Dutch sailor Laura Dekker reportedly jumped in the air with happiness when a youth court in Utrecht ruled her father could maintain custody of her Wednesday.

Dutch child welfare authorities had asked the court to place Dekker with a temporary guardian after she ran away last week to the Dutch Caribbean island of Sint Maarten. She was escorted back to the Netherlands on Tuesday.

Dekker apparently was planning to buy a boat and fulfill her dream of becoming the youngest person to sail around the world alone, her lawyer said on Wednesday. She had flown from a Paris airport using her New Zealand passport, he said.

A previous ruling had barred Dekker from attempting the trip, citing concerns for her safety, and it appointed a state guardian to make sure she complied.

Hope still remains for trip

In the latest ruling, the judges stipulated that if cooperation between the courts and the Dekker family breaks down again, welfare authorities could lodge an appeal.

The ruling also imposed a new set of conditions that would allow Dekker to eventually make the 2-year trip around the world by July 2010.

acb/dpa/AP/Reuters
Editor: Chuck Penfold