Laura Dekker - Arrives in Cape Town

Laura and Guppy have said goodbye to the Indian Ocean and hello once again to the Atlantic Ocean.

They are presently in Cape Town for about 2 weeks, enjoying a visit from Laura's dad before heading north for the first time this voyage.

Here's an excerpt from ExplorersWeb.com

TeenSailor: Dekker finished her third ocean Dutch 16-year old Laura Dekker crossed the Indian Ocean in silence to avoid pirates. Alone in her vessel, the young sailor has now crossed three oceans on her way around the world.

Laura Dekker - Arrives in Durban South Africa

Laura Dekker and her 38ft ketch “Guppy” have arrived safely in Durban after a 6000 nautical mile passage across the Indian Ocean from Darwin 47 days ago.

Laura kept this leg of her circumnavigation a secret due to piracy concerns.

Laura and Guppy have now crossed the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans since they left home some 450 days ago. Their next challenge will be rounding the Cape of Good Hope before making their way north and towards home.

Remembrance Day - 11-11-11

Remembrance Day

Lest We Forget

Today at 1100hrs let us take a minute in silence and spare a thought for our diggers.

Margaret River Western Australia - Winter 2011

Roz Savage - Indian Ocean Victory

At approximately 0630hrs on the morning of 4th October, Roz Savage made landfall in Grand Baie, Mauritius after rowing 4,000 miles across the Indian Ocean from Fremantle in Western Australia.

Roz Savage has just spent the past 5 months living within the confines of her small purple rowboat named “Sedna” carrying everything she anticipated needing, including watertight food storage bins and a water desalinator to make fresh drinking water. She had a small cabin to sleep in and a satellite phone for communication.

Many voices around the globe are joining together today to congratulate Roz on a job well done!

Laura Dekker - Happy Birthday

Laura Dekker sailed to England alone when she was 13 and 6 months later she got the idea to sail around the world. So she started to prepare for her voyage and a year later she left.

She and Guppy are now in Darwin with her father who came over to celebrate her 16th birthday together. They are in the process of preparing Guppy for the next leg of their voyage and the plan is to set off on September 24. At this stage Laura has no firm plans as to where her next stop will be.

Laura Dekker - Welcome to Australia

"Guppy is slowly pointing her nose into the Van Dieman Gulf....and if all goes well, we should be in Darwin tomorrow..." Laura Dekker.

http://www.lauradekker.nl/English/News.html

Laura Dekker demonstrated exceptional sailing skills in negotiating her way through the Torres Strait and is now heading for the Van Dieman Gulf on their way to Darwin.

It will be interesting to see which route she decides to take across the Indian Ocean.

Tom Yum Goong (Thai Hot and Sour Soup with Prawns)

Laura Dekker - One year on

365 days have passed since Laura Dekker left Gibraltar, on 21st August 2010, in chase of her dream..... "youngest ever solo circumnavigator".

With the Pacific Ocean behind them, Laura and Guppy are now in the Torres Strait heading for Darwin.

Laura Dekker - International Date Line

The 180° line of longitude, exactly half way around the earth from Greenwich, UK
and 0° longitude is approximately where the International Date Line is located.

If you cross the IDL from the east to the west you gain a day (24hrs), as was the case for Laura and Guppy, who are now anchored at Vava'u in Tonga.

Laura Dekker - Marquesas on the horizon

"Hup, Guppy, Hup!
You are the best!
I established a new record: 194 nautical miles in a day... I beat my father's record by one mile..."
Laura - 13th May.

Roz Savage - "Purple Hearts" from Mother Earth

Photo: Colin Leonhardt.

Sponsor-A-Mile for Roz Savage: http://bit.ly/FollowGreenRowe

To follow Roz's voyage and/or show your support, go to http://www.rozsavage.com/

Laura Dekker - Galapagos to Marquesas

I don't know who took this picture and I hope they don't mind me posting it here but it is sooo beautiful I just had to share it.

With a heavy heart upon leaving the "most extraordinary" Galapagos Islands and the people she met there, Laura and Guppy set sail today for the Marquesas Islands.

The distance between the Galapagos and the Marquesas is approximately 3,000 miles which would make it the longest leg of Laura and Guppy's epic voyage of adventure.

Laura Dekker - Celebrates Guppy

Laura Dekker and Guppy have had a number of reasons to celebrate recently, including crossing the Panama Canal, then the Equator to arrive at the Galapagos Islands exactly one year after Guppy was launched.

Next stop...Marquesas.


HAPPY 'BERTH'DAY GUPPY!

Roz Savage - Indian Ocean challenge

A 43yo British woman, Roz Savage left Fremantle today in a bid to row solo across the Indian Ocean.









Roz has already rowed across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and will attempt to be the first woman to row across three oceans.

She hopes her journey, spanning 6,400kms across the Indian Ocean (destination yet unknown for security reasons) which is expected to take four months, will raise awareness about marine pollution.

At the very least, may it serve to inspire everyone to do their bit, notwithstanding those who have actually had first hand experience sailing through such destructive pollution and...well, when all is said and done, there is more said than done!

I sincerely wish you fair winds and calm seas and that you stay well and healthy throughout your epic voyage. Respectfully....Sam

Laura Dekker - Crosses the Panama Canal

Laura Dekker and her lovely ketch Guppy are on track to navigate the next leg of their voyage, the crossing of the Panama Canal.

(Image courtesy of NASA Earth Observatory)

Making their way between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans amongst ever-increasing traffic in a relatively confined space could be a cause for concern at the best of times.

Fortunately Laura took advantage of an opportunity presented to her beforehand to experience the crossing there and back as a line handler on another vessel which has given her some knowledge of what to expect when she and Guppy go "live" on the 10th and 11th April.

So apart from "good luck" there's nothing more to say other than "goodbye Atlantic, hello Pacific!" Woohoo!!!

Vietnam - March 2011

Each woman was as skilled as the other. It was awesome to watch!

Laura Dekker - Precious moments

When all is well with your boat and she seems to be sailing along beautifully, as in this great shot of "Guppy", it's inevitable that you find yourself mesmerised by the sea in quiet contemplation.

I dare say, "Spot" may be ever present in Laura's mind during such precious moments.

Perth on Cyclone Alert

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a cyclone watch for coastal areas from Jurien Bay to Albany as the category four storm continues to track south.

People in the areas between Jurien Bay and Albany are told to prepare now for very dangerous weather as Severe TC Bianca, now a category 4 cyclone, tracks toward WA's South West coast.

There's nothing normal about the weather anymore so I don't know what to expect.
Residents are being warned to prepare for dangerous weather conditions over the next 48 hours.....eeekkk!!!

Australia Day 2011

Australians all let us rejoice
For we are young and free
We've golden soil and wealth for toil
Our home is girt by sea

Our land abounds in nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare
In history's page, let every stage
Advance Australia Fair

In joyful strains then let us sing
Advance Australia Fair

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
We'll toil with hearts and hands
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands

For those who've come across the seas
We've boundless plains to share
With courage let us all combine
To Advance Australia Fair

In joyful strains then let us sing
Advance Australia Fair