Laura Dekker: Sailing Solo Versus Reality TV

The Dutch juvenile court should announce tomorrow its findings regarding the psychological fitness of 14-year-old Laura Dekker for sailing around the world alone—either to allow or prohibit her going. She is the youth poised to go after the world record for youngest solo circumnavigator, a record the older Australian teenager Jessica Watson is now at sea seeking. The latest wrinkle in Dekker's story, however, could make this even more of a media circus. The Dekkers have apparently signed a contract with a television station to produce a reality television-type show about her voyage. Apparently a camera crew would closely follow her boat around the world, filming her every move, word, meal, article of clothing, and—perhaps—sailing technique. Reality television! I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt, but reality TV generally trends closer to the superficial than to the sublime. Further, Dekker's lawyer has even argued to the court that her voyage will be less risky with all these people following so closely. Well, duh! Meanwhile, another sailor has offered also to sail beside her, and hotel rooms and other accommodations are being offered at all ports. You can just hear her lawyer opining, Why, she'll hardly be alone at all!

At the same time, Laura continues to say, "It's all about the sailing." I'm going way out on a limb here to suggest that this whole story is becoming less and less about what real long-distance voyaging can be all about. The sailing literature is full of stories written by voyagers, solo and otherwise, who speak eloquently about their love of the sea, their adventures, their meditations when alone with this incredible environment—and what's it's really like to sail with an independent spirit, self-reliant and self-discovering. Just check out the logs at sailblogs.com and tripsailor.com of sailors now cruising the world, for a taste of the many who have worked so hard to make their dreams come true, who understand that indeed it's all about the sailing. I'll wish the same for Dekker when she's able to accomplish that.