle with the state over a plan to sail solo around the world.

Dekker returned to The Netherlands under police escort from the Caribbean, where she flew to this week in violation of a Dutch court order barring her from attempting the round-the-world yacht trip.

The teen sailor hopes to become the youngest person to complete the voyage.