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Dutch Laura Dekker, 14, waves goodbye as she leaves the port in Den Osse on August 4. Laura Dekker set sail on her yacht, Guppy, for Portugal, from where she will begin her bid to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world. (Marcel Antonisse/Getty Images)
Laura Dekker is set to start her record-breaking journey this Saturday. The 14-year-old Dutch girl hopes to be the youngest person to sail solo around the world.
Manager Peter Klarenbeek told the Associated Press she will depart from the southern Portuguese port city of Portimao.
"We are testing equipment now and I can't give a departure time, but it will be obvious when she leaves, we'll be on the dockside to say goodbye,” he told the news agency.
Dekker will be sailing her 38-foot-long yacht named Guppy.
Last month, a Dutch court ruled she could be released from the guardianship of child protection agencies concerned her voyage would prove both physically and mentally unsafe.
Klarenbeek said she is doing a final equipment check before leaving. Her voyage will take approximately a year. “Everything is ready,” he added.
A few weeks ago, Dekker undertook a 10-day test run from the Netherlands to Portugal and is currently in Portimao.
Currently the youngest person to sail around the world is Australian Jessica Watson, who recently completed the voyage at age 16. Like Watson, Dekker is to sail unassisted.
The teenager was born in New Zealand while her parents were also on an around the world sail.
