9th January 2021
Babs had said to call the other yacht again at night, which was possible because they were still in reach of the vhf. The whole group […]
8th January 2021
Finally the trade winds have become how they should be, around 20-25knots 🙂 The waves of course have also built a little more.. During my night watch […]
6th January 2021
The trade winds have really kicked in now and Guppy is peacefully rolling her way west. About 800nm to go. On dek, Annabelle and Sista are […]
5th January 2021
A beautiful day today with plenty of sunshine which always makes me happy, because it means extra amps going into the batteries. The sea has been […]
4th January 2021
This morning we’ve finished the spinnaker boom mast car, which is great because the wind has been returning and is now back from behind. Sadly the […]
3rd January 2021
Around 4am the dark clouds around Guppy finally stop shedding rain curtains over us. Most of the night the wind is very variable, so we’re very […]
2nd January 2021
We are now going through a little weather system that brings no wind, squalls and rain. Lots of it! The squalls sometimes bring some wind, so […]
1st January 2021
We celebrated New Year’s Eve at the time of our geographic location which is -2 utc. With some songs, music and of course blowing Guppy’s horn […]
31st December 2020
Another cloudy but warm and lovely day. Especially as we had about 14knots of wind most of the day, so Guppy made some more progress. Now […]
30th December 2020
The sea remains very calm so even though the wind sometimes drops, Guppy is able to continue sailing nicely. Today was spent reading, playing games and […]
29th December 2020
The promised 14kn of wind came and Guppy is sailing along very smoothly on a relatively calm sea. The sun also decided to come out, so it […]
28th December 2020
We got up bright and early but don’t rush to leave, I am still a strong believer that good preparation is one the biggest keys to […]
26th December 2020
After a good full night of sleep we head back into Palmeira to clear out and try to find some fresh fruit and veggies. In the […]
22nd December 2020
During the early hours of another amazingly clear warm night we start to see a few lights on the horizon and as we get closer the […]
21st December 2020
For the last two days we have been sailing through a bubble of many different shades of blue. The days and nights are incredibly clear, we […]
20th December 2020
With a good breeze from behind we nicely sail along at 7,5-8 knots. The waves have build a bit, so Guppy is being tossed around a […]
19th December 2020
We leave La Gomera around 3pm while a good wind is funneling through the islands, but soon the nice wind is gone and we slowly roll […]
15th December 2020
It’s still dark with just the slightest tint of pink behind us as we enter through the piers of the marina from Las Palmas. It’s a […]
13th December 2020
After a nice walk into the village Playa Blanca and a successful score at the car rental place we make our way back to Guppy to […]
6th December 2020
After a short visit in La Coruna where our young crew has visited an old fort we jump on the next weather window and depart the […]
3rd December 2020
No longer the need for gloves and hats at night. Smooth sailing and the quality of food made by our young crew is improving every meal […]
2nd December 2020
We had another lovely warm calm day. Periods of calm sailing with sometimes motoring in between. Reading, writing, watching dolphins and a beautiful moon rise and […]
29th November 2020
Written bij Guusje (16) Departure Wednesday 25 Nov 2020 The departure went like this, Laura, Sander, Leonie, Annabelle, Babs and I were awake to leave. The […]
21st November 2020
Written by Babs (14) Thursday: We started sailing at 8 o’clock in the morning, because we had a weather window. After we left people came upstairs […]
16th November 2020
Written by Annabel (15) The start of our Atlantic crossing:At 11am all the participants came on board. After all family members and friends left, we had […]
11th October 2020
The last months we have been working really hard to get Guppy in good shape and ready for our Atlantic Roundtrip starting in November 2020. After […]
27th August 2020
Our upcoming Atlantic Roundtrip starting in November with a group of teenagers between 12 & 16 years old is coming closer fast, we’re not sitting idle, […]
27th April 2020
We have some exciting news! We are incredibly grateful and happy for a yacht that has been made available for a period of time to the […]
8th January 2020
What makes a boat seaworthy? You’re out shopping for a blue water cruising boat and people keep telling you it needs to be seaworthy, but what […]
17th December 2019
Is a small boat much more dangerous to sail around the world’s oceans? This is a question I have been asked many times. There is the […]
30th October 2019
We still need to raise a large proportion of the required funds to build GuppyXL. We have received some generous donations from sponsors and individuals – […]
22nd August 2019
We are really excited to welcome a new sponsor and a partnership established with Victron Energy. On my round the world voyage I also had Victron […]
7th August 2019
It was just around midday when we stood in line waiting for the security check of the airport. Tim was sitting happily with Sander in the […]
26th May 2019
Besides working on the project and raising a little crawler I am also still doing motivational speeches and presentations all over the world. Even though I […]
13th May 2019
This last year has been crazy, so much has happened yet in some ways I felt like I was standing still and not getting anywhere. I […]
30th March 2019
I have heard that people go through big changes about every 7 years in their lives. I don’t know if that’s true but it did kind […]
30th March 2019
I was sick of all the lies, twisting of the truth and the back and forth of accusations and writings of blogs. So I decided to […]
6th February 2019
BOOT Dusseldorf has been over for a while, but life continues at full speed. There has been a lot of interest in the project and I […]
1st February 2019
Everyday I get lots of mail, And of course also lots of nice mails, that really make me smile. This is one of them, I remember […]
19th January 2019
We had a great first day on BOOT Dusseldorf, lots of visitors and great talks. Big thanks to the Handling Company & Your Identity for the […]
18th January 2019
After two long days of working we are very happy to present our stand at the upcoming BOOT Dusseldorf, I’m super excited to be telling all […]
24th December 2018
I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and an amazing New Year! We will be sailing for Christmas this year 🙂
12th November 2018
We want to invite you to have a look into our goals and step in to become a part of it. Our goal is to have […]
9th November 2018
The first steps are made. We are officially a trust now & have been able to accept our first donations ( big thank you to […]
8th October 2018
It’s been two months since Guppy’s stranding, not a day goes by that I don’t think about her being smashed up and down on the reef […]
11th September 2018
Picture’s from three weeks ago.. by now she is fully submerged and confirmed a total loss :'(
31st August 2018
Initial Damage Report of Guppy’s grounding in Manihiki Isl. Based on information gathered from different sources. Vessel Particulars when leaving Whangarei Harbour May 2018 Build in […]
30th August 2018
Place of initial stranding. Guppy having been thrown further unto the reef after another squall – the place of initial stranding is drawn into the picture. […]
17th August 2018
Dear followers, This last week has most likely been one of the saddest times in my life so far. My dear Guppy, my first home, my […]
1st April 2018
To follow some of the work I’m doing in Mallorca over the next week with the Trofeo Princesa Sofia go to: https://www.facebook.com/TrofeoPrincesaSofia/ Or https://www.youtube.com/user/Trofeoprincesasofia Laura
17th March 2018
Hello Everyone, It’s been a while since the last update, I didn’t write because for my standards I haven’t been on a crazy awesome adventure lately. […]
6th January 2018
Drawing, designing, making plans – the project is evolving Minicats ready for a sail Because I sail almost everyday I leave the minicat inflated, stored with […]
25th December 2017
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone! I wish that you will get the best gift of all: The company of people you love, […]
4th December 2017
Sometimes it’s good to let go of things and start with something new. And this is one of those moments. I’m ready to let her go, […]
6th November 2017
Dad up his mizzen mast, getting ready to hang in another stay: Putting boats up the yard for winter. With Dad & Spot in the forklift […]
22nd October 2017
Had the honour to sail singlehanded on a Mini 6.50 for the last week – was so much fun! 😀 Little boat – huge mast 🙂 […]
9th October 2017
Yesterday we visited an old Dutch friend I met along my circumnavigation. I had last seen him in Darwin, so 6 years ago! It so great […]
9th September 2017
Life on the famous side & Lessons I’ve learned Lesson 1,The Pressure More and more often I see young people striving to be famous, posting every […]
8th September 2017
I just got back online after two beautiful weeks of sailing trough Holland, showing some family & friends my sailing life and why I love it […]
16th August 2017
Here are some nice video’s from our Minicat Meeting in Italy last June. Mum, dad, and I drove from Holland and spent the weekend with 50 […]
15th August 2017
Another super exciting thing happened last month. Havorn finally became a sailboat! Her masts are stepped! And even though it’s without booms, gafs and only thin […]
8th June 2017
A new adventure Over the past years I have had many people ask me “Whats next?” – probably expecting me to start with some other adventure […]
22nd February 2017
Beautiful early morning start – Great Barier Isl. in the distance. Hiking up to Mt Hobson views from the top of Mt Hobson Kim’s game day […]
22nd February 2017
We go ashore the following day to hike to the peak of Mt Hirakimata which – with 627m – is the highest point on Great Barrier […]
20th February 2017
Taking dad on a big hike on his birthday 🙂 Not sure if this was a great birthday present as hiking isn’t one of his favourite […]
20th February 2017
Once home again we got busy hosts – Dad and some friends from the US flew in to visit us over Christmas and New Years which […]
18th February 2017
Imagine my surprise when I was checking my mails this morning and read in a newspaper article that Guppy has been sold?! It took me a […]
31st January 2017
Approaching Jervis Bay. Beautiful sunset above the heads of Jervis bay. Filling up with fuel in Ulladula. Crossing a sleepy Tasman sea. found Tasmania! 🙂 On […]
31st January 2017
Along the way dad sends us weather-updates via satphone text. It’s looking like we are going to get some very gnarly weather soon. 30-40 knots of […]
18th January 2017
guadalcanal island Kids paddling around the shores in front of their villages. Big pig cooling off in a muddy pool next to the road. Not sure […]
18th January 2017
It’s about beginning November as the doors of the plane open and Honiara’s (Capital of the Solomon Islands) humid heat warms me instantly. I finally meet […]
3rd November 2016
A lot has happened since I arrived in Portland three weeks ago. Lots of presentation requests came in while I was already in the area. I […]
2nd November 2016
View of Washington state from Victoria Going for a walk, don’t worry there are no more trains driving on these tracks. Victoria, Goldstream park Crazy growing […]
10th October 2016
So about a month ago I left New Zealand on my own for a little tour around the world, by plane this time though.I stopped in […]
27th September 2016
26th September 2016
Interview BNR radio (Dutch) https://www.facebook.com/lauradekker.worldsailingfoundation/ https://www.facebook.com/lauradekker.worldsailingfoundation/videos/vb.1380334081994373/1397279046966543/?type=2&theater
14th July 2016
Chantal flew back home to Germany shortly after the end of our road trip. ‘Normal’ life kicked back in for us, finding little jobs to do […]
10th July 2016
Roadtrip Part II We soon arrived in Stratford which is at the foot of Mt.Taranaki. Thinking that it would be fun to spent the night at […]
7th July 2016
10 days later we picked Chantal up from the airport and escaped Auckland’s highways asap – heading for the Coromandel. Explorations there took us into its […]
10th May 2016
NZ summer was coming to a slow end: high time to take Guppy out for a sail again! …and besides that, it was a good opportunity […]
19th April 2016
Last week has been a very busy one – our days are usually filled with little adventures of some sort and sitting still doesn’t happen very […]
31st March 2016
Back home! Our last two weeks in Europe were as always to short to do all the things that we wanted to and we never get […]
25th March 2016
I just came across this lovely poem again written by John Masefield. A woman read it to me last year before the start of a presentation […]
4th February 2016
Josefien was released from the hospital and we all drove back together. Much rest and sleep were ahead for her, but quiet the opposite was awaiting […]
3rd February 2016
Making the feet from the spreaders around the construction for the stays and terminals. Bit by bit, day by day, the pipes are transforming into masts. […]
31st January 2016
So far Europe has been cold, wet, busy but also very nice. Well most of it anyway.. We spent New years eve at a rather […]
16th January 2016
On the 23-24th of January 2016 I can be found on the stand of Minicaton the Dusseldorf Boat show to present the Laura Dekker minicat edition
23rd November 2015
After 2 years in the water, it was time for Guppy to get a serious manicure done. We hauled her out and worked like crazy for […]
1st October 2015
I want to start with saying thanks for all the lovely birthday wishes. I had a great day together with friends here in Whangarei. Daniel and […]
4th August 2015
Last weekend I had a presentation in Twizel which is on the South Island. Daniel and I both got to go down and have a few […]
25th July 2015
Radio interview Next big thing radio ep. 23 (61 min.) Wenn not working on your pc trythis link an older one: Next big thing radio ep. […]
14th July 2015
Sorting and checking Guppy’s anchor gear. A gorgeous sunset accompanies us while sailing trough the bridge on our way out. Last weekend Daniel and I […]
26th June 2015
Here are a few picture’s of some sailing lesson’s I did a few weeks ago with some girls from Whangarei Girls High school. They are doing […]
29th May 2015
The days are getting shorter, darker and wetter. Winter has arrived and this year I am not escaping it. Since Daniel’s accident we have been staying […]
9th May 2015
I took on a delivery from Bluff to Whangarei on a Wharram catamaran. Well, that trip was ehm, interesting.. I flew down the day before the […]