PORTIMAO, Portugal (AP) — The manager for 14-year-old Dutch sailor girl Laura Dekker says she will set off Saturday on her venture to become the youngest person to make a solo voyage around the world.
Peter Klarenbeek says Dekker will depart from the southern Portuguese port of Portimao, but did not give the exact timing.
Speaking from Dekker’s yacht Friday, Klarenbeek said the teenager was at sea doing final equipment tests before setting off on her approximately yearlong journey.
Dekker won a legal battle last month when a court released her from the guardianship of Dutch child protection agencies who had tried to block her venture because of fears for her safety and psychological health during the trip.
