Laura Dekker, the 14-year-old Dutch sailor who was reported missing on Friday, was found on a Caribbean island Sunday. According to police, Dekker was found “safe and sound” on the Dutch island of Sint Maarten, two days after she ran away from her home in Maurik, near Utrecht.

Many questions remain

Dekker was recognized on the island by a local resident who was aware of the media attention around her disappearance. Bernhard Jens, a police spokesman from Utrecht, said it was unclear how she ended up on the Caribbean island.

“We still have a lot of questions: When did she leave the Netherlands? Why? How did she arrive in Sint Maarten? Was she helped and was she alone?” he said.

Dekker originally planned a two-year solo voyage around the world on her 8.3 metre yacht “Guppy” on September 1st when she was still 13. Her idea caught the attention of international media, but a Dutch court blocked her from undertaking the voyage and placed her under state supervision, claiming that the trip was too dangerous.

“You can say that her dream was broken into pieces and all the attention that this caused is, in my opinion, never good for a girl of 14.” said Elly Laanen, chairwoman of the Utrecht child welfare office.

According to Dutch media reports, Dekker left a letter for her father and withdrew 3,500 euros ($5,000) from her bank account before disappearing. It is not yet known why she decided to travel to Sint Maarten.

“Technically capable” for the voyage

Even at a young age, Dekker has quite a bit of boating experience. Born on her parents' boat in New Zealand, Dekker spent the first four years of her life at sea.

At the time, her parents were performing a seven year long trip around the world. Media reports say she had her first yacht at age 6, and at age 10 she would take seven week long solo sailing trips.

Dekker's mother, Babs Muller, who lives apart from Laura and her father, said she thought her daughter was technically capable of making a solo trip around the world on her yacht but was worried about her safety in ports, as well as her psychological isolation at sea. Dekker's father, Dick Dekker, said he supported Laura's ambitions.

In a televised interview in August, Dekker said she was not frightened to make the voyage, and was determined to pursue her plans.

Dekker is now in the custody of police on Sint Maarten and is expected to be returned to the Netherlands as soon as possible. However, a decision has not been made on where she will stay on her return.

Dekker's planned trip would have made her the youngest person to make a solo voyage around the world. Currently the record is held by 17-year-old Briton Mike Perham, who performed the voyage last August with some assistance.

mk/AFP/Reuters
Editor: Michael Lawton