Dutch courage: Teen sailor breaks Jessica Watson's solo record

[tawadi]

Dutch courage: Teen sailor breaks Jessica Watson's solo record

NewsCore
January 22, 2012 12:55PM



DUTCH teen Laura Dekker on has become the youngest sailor to complete a solo circumnavigation of the world, a year after going to court for the right to make the attempt.

The 16-year-old completed her solo around-the-world journey when she sailed into harbor on the Caribbean island of St Maarten at 3:00pm local time.

Dekker, who left the island nearly a year ago to the day - January 20, 2011 - beat the previous record by some eight months.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/dutch-courage-teen-sailor-breaks-jessica-watsons-solo-record/story-e6freuy9-1226250561867

[MADem]

1. The youngest this, the oldest that....

I wonder how much of these "feats" by children are the result of parents who push kids for their own reflected aggrandizement?

If that were my kid, they'd have to skip the fame--it just wouldn't be happening. Yep, I'm an asshole that way; I like my kids alive.

I have to agree with Guinness, as well:

Dekker's achievement will not be entered in the Guinness Book of World Records, which has refused to recognize records by minors which are considered "unsuitable."

[Blue_Tires]

18. well, some people still remember this tragedy

This was back when the "youngest pilot" thing was in fashion...

http://tech.mit.edu/V116/N18/pilot.18w.html

[MADem]

19. Yes, that crossed my mind. So stupid. nt

[jberryhill]

2. Lol "Dutch courage" - someone had a bit of fun

That's the British nickname for the Dutch national drink - Jenever - which is related to gin and made from juniper berries.

[tawadi]

3. Thought it was a funny headline

Thanks for the insight. lol

[provis99]

11. it really means the Dutch (Deutsch, or Germans) are cowards.

they only get brave if they are drunk.

Fairly well known slur in Pennsylvania Dutch areas.

[jberryhill]

12. "and then he drank down a bottle of Dutch courage"

While relating to the same concept, I had only heard it in the context of "would you like a drink" as in "care for a shot of Dutch courage?"

Many countries have jokes which revolve around alleged cowardice of their rivals or enemies. These types of jokes and stories serve the purpose of addressing fears of those who are sent to fight them - they won't really fight, they'll just run away.

The Dutch are also stereotypically known for being straightforwardly practical, and many characterizations revolve around that - the Dutch Treat, the Dutch Uncle, and general thrift. So while it may have been the Dutch who were the supposed cowards, it was the English passing around the rum and calling it that.

[Earth_First]

4. Children of extreme privilidge...

A lot of kids these days are worried about what's for dinner, and children of parents of extreme wealth are racing thier kids around the globe for bragging rights.

[tawadi]

5. Read her story. It wasn't like that

She had to fight for the right to follow her dream.

Edit to add a link: http://www.lauradekker.nl/English/Home.html

[PavePusher]

6. Any excuse to rain on someone else's parade, eh? n/t

[joshcryer]

7. What's up with young women and crushing sailing records?

Why aren't there as many young men?

I find it fascinating, in any event, and good for her. It's been one of my dreams to do one of these kinds of trips. I don't have the skill to do it though.

[tawadi]

8. There were a couple of young men too

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1209391/British-teenager-Mike-Perham-youngest-sail-solo-world-month-voyage.html

And another: http://www.zacsunderland.com/index.php

[joshcryer]

9. Thanks!

I wonder why these never hit my radar, I always notice these sailing record breaking trips.

[tawadi]

10. Yw

It's never too late to go for your dreams, btw.

[sce56]

13. The Dove

An adventure novel based on a true story of a curious teenager set out on an intriguing exploration to singlehandedly circumnavigate the untamed oceans of the world on a tiny yacht.

Robin Lee Graham (1949 - ) set out to sail around the world alone as a teenager in the summer of 1965. National Geographic Magazine carried the story, and he co-wrote a book detailing his journey titled Dove.

Graham was just sixteen when he set out alone from Southern California and headed west in his 24-foot sloop. He was originally given two kittens for company named Joliette and Suzette, and through his travels lost and gained several more, ultimately docking with Kili, Pooh and Piglet at the end of the journey. He married along the way and, after almost five years, sailed back into his home port in Los Angeles. He and his wife, Patti Ratterree, briefly attended Stanford University, then settled in Montana.

Graham's book about his voyage, Dove, was published in 1972. His voyage was depicted in a film, The Dove (1974). A followup book, Home Is The Sailor, was published in 1983. On July 16, 2009, 17 year old Zac Sunderland, who cites Robin as an inspiration, became the youngest American sailor to complete a solo circumnavigation since Graham.

[PavePusher]

14. This is the version I had when I was a youngster:

http://www.paperbackswap.com/Boy-Who-Sailed-Robin-Lee-Graham/book/0307165108/

Probably my favorite book. Loved sailing, but being relatively poor and land-locked, the opportunities were few. Nearly joined the Navy... but ended up in the Air Force instead.

[sce56]

15. Back then there was no EPIRB or satelite phones - GPS!

It was strictly charts with a sextant to determine your position and when the mast broke he had to fix a makeshift one to make it to the nearest port!Now days when the Zunderland girl snapped her mast it was pop a couple of EPIRB's and wait for a rescue!

[Fool Count]

16. That's got to be one of the stupidest records ever, along with "the youngest person

to climb the Everest" and other such crap. I can appreciate why a young person may pursue such
activities and strive to accomplish such feats, but why would anyone want to "beat" another
young person to become "the youngest" is beyond my facility to understand. For shear impressive
value neither record even approaches the feat of Chazz Denis who was 10 years 2 months and
27 days on December 19, 2006, when he bowled a 300 game. That just blows my mind. A teenager
spending few months living on a boat? Not so much.

[Xithras]

17. And it's not even an official record. Guinness won't recognize it.

Guiness stopped accepting records a while back for people under the age of 16 who perform risky feats. They, like many others, recognized that there was no value in having kids risk their lives simply to get their name printed in a book.

When Laura Dekker completed her race all three major organizations (Guinness, the World Sailing Record Council, and the International Sailing Federation) stated that they wouldn't recognize her accomplishment or grant her the record because she was only 15 when she set out. Even though she's 16 now, she broke the rules and will NOT be recorded as the worlds youngest solo circumnavigator. She can live her life knowing that she's the youngest person to do it, but it's not going to be officially acknowledged by anyone outside of the media.