Sailor, 14, gives media the slip as she starts round-the-world challenge

A 14-YEAR-OLD Dutch sailor has left Portugal on her quest to become the youngest person to sail around the world solo.

Laura Dekker's manager, Peter Klarenbeek, said she set off yesterday despite almost windless conditions from a Portuguese port he would not specify "because she did not want to speak to the media".

Klarenbeek said Dekker was in a very good mood as she embarked on her year-long trip to circumnavigate the globe.

Child protection authorities have questioned the wisdom of allowing a youngster to take on the risk of sailing the world's oceans alone, but Dekker says she has the navigating skills and endurance of an adult.

Dekker had been scheduled to depart from the town of Portimao and media from around the world had gathered to record the event, but by noon local time no one had seen her or her red-hulled ship.

The young sailor's website has links titled "My Coordinates" and "Where is Laura". Neither was working and a porthole-shaped counter of the days of her voyage was at zero.

Voyage sponsor Ferry Dammers turned up at Portimao with a banner to display on board Dekker's boat as it left.

"I am disappointed, I have the banner here but when I spoke to Klarenbeek he informed me Laura had already set off on her journey," Dammers said.

A court last month released Dekker from the guardianship of Dutch child protection agencies that had tried to block her voyage because of fears about her safety and psychological health.

Marijke Schaaphok, the director of Masmedia, a company filming the trip with remote cameras mounted on Dekker's boat, defended the girl's push to sail around the world.

She said Dekker is mature for her age and has proven she can sail across oceans after passing a maritime exam in the Netherlands for a vessel of her boat's size.

Furthermore, she said Dekker is uniquely qualified for the ambitious sea venture.

"She grew up with her father on a boat so she's completely different from a normal 14-year-old girl," Schaaphok said.

"She's very wise and a little bit impatient, but she's a very nice girl and she knows exactly what she wants."