910.45 Mai (c2013)

Sarah P’s Comments:  Laura Dekker is the youngest person to solo sail around the world…so far. Actually, there was such a outcry about her doing it, that I think the ‘official’ sailing world is discouraging anyone younger trying it. However you feel about her feat, it is quite a voyage (2012) and she is quite an interesting person. What I like most about her story is her sense of individuality and the fact she did it because she enjoys sailing rather than a trying to set a record. Plus, she is still sailing…

Her story has been told in a movie (82 min) shot mostly by herself while underway:

 

 

 

 

And there is also a paperback which just came out in May (original story is in Dutch):

More info:

24 minute YouTube video of Laura talking about her voyage.

American Sailing Association Interview

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/lauradekkercalloftheocean/

Website & blog: http://www.lauradekker.nl/

Quote:

So popular the US created a stamp for her…

For me sailing is very pure. It’s just, you know, nature, as it was over 100,000 years ago. It’s the waves and the wind and the sea – it hasn’t changed in forever.

 

 

 

 

910.4 Gra (c1972)

Sarah P’s comments:  Dove is the story of Robin Lee Graham’s solo circumnavigation. At the time his story was sensational because of his age; he was only sixteen when he set off (from California) in 1965. His exploits were chronicled in National Geographic and his story became a movie in 1974. Since then he has been followed by ever younger sailors which has caused questions to be raised about whether this is ethical. Whatever you think about it, their adventures make for good reading, starting with Dove.  (I will be writing more about the others in subsequent posts.)

YouTube movie: The Dove

SAIL article: Robin Lee Graham on the Latest Teen Circumnavs

Wikipedia List of youth solo sailing circumnavigations

Favorite quotes:

Life would be pretty monotonous if the sky was always blue.

At sea, I learned how little a person needs, not how much.

Happiness has no frontiers, that it’s a state of mind and not a possession, not a set route through life, not a goal to be gained but something that steals in gently like an evening mist or the morning sunlight—something beyond our control.