Dutch child care agencies row over teen sailor’s round the world bid

TWO Dutch child care agencies battled yesterday over whether a 14-year-old sailor is ready to embark on a risky solo voyage around the world.

Youth workers who have been monitoring Laura Dekker for months told a closed-door court hearing they believe she is now ready to set sail and asked judges to end a guardianship order imposed last year amid fears for her safety.

“Based on the sail plan Laura has shown us and on signals from school, we say there is no need to prolong” the guardianship, said Joost Lanshage, a spokesman for the Bureau for Youth Care, the agency that has monitored Dekker.