Runaway sailor can stay with father

A teenage sailor who ran away from home and travelled alone to the Caribbean can remain in her father’s custody, a Dutch court said today.

The decision by the Utrecht District Court clears the way once again for 14-year-old Laura Dekker to pursue her goal of becoming the youngest person to sail solo around the world.

“The court sees no need to remove Laura from her home at his moment,” judges said in a written ruling.

Laura had originally planned to depart this year with the support of her father. But that plan was blocked by the court in October, which ordered her to prepare more and wait at leas until 2010 before starting. It also ordered her to undergo scrutiny by social workers.

Frustrated by the regime she was subjected to, and with her school grades slipping, she fled last week, prompting an international search.

She travelled to Paris and used a New Zealand passport to catch a flight to the Dutch Caribbean territory of St Maarten. Laura has dual nationality because she was born on a boat in New Zealand while her parents were sailing around the world.

She was spotted on St Maarten and returned to the Netherlands yesterday.

Child welfare authorities had asked the court to place her with another family for three months after she ran away, but that request was denied.

Judges said Laura’s father, Dick, and social workers had clashed on what she needed to do to prepare for her trip.

“It appears that child welfare authorities and the father weren’t able to co-operate on drawing up a plan of attack,” judges said.

“Because of this, Laura became caught in a downward spiral.”

Her father praised today’s decision for clarifying the conditions Laura must satisfy in order to get permission to depart on her trip next summer.

Laura’s mother, Babs Muller, left the court in tears earlier today.

“They know everything much better,” she told reporters, pointing to the courthouse.

“They know what’s best for my child.”

Under Dutch law, Laura is considered a minor until she is 18.

The youngest person to sail solo around the world is British 17-year-old Mike Perham, of Potters Bar, Hertfordshire. Australian 16-year-old Jessica Watson is currently trying to beat Mike’s record.