Blogs



This is our editorial page, a place where we can reflect and share thinking on our common preoccupation.

Namely Zeilmeisje Laura Dekker's dream.

In friendship as always,
45N73W
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BLOG 13
SEASONS GREETINGS ! :-D
December 23, 2011

---------------------------

To members, fans and friends of Zeilmeisje Laura Dekker around the world:

Big thanks for having been around all of this past year and supporting Zeilmeisje Laura Dekker with your presence and comments … Keep those coming because they are like getting candy everyday!
:-D

But also it is time for us to wish all members, friends and fans, sponsors, marina owners and administrators, sailors and racers who befriended Laura along the way, media & news agencies, and the many web sites administrators following Laura & Guppy,

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2012!
:-D

And of course, from all of you we wish:

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR LAURA! :-D

In friendship and thanks,
Groetjes, tot ziens!
45N73W / West North & Thomas Weber

-------------------

Liebe Mitglieder, Fans und Freunde von ZEILMEISJE LAURA DEKKER 'around the world' :

Wir möchten Ihnen allen ganz herzlich dafür danken, daß Sie ZEILMEISJE LAURA DEKKER im Jahre 2011 die Treue gehalten und unterstützt haben. Wir wissen dies wirklich außerordentlich zu schätzen!

Allen unseren Mitgliedern, Freunden und Fans, allen Sponsoren, den Medien und Nachrichtenagenturen, den Administratoren der vielen Webseiten, die die Reise von Laura & Guppy verfolgen und darüber berichten, den Eigentümern und Verwaltern der Jachthäfen, die Laura im vergangenen Jahr freundlich aufgenommen haben, und allen Seglern und den vielen anderen Menschen, die mit Laura während ihrer Reise Freundschaft geschlossen haben, möchten wir auf diesem Wege

Frohe Weihnachten und alles Gute für das Jahr 2012

wünschen!

Und es ist uns darüber hinaus ein persönliches Anliegen, jemandem im Namen von Ihnen allen an dieser Stelle einen ganz besonderen Weihnachtsgruß auszurichten:

EIN FROHES WEIHNACHTSFEST UND EIN GLÜCKLICHES NEUES JAHR FÜR DICH, LAURA!

In tiefer Freundschaft, Verbundenheit und Dankbarkeit.

Groetjes und hoffentlich bis bald.

45N73W/West North und Thomas Weber

:-D :-D

BLOG 12
BENCH MARK / THIRD BASE!
(pun intended)
November 13, 2011
Hallo Allemaa!

Laura & Guppy are now safe and sound in South Africa having sailed their third Ocean :-D

On a different tack we the webbies have been served a loss of goodies from Facebook . But Zeilmeisje Laura Dekker managed to save most of the good things on Blogger although all disorderly for now…Apologies

[What would Laura & Guppy' story be with no record, but a rehash of knowned myths?]

In the coming days, weeks and months we will try to make things coherent and easily available … Still for the courageous among us  the data is there to be found.  
 Left to do (disorderly list):

-          Updates
-          Graphiism and font coherence
-          Links, labels, …
-          Coherent chronological sequences
-          Search functions
-          Functional links inside visitors'comments
-          Dates everywhere
-          All multimedia
-          Route logic, data and cross-links … almost evrything
-          Inbedded stuff
-          Additionnal informative stuff linked inside-outside
-          Anything else you would be kind enough to point to us :-D
-          Then some…

So… patience and some work…And we should all be at the same time on fouth base for the homerun when Laura & Guppy are in Gibraltar again!


'Ain't over 'till it's over' – Yogi Berra
:-D
In Friendship and Respect,
Groetjes, tot ziens!
45N73W

BLOG 11 + 1
A LOAD OF THANKS!
June 12, 2011
 Hallo Allemaa!

To ex-members, friends, families and followers of Zeilmesije Laura Dekker on Facebook….Big-Big thanks for your patience and friendship through a limping migration. As you know, we trekked first from 'old' group to 'new' group and…Finally to Page.

And so Big-Big thanks for being here!

It will take us all a little time to get used to this new format..but we will!... For Laura!

I would like to give Real-Big-Thanks to Herr Thomas Weber, for his very diligent work archiving all the data of the 'old' group. His steadfastnest through all this process and unwavering faith in making sure Laura Dekker has a reliable and truthfull page on fan page- made a real and positive difference.

Thomas' efforts and determination made it possible and easier to migrate and morph to our new home. Without the security he provided through his archiving everything, the move might have failed…Certainly it would have been a very uncertain endeavor. Luckily we succeeded without too much loss, just some.

I for one, felt much more secure exploring, trying and monkey clicking, knowing nothing could really be lost because of Thomas.

So, again, Kudos to Thomas…We owe you!

And Big thanks to you all allemaal, for being here and friends of Laura Dekker, Zeilmeisje extraordinaire.


In Friendship and Respect,
Groetjes, tot ziens!
45N73W

BLOG 11
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GUPPY!
May 2nd, 2011


Even though Guppy was in fact a respectable lady before she met Laura, she started a new life one year ago.
On May 2nd, 2010, Guppy was launched from Den Osse harbour, the Netherlands. 
Posted by
45N73W

BLOG 10
LAURA'S FEDERATION – Recycled and shortened for a ten!
February 26, 2011


It has been a little more than six months since Laura left Den Osse and a little less than six months that Laura departed from Gibraltar on her solo circumnavigation of the world.

Now she is back in the Netherlands as a participant to the Hiswa Rai Amsterdam Boat Show 2011. So the lucky few among us will ear from Laura what it is to be doing what she is doing and what responsibilities it engages and how well she is doing.

In those six or so months Laura has done more than sailing, studying, learning and meeting people. True in friendship and to her word, Laura has kept to her dream and tasks as a person, a family member and a public figure. True to her word, Laura has written to us regularly, letting us know that she is making her dream into a reality, unexpected included. Yes, all so very true.

In those six months Laura also built around her a family of goodwill, a renewed federation of friendship. Laura is making new real friends and supporters, not just adding numbers.

So thanks to all the good people manning each and every one of the websites supporting Zeilmeisje Laura Dekker. Special thanks also to Team Laura for looking out for Laura through her voyage.

To all of you who can attend the Hiswa Rai Amsterdam Boat Show 2011, enjoy the experience and meeting with Zeilmeisje Laura, to the unfortunate others like me, rest assured that Laura appreciates your friendship and support.

Laura and you people each earn a ten on ten! :-D

In friendship and respect,
Groetjes, tot ziens!
45N73W

BLOG 9
LAURA'S FEDERATION
November 15, 2010


It has been a little more than three months since Laura left Den Osse and a little less than three months that Laura departed from Gibraltar on her solo circumnavigation of the world.

Now she is at sea bridging the leg between Playa de Anfi in the Islas Canarias and Sal, Cape Verde.

In those three or so months Laura has done more than sailing, studying, learning and meeting people. True in friendship and to her word, Laura has kept to her dream and tasks as a person, a family member and a public figure. True to her word, Laura has written to us regularly, letting us know she is well, letting us know that she is making her dream into a reality. Yes, all so very true.

In those three months Laura also built around her a family of goodwill, a new federation of friendship. In spite of foes each day Laura is making new real friends and supporters, not just adding numbers.

But the numbers are impressive too. There are now more than two thousand ( 2000 ) members of one website or another supporting her. That and other visitors make for an aggregate average of seven hundred and fifty ( 750 ) visits each and everyday. On occasions the visits clicked at over two thousands ( 2000 ) aggregate in a day... Well, we can't always go for a visit!

So a big thanks to all of you friends and supporters of Laura. And a big thanks to all of her sponsors for making it possible for us to join in Laura's federation of friendship.

And special thanks to all the good people manning each and every one of the websites supporting Zeilmeisje Laura Dekker. Special thanks also to Team Laura for looking out for Laura through her voyage.

More over, big-big thanks to Dick Dekker for fortitude and to oma Riet Dekker for her cool under pressure, writing Mijn Verhaal for Laura and showing us that true love is all about building real people with real dreams and real capacity.

Proof is in the doing and Laura's federation is all of us sailing, on all of this love in action.

So here is to you all!

In friendship and respect,
Groetjes, tot ziens!
45N73W


BLOG 8 / ZEILMEISJE LAURA DEKKER - MIJN VERHAAL - THE BOOK / ADDENDUM
November 11, 2010

More on Zeilmeisje Laura Dekker-Mijn Verhaal, the book by Riek Dekker, with 'Déjà Vu' by Thomas Weber:

http://zeilmeisjelauradekkerarchive.blogspot.com/p/lauras-book.html

Posted by
45N73W
   
BLOG 8
ZEILMEISJE LAURA DEKKER - MIJN VERHAAL / THE BOOK
November 1st, 2010


Today in her Weblog Laura anchors new memories. Why not go visit memory lane with Laura and oma Dekker's book?

" Laura Dekkers grandmother, Mrs. Riek Dekker, has written a book about her by now world famous granddaughter.

The book is now for sale.

Laura has a dream. She wants to be the youngest person ever to sail solo and unassisted around the world. When she discloses her intentions in an interview with the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad it provokes a huge amount of reactions. Not just from sympathizers, also from "Bureau Jeugdzorg" and "Raad voor de Kinderbescherming" (two Dutch child protection organisations). This has dramatic consequences. They think that Laura has to be stopped. They take legal steps and she is prosecuted. They even threaten with taking her from her dads care. She has to submit to intense inspections. She has to postpone her dream of sailing around the world.
Her disappointment is immense. As the bureaucratic system closes around her, Laura almost loses her lust to live on.
In a desperate attempt to regain her freedom she runs away to Sint Maarten in December 2009.
She got caught and under supervision of the police she is taken back to The Netherlands. "Bureau Jeugdzorg" (Bureau of Youth care) again tries to have a judge place Laura outside the care of her father, but the judge doesn't agree to that.
Laura regains her fighting spirit and decides there must be a resolution.
She gets a new sailing boat, a big two-master. She takes all kind of courses and in June 2010 she sails to the east coast of England to proof what she can do.
On July 27th 2010 the court of Middelburg has to make a ruling about the demands of "Raad voor de Kinderbescherming" (Council of Youth protection) who wants to lengthen their hold on Laura.
Will she regain her freedom and start her voyage around the world?

This is the story of Laura Dekker, 14 year old. About her ambitions, obstructive civil servants and her perseverance!

Publisher: De Alk BV
ISBN: 978 905961 088 0
Author: Riek Dekker
Edition: paperback
Pages: 128 pages
Format: 15 x 22,5 cm
Release date: October 2010
Price: 14,50 Euros
Website publisher: alk.nl

So with big thanks to Rineke for translating her blog for us!


Posted by
45N73W

BLOG 7
MY VISIT TO LAURA by THOMAS WEBER,
August 16, 2010


For those of us who may grow impatient waiting or Laura & her Team to be ready for the next leg of her voyage, 'My Visit to Laura' by Thomas Weber comes to us just in time as a true gift.
In this seven part serie, M. Weber relates his encounter with Zeilmeisje Laura Dekker. Written like subsequent postcards from a friend with a unique musical accent and tell-tale simplicity 'My visit to Laura' brings us up-close and personal to Zeilmesje Laura Dekker.

I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did. Like me you will read and re-read it and before you can free yourself from its charm, Zeilmeisje Laura will be setting off from Portugal for her maiden solo circumnavigation of the world.
http://zeilmeisjelauradekkerarchive.blogspot.com/p/my-visit-to-laura.html


Posted by
45N73W
__________

Mijn bezoek aan LAURA door Thomas Weber,
16/08/2010

Voor degenen onder ons die kunnen ongeduldig wachten of Laura & haar team klaar te zijn voor de volgende etappe van haar reis te groeien, 'mijn bezoek aan Laura' door Thomas Weber tot ons komt net op tijd als een waar geschenk.
In dit deel zeven serie, M. Weber zijn ontmoeting met betrekking Zeilmeisje Laura Dekker. Schriftelijke zoals latere ansichtkaarten van een vriend met een unieke muzikale accent en verklikker eenvoud 'Mijn bezoek aan Laura' brengt ons van dichtbij en persoonlijk met Zeilmesje Laura Dekker.

Ik hoop dat je geniet van het lezen zoveel als ik deed. Net als ik zult u gelezen en herlezen en voordat je jezelf kunt bevrijden van zijn charme, Zeilmeisje Laura zal verrekening uit Portugal voor haar meisjesnaam solo rond de wereld.
http://zeilmeisjelauradekkerarchive.blogspot.com/p/my-visit-to-laura.html


Gepost door
45N73W

BLOG 6
LAURA's UITNODIGINGEN
August 03, 2010


Hallo iedereen,

In haar voorlaatste webpost Laura promesses om ons regelmatig op de hoogte. Laura wil delen met ons haar liefde voor de zee, van de reis, van de ontdekking. Dat is haar uitnodiging voor ons om haar te volgen op haar reis.

De respons op deze uitnodiging is massaal komen om haar - website uit de hele wereld. De meeste daarvan zijn goed en wel zin en een aantal posten, nou ... sommige mensen kunnen gewoon niet leren.

In haar laatste blog Laura nodigt ons uit in haar huis, Guppy. Ze zette alles op orde, alle squeekly schoon, netjes. En dit is hoe het zal zijn de meeste van de tijd voor het grootste deel van haar reis.

Morgen Laura Dekker vaart weg met haar vader Dick Dekker. Het zal een deel van het voorwoord van haar avontuur, het jaar waarin ze tests en re-tests wat ze zullen doen in de komende maanden. Laura is nog steeds hard aan het werk om voor haar moment, toen ze Portugal zal verlaten als een solo omzeiler.

Wat over het afgelopen jaar? Niet een woord in deze posten naast het harde werk serieus voorbereiden voor haar droom. En is ze bereid, en de vaardigheden die ze heeft, en ja ook de juiste houding. Dus laat het verleden het verleden te accepteren en haar derde uitnodiging:


"Mijn departure Komt Dichterbij rossen, en Ik Kan bijna niet Wachtendonk OM Eindelijk Weg te varen!"


Dat is hij gelijk stuff!

Gepost door
45N73W
___________

LAURA'S INVITATIONS

Hallo everyone,

In her before last webpost Laura promesses to keep us informed regularly. Laura wants to share with us her love of the sea, of voyage, of discovery. That is her invitation for us to follow her on her journey.

The response to this invitation has been coming en masse to her website - from all over the world. Most of it are good and well meaning posts and some, well…some people just can't learn.

In her last blog Laura invites us inside her home, Guppy. She put everything in order, all squeekly clean, shipshape. And this is how it will be most of the time for most of her voyage.

Tomorrow Laura Dekker sails away with her father Dick Dekker. It will be the foreword part to her adventure, the one in which she tests and re-tests what she will be doing in the coming months. Laura is still hard at work preparing for her moment, when she will leave Portugal as a solo circumnavigator.

What about the past year? Not a word in these posts besides the hard work seriously preparing for her dream. And prepared she is, and the skills she has and yes also the right attitude. So let the past be the past and accept her third invitation:


" Mijn vertrek komt steeds dichterbij, en ik kan bijna niet wachten om eindelijk weg te varen!"


That is he right stuff!

Posted by
45N73W

BLOG 5
LAURA
July 26, 2010

A dream for all, and glory for none!?


I say:

LAURA FOREVER!

Posted by 45N73W


BLOG 4
NOW IS THE TIME
July 19, 2010

"Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the party" is a phrase first proposed as a typing drill by instructor Charles E. Weller."

On Tuesday July the 20th, 2010, let the records show no mistakes or oblivions and correct past distortions.
------------------------------

Tomorrow,

Let the record show that Laura went through a public and legal situation very few people at any age can come out of unscathed and in one piece- let alone face to the end. She did.

Let the record show that Laura met all the requirements set for her and more. And has at times endured undue scrutiny while doing so.

Let the record show that Laura has kept at ordinary and usual day to day activities just like her peers.

Let the record show that Laura while very busy has kept contact with her family and close friends.

Let the record show that in normal circumstances Laura is warm and welcoming to people, fans, media and others.

Let the record show that Laura has kept her responsibilities and obligations as a public figure.

Let the record show that Laura has kept at preparing herself and her voyage very successfully. No small feat for any sailor.

Let the record show that Laura has gained the respect and affection of her instructors.

Let the record show that Laura has proven fortitude and extraordinary valor under duress while going through a very emotional and painful process to her family, her friends and herself.

Let the record show all of this and possibly more. Laura has unequivocably and responsibly proven her capacity as an adult person.

Now is the time to set the record straight. Now is the time to free Laura from her ties so she may find new and rewarding answers with the wind in Guppy's sails.

Laura has gained her right to her dream voyage, fair and square. It is hers.

Now we owe her.


Posted by 45N73W

PS
Tomorrow let us go walking hand in hand, two by two, on the streets around the Court, wearing red or black clothes.

PPS
See BLOG 2, Events discussion and Photos
BLOG 3
Let us go walking hand in hand - again
July 14, 2010

Ah! Walking hand in hand with friends and family, strolling along, dressing up for the occasion and creating memories of those moments spent together in conversation! Making new friends along the way...being more like each other. What better way is there to spend some quality time?

Well, there is one!

Lets dress up all alike in red and black and carry red or black balloons. Let us go on a walk down the city streets, two by two, and do something for Laura by being visible and distributing brochures!

Laura is due to appear at the Rechtbank Middelburg, Zeeland, NL Court on Tuesday, July 27 at 3:00 PM. On that day put on your red and black clothes, get your red and black balloons and bring lots of brochures with you! :-)

Let us go out to breathe some fresh air and walk for Laura on the streets around the Court.

LETS GO OUT AND WALK FOR LAURA!
Rain or shine, lets be there.

In friendship and respect as always,
45N73W
BLOG 2
Let us go walking hand in hand
July 10, 2010

 Ah! Walking hand in hand with friends and family, strolling along, dressing up for the occasion and creating memories of those moments spent together in conversation! Making new friends along the way...being more like each other. What better way is there to spend some quality time?

Well, there is one!

Lets dress up all alike in red and black and carry red or black balloons. Let us go on a walk down the city streets, two by two, and do something for Laura by being visible and distributing brochures!

Laura is due to appear at the Rechtbank Middelburg, Zeeland, NL Court on Tuesday, July 20 at 1:30 PM. On that day put on your red and black clothes, get your red and black balloons and bring lots of brochures with you! :-)

Let us go out to breathe some fresh air and walk for Laura on the streets around the Court.

LETS GO OUT AND WALK FOR LAURA!
Rain or shine, lets be there.
Walking Kit

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


In friendship and respect as always,
45N73W

LAURA VOOR ALTIJD!

BLOG 1
Zeimeisje Laura Dekker is a support group for Laura Dekker and her dream.
July7, 2010

  This Facebook (*) group is about clear and reliable information, knowledge and supporting Laura through actions and not interferences.It is an ungoing project and should get better with your participation.

As a first step a Brochure was produced explaining what Laura Dekker's goal is, what preparation she has,and what the main challenge she faces is right now: namely a civil battle in Court. ( see Legal challenge )

As you read the brochure you will see that the discussion topics offered here constitute a mirror of the brochure's structure. In this way not only the relevant and latest information should be found at the right place but also it will make it possible to go deeper in details with each trend.
So if you have a personnal preference for law, or the news, or navigation, or sailing skills you should find a topic to which you can contribute to the fullest. In time more specialized topics will no doubt appear - as needed. It is important that all information be at the right place and cross-referenced with the mother topic and its siblings for easy navigation.

For convenience, a short synopsis of the content of a reference should be posted in place of the whole content, along with the reference and a link to it. That will help in accessibility and at verifying the quality and relevence of the information.

Our actions will depend on good and reliable information just like sailing the seas requires good preparation. In this way good choices and effective actions can be taken. Add strength in numbers and we can make a difference.

So don't be shy, participate in this adventure along with Laura, post as often as you can and invite as many people you know. It does and could well make a significant difference.

 We are looking forward to your participation and again welccome to Zeilmeisje Laura Dekker Facebook (*) group!

Spread the word!

45N73W

(*) Note:
This support Group started on Facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/pages/Zeilmeisje-Laura-Dekker/129715607107698) but Facebook proved to be an unreliable partner in keeping our data - hence this new group on Blogger.
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