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deckofficer · 26-05-2012, 08:40

Laura has crossed the equator again.....

And is now at San Cristobal with crew.....

And crew....

And more crew......

and uninvited crew.......

What's a single solo sailing girl to do?

All pictures from her blog at
LauraDekker.nl de Jongste solozeiler ter wereld! -
Solozeilster Laura Dekker Hyve - hyves.nl

reed1v · 26-05-2012, 09:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by deckofficer

Not when you just can ask Nick (S/V Jedi), if Laura arrived last year in Panama at the Shelter Bay Marina alone, which she did, and he and Josie cooked her a Dutch-Indian dinner aboard Jedi. This year a different story, but since she already completed her solo circumnavigation, having a crew the 2nd time through the canal is just fine.

makes me wish i was 50 years younger

deckofficer · 26-05-2012, 10:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by reed1v

makes me wish i was 50 years younger

Makes me wish I was 40 years younger. It looks like she is having the time of her life. One of the guys has been having a rough time with sea sickness, both have been under the weather for the passage. Their prop got entangled with someone's discarded blue sail and stalled the engine. One of the guys went overboard to try and clear it but got freaked after a minute. Laura went in, knife in hand and spent an hour cutting it away. Her muscles were so tired, when she got back onboard, she lost her footing and fell down into the cabin, cutting and bruising herself. For the rest of the passage she assumed all the duties, as she did solo.

Astrid · 26-05-2012, 11:03

Seems like having passengers (AKA crew) has made the voyage a bit tougher than last time when she was by herself. I often find that to be the case unless my companions really know what they are doing.

deckofficer · 26-05-2012, 12:13

You got that right Astrid. She "dropped off" the only young guy that had a lot of sailing experience at Shelter Bay Marina in Colon. Margo let him use a bunk on her boat till he could hitch a ride out of Panama. From my conversations with Margo, she doesn't think too highly of Laura. I'll bet both the remaining guys will be better sailors by the time they get to NZ.

deckofficer · 26-05-2012, 12:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astrid

Seems like having passengers (AKA crew) has made the voyage a bit tougher than last time when she was by herself. I often find that to be the case unless my companions really know what they are doing.

BTW Astrid, have you given any thought of joining zeehag's little Facepoo group SSSSM? It is a fun place and has some brainy ladies like yourself, at least two Mechanical Engineers. I enjoy speaking nerd and geek there because it is understood.

reed1v · 26-05-2012, 19:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astrid

Seems like having passengers (AKA crew) has made the voyage a bit tougher than last time when she was by herself. I often find that to be the case unless my companions really know what they are doing.

laura is very young, so lots to learn about life. our mistakes teach as well as our successes. at her age, i had the judgement abilities of two year old lobster. she is doing way better than i ever did at that age.

Sailor g · 27-05-2012, 11:06

It's nice to see she's still a normal teenager-the clothes on the floor reminded me of my kids!

Astrid · 27-05-2012, 15:01

Clothes on the floor? Well must mean I am still a teenager at heart.

deckofficer · 27-05-2012, 17:35

I think it is all the messy, seasick guys stuff.

Or is it?

deckofficer · 29-05-2012, 23:27

While in the Galapagos, some low life stole Laura's dinghy and offered to give it back to her the next morning for $300. She showed up with her crew and just took it back. Now I know Laura is no light weight when it comes to upper body strength but check out the muscle definition in her arm when she isn't flexing. You tend to build arm strength when you pull yourself up your mast in a bosun's chair.

goboatingnow · 30-05-2012, 03:45

I find this "examination" of lauras every move somewhat disconcerting

Dave

colemj · 30-05-2012, 07:38

I have been holding back the same comment (substitute "very" for "somewhat") for a long time now. It is not only the examination of her every move, but the examination of her physique, etc - way past the time she spent in the "spotlight" - that is most disturbing.

Mark