Laura's book
Zeilmeisje Laura Dekker
"Mijn verhaal"
Author: Riek Dekker
Language: Dutch
In stores since October 7, 2010
vor etwa 7 Monaten · Beitrag löschen
Thomas Weber
DÉJÀ VU
Some thoughts about Laura's book
Thursday, November 4th.
It is exactly three month ago since Laura left Den Osse harbour. Around
noon on this Thursday, I received some mail. The usual useless stuff,
flyers, publicity etc. There was also a large envelope, "Alk &
Heijnen, Alkmaar, the Netherlands". They really made it! After waiting
for over two weeks I held "Zeilmeisje Laura Dekker, Mijn verhaal" in my
hands. Unbelievable! It was not easy going ordering the books from here
in Germany. From the stamp, I could see that shipping from Alkmaar, NL,
to Windeck, Germany took one week. Misspelled hometown included Wiondeck
for Windeck. Nevertheless!
I was very excited. At first, I had a
look at the pictures. Nice pictures, really. I knew some of them from
Laura's Blog, but most of them were new to me. I also had a quick
overview of the big "mystery" - the Sint Maarten incident. I finished my
tea and by one o'clock in the afternoon retired to my study and started
on reading, my Langenscheidt Niederländisch - Deutsch (dictionary Dutch
- German) and a map of the Netherlands close by. The foreword of the
book was not telling me anything new. It repeated almost literally what
Laura's Grandmother told on several talk shows.
The first
words of chapter 1 already fascinated me: "I am rocked back and forth,
back and forth. Sometimes more, sometimes less". The first day in
Laura's life. Her grandmother really found kind words for it. Keep in
mind that this book is written by Laura's grandmother, nevertheless, she
used Laura's diaries for accuracy and it really feels like Laura is
writing/talking. "Unfortunately, you won't remember all of this when you
get older." For these early years in Laura's life Grandma was relying
on Laura's father and mother diaries and narrations. Well done, Mrs.
Dekker, really. At times one feels that you are on board of the
"Diario", the yacht the Dekker family sailed on during their world
circumnavigation (1991 - 1998). A remarkable parallel: it also was a two
masted, red-painted yacht. There are humourus and touching details in
this chapter. The fact, that Laura's cradle was made from an old
cardboard box of a TV when they toured New Zealand by car, or the fact,
that, during a storm at sea, Laura only wanted to sleep at the most up
and down bobbling part of the yacht. "Strange kid" her mother concluded.
We are also told about the financial situation during this trip, also
the problems you can get while being together on such a small spot are
summarized.
Chapter 2 covers the first sailing experiences of
Laura with her Optimist boat - her RED colored Optimist boat. Since the
divorce of her parents, Laura has been living with her father near
Utrecht. "Dad, I will go sailing today!" she says to her father. "But
you will have to learn how first" he replies. "No need, I can do it."
Laura says. And they go sailing. Laura's father is surprised as Laura
can do tacks without being taught how. We also learn that their life was
not easy in those days. When Laura was eight her father suffered a
burnout, so Laura had to do a lot to help her father. Laura's father is
working freelance and he is looking for almost a year at that point.
With the help of relatives and friends, they manage to keep living.
Laura says that this period was very decisive for her later life. She
also does progresses with her sailing skills. She participates in
several sailboat races. First winner? Laura Dekker. After sailing for
two years with her Optimist, she now has a Mirror boat. With some
modifications by Dick otherwise she is too "small" to sail that boat she
can go sailing with it. In early 2005, the newly built live in boat,
the "Havorn", is launched. There is also someone new in the Dekker's
family life, Spot! Laura's dog.
Chapter 3 tells about the
first sailing holidays of Laura, her father and Laura's friends in 2005
and 2006. You can imagine that they had a lot of fun - until the kids find out that the hitherto disregarded pile of wet towels started to smell awful!
The year 2006
was also a decisive year for Laura and her father Dick. In early 2006,
Dick receives a letter by the local boards, ordering him to leave the
berth at the marina within six weeks, or else they would be tugged away
and the "Havorn" would be wrecked afterwards. Then we get a first
impression about the fighting spirit of nine-year-old Laura. Along with a
friend, she starts to collect more than 300 signatures, urging the
local government to withdraw the order to leave the marina. They also
inform the media about it. Finally, they succeed. Laura and her father
are allowed to stay.
Chapter 4 is about Laura's solo sailing
experiences. She still sails with her Mirror, but she finds something
bigger and better. Laura asks the owner of a Hurley 700 if she may sail
with this boat. Of course, as long as she keeps it clean and does the
maintenance, it will be OK. She also does sail boat races with it.
"First winner: ... someone else." - because only grown ups participate
in those races. However, Laura does not give up and is getting better
continuously. Finally, by the end of 2008, she is the first winner
again. Second winner: Laura's father!
The other part of this
chapter covers Laura's solo sailing on the Ijsselmeer, the Dutch mud
flats, her experience during a 24-hour sailboat race and finally, her
legendary solo sailing tour to Lowestoft, England in May 2009. In summer
2007, she does her first six weeks long solo sailing voyage. Problems?
Yes, of course! A doubtful harbour master is not sure about Laura and
calls her father. He arrives and despite Laura's protest, he accompanies her - them! Laura already had a passenger: Spot. Together they continue the trip over the Ijsselmeer [ Lake Ijssel - a shallow 1100 sq.km artificial lake in Western Europe].
After this break, Laura and her father decide to buy
their own Hurley 700. They find one and Laura gives a name to it. You
have three guesses...
In summer 2008, she goes on vacancy with
her GUPPY. She also sails to the Dutch mud flat island of Vlieland along
with her mother and her sister. Due to the strong wind and the high
waves, Laura's mother is not too enthusiastic about the sailing. I
already knew this story from another source. After that, Laura, her
father and a friend participate in a 24 hour race on the Ijsselmeer.
Laura stays up in the night and is very impressed by the stars and the
lights all around here. Unfortunately, they have to quit the race before
it comes to an official end. No award.
The final part of
chapter four tells about Laura's solo trip to England in May 2009. In
short: she managed to cross The Channel, reaches Lowestoft and is
celebrated. Celebrated? No! She gets three visitors on board, urging her
to come with them. They bring her to a children home. Because she is
too young and... she is a girl (well, that's her own conclusion about
it)! Laura's father has to fly over and to accompany Laura on her way
back. Anyway, Laura sails back alone. As she sails into Rotterdam
harbour, a boat of the port control comes closer to her boat. They ask
her if she is able to speak Dutch?! Laura forgot to lower the Union
Jack! Nevertheless, they let her sail. In the evening at 9.30 PM, she is
back at home.
In the weeks after the England trip, Laura's
wish for a world circumnavigation becomes more concrete. She writes
mails to several companies whether they would like to sponsor her. She
receives positive answers. A sponsor offers a bigger boat to her, a
Hurley 800. It seems that nothing can stop Laura.
The chapters
five to eight cover the "Laura Dekker Case" from its very beginning in
late August 2009 until late July 2010. Needless to tell that there was
much written about it, many people gave their opinion about it in many
interviews, columns, sent in letters etc. It is very interesting to read
about that period from another perspective. On the other hand, there
are several things left out. Not a single word about the press
conference at the court in August, no word about Laura's spokesperson,
even the trip to Porto, Portugal, is not mentioned at all. Moreover,
Laura's mother is mentioned in a very negative way.
In all, this is the most interesting, the most saddening and shocking part of the book.
On Monday morning, August 24th 2010 Laura and her father receive an
"invitation" to show up at the Court in Utrecht at 2 PM on the same (!)
day. Laura's sponsor calls for his lawyer. Along with him, they go to
Utrecht. "Your daughter might be put under state supervision today,
please understand that it is possible that you will not be allowed to
take Laura back home with you." the lawyer, Mr. de Lange, says to
Laura's father.
In the meantime, I realized that it was time
for me to have some tea. Therefore, I moved downstairs to the dining
room. Stop reading? No way! I took the book with me. I had tea until two
bells (I have a ship's bell clock in my dining room), then I went back
to my study.
The rest of chapter five and the whole chapter
six tell about the reception of the lawsuit and its consequences by
Laura and her father. It is frightening how much of desperation and harm
can be caused by "good willing" people. It is too complex to tell about
it in a few sentences. Therefore, I just want to mention that Laura did
a suicide attempt in December 2009.
Chapter 7 is about the
most spectacular event in the whole Laura Dekker Case: Laura's escape to
the Caribbean island of Sint Maarten.
By mid December 2009, Laura
is so despaired that she decides to run away from her home. Very far
away. Her plan: flying over to St. Maarten, buying a boat there and
starting on her voyage. She already contacted a local boat salesman. She
leaves a farewell letter for her father. This letter is in the book,
every word, word-for-word. Touching...
On December 17th, Laura does
not return home. Her father is not too worried about it because it is
not too unusual that Laura stays out over night. On the next day he
calls up her mother, asking her not to call the police, otherwise Laura
might be taken away from him. On the next day, two police officers who
search his computer for clues visit Mr. Dekker. They do not find any. It
is not spoken out directly, but it is clear that Laura's mother (or her
husband) informed the juvenile boards.
On Wednesday, December
17th, Laura took a train to Paris. She went to the airport, bought a
ticket to St. Maarten and went on board of the plane. She had no
problems at all. She arrived at St. Maarten and contacted the seller of
the boat. Later, she met a woman at the marina and stayed with her on
her boat.
In the meantime, on Sunday evening, the press got on the story.
I remember this day very well. It was one of those typical "before
Christmas days". We had very much of snow, my neighbour's daughter went
sleighing. She waved to me while I picked up some firewood. In short: it
was a very unspectacular and boring day. Around 3 PM, I had a look at
the internet. I checked Laura's site. Nothing new. Then I checked
Twitter. I noticed a short report "Zeilmeisje Laura vermist" -
"Zeilmeisje [sailor girl] Laura is missing". First, I thought that
someone just wanted to say that he is missing her because she was not in
the news since many weeks. The Twitter link lead to a Dutch newspaper
article, telling that Laura is missing since Thursday and that she left a
farewell letter. NO! PLEASE, NO! This cannot be true! It MUST NOT BE
TRUE! At this time, I really thought that Laura was... Well, you only
leave a farewell letter when you want to leave this world forever. It
was very difficult for me! Around 10.30 PM the media told that Laura was
found save and sound at St. Maarten. How and Why? The book gives some
answers to it from Laura's point of view. Of course, it cannot answer
for those people who were responsible for Laura's situation. I think
they will never have to give answers to these questions. Shame!
The remaining part of chapter seven tells about something that the
German press called "Lauras Weihnachtswunder" - "Laura's Christmas
miracle". Laura was not put into a children home (as everyone expected)
and could stay with her father. "Merry Christmas, Laura, and a happy and
successful year 2010". That's what I wrote to her via a social network.
In chapter eight we learn about Laura's new start with a
different boat at a different place. About new difficulties with the
juvenile boards, a new lawsuit, unknowing judges and a new Guppy. Here
again several things that are just mentioned "by the way", the break up
with her sponsor for example, or even not at all, the break up with her
spokeswoman and not a single word about her in the whole book. Anyway,
the reader notices that Laura is going forward with her dream. Laura
found back her will of live and the new environment, Zeeland, in
south-west of the Netherlands, has a positive influence on both, Laura
and her father. Nevertheless, she also has to say goodbye to a good old
fellow. They needed much money to buy the new boat; therefore, Laura's
Hurley 700 had to be sold in March 2010. Laura delivered it to its new
owners by herself.
Laura talks about the work they do on the new
Guppy, the courses she has to follow, the new hearings at the court etc.
She is also a little bit jealous at Jessica Watson and the support she gets from her country! Well...
On the
final pages, Laura describes her new trip to Lowestoft (she was not
arrested this time!) and the last hearing at the Court of Middelburg.
Finally, she tells about the releasing judgement by the Court on July
27th. To be honest, it is the third or fourth version of the events of
that day...
All in all, this book is a must-read for everyone who is interested in Laura and her case and it is just wonderful written.
Before I forget, you may wonder about the strange title I gave to this
book review. In the meantime, it was 9 PM. The old long case clock in my
study struck the hour when I opened the final page of the book. I
reached the last break on the last page. I slowed down my reading,
enjoying the last phrase. I also do so when I play the final notes of a
beautiful music piece. Laura tells about her intention to depart one
week after the judgement. I already mentioned that it was exactly three
month ago by this day. "A great book." I thought. I closed it. I stared
at the cover. I did not realize it before: Laura's smile on the title
photo is exactly the same, unforgettable smile she gave to me when I met
her at Den Osse harbour. Déjà vu!
Regards,
Thomas
