Laura Dekker at Durban

I’m mightily pleased that Laura Dekker has arrived in Durban after 47 days at sea, and having sailed approximately 6,000 nautical miles from Darwin. I’ve followed her post-dated log and sailed with her in my armchair every day and night through frustrating calms, contrary winds, turbulent seas and happy times when the sun has shone and the wind has been fair. She’s a courageous young lady whom I much admire, just a fraction of my age, and yet she has accomplished so much. She knows what it is like to be in tune with the ocean, and to be happy with her lot. She appreciates the simplest of pleasures, the ever changing shapes of clouds, the wondrous movement and colour of the sea, breaking water and flat calm, twinkling stars, flying fish and even the smell and taste of freshly baked cookies!


Laura post-dated her log to avoid giving clues to Indian Ocean pirates as to her whereabouts, and there was speculation regarding which route she would choose. Would she opt for battling against contrary winds of the Red Sea to pass through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean, or would she sail west to Durban, before turning south for Cape Town, leaving Port Elizabeth and Cape Agulhas to starboard? Both routes have their difficulties, without the added anxiety of possible capture by pirates.


After provisioning her boat I feel certain she will continue southwards for perhaps the most challenging leg of her around-the-world voyage so far. She will have to overcome strong contrary currents and mountainous seas, unless she is extraordinarily fortunate. The seas of Cape Agulhas can be particularly vicious, since there is the expanse of the Southern Atlantic between Cape Horn and the African continent for generating them and they rise over shallows, lifting upwards to the landmass.


I congratulate Laura for her achievement and my prayers are for her as she continues with her marathon voyage.



Text for the Day

Genesis 22: 14 ‘And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”



Links


Laura’s Website News Page

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


Laura Dekker, Exemplar of Youth Today?

http://bills-log.blogspot.com/2011/08/laura-dekker-exemplar-of-youth-today.html