LETTERS
Schoonmaker Point Marina
that we didn't write that doing a singlehanded solo circumnavigation was so easy that even a 16-year-old girl could do it — but rather that it would be the perception many people would take away. You might call it the 'Jordan Romero Effect', after the Big Bear resident who, 18 months ago, scaled Mt. Everest at the tender age of 13. In a curious way, both Romero and Dekker have diminished their respective accomplishments, because they proved that a 13-year-old boy could indeed climb Everest, and that a 16-year-old girl could indeed solo circumnavigate. And on their first attempts! This is going to be puzzling to lay people who don't understand how critical favorable weather is to success in both climbing and sailing. Who would argue that far better climbers than young Romero have died trying to scale Everest, and that far better sailors than Dekker have died trying to sail around the world alone? It most cases it was a matter of the deceased's having been confronted by much worse weather.
• in Sausalito •
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160-Berth Marina in one of the most beautiful spots on the Bay
• Visitor berths • Guest moorage up to 220 ft. • 35-ft to 75-ft slips • Pumpouts • Marine services • Dry Storage Available • Three-ton hoist • Restaurant • Beach • Rowing • Kayaking
Sausalito's Finest Marina 85 LIBERTY SHIP WAY, #205 SAUSALITO, CA 94965
www.schoonmakermarina.com Page 28 •
Latitude 38
• February, 2012
COURTESY JOHN COLBY
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⇑⇓LAURA CONSIDERS GUPPY TO BE HER HOME Initially I was in agreement with Latitude’s strong position against age-based sailing records. After all, one only needs to think of the problems endured later in life by child movie stars and Olympic gymnasts pushed by their parents. But I changed my mind when I serendipitously met Laura Dekker while in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. I found her to be competent and self-reliant. Furthermore, she insisted that the idea of a solo circumnavigation was hers alone. No matter how much youth sailing records are discouraged, there will probably be youngsters who will continue to try to set them. As Latitude correctly points out, that doesn’t make it right. But when there is a person of competence, such as Laura, she should be recognized for her accomplishment. I first saw Dekker from afar at Durban, South Africa. The marina gate-keepers pointed out her 38-ft Jeanneau Gin Fizz Guppy to me. “Did you know,” they said with reverence and wide eyes, “that a 16-year-old girl sailed that boat all the way across the Indian Ocean by herself?” It had taken 47 days, and she'd previously sailed across the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. I actually wasn't aware of these accomplishments at the time, as I'd been sailing myself and hadn't followed her story. During the next weather window, my crew and I sailed down the coast to Port Elizabeth, where we ended up berthing next to Dekker and Guppy at the yacht club. Since we'd rented a car to visit the Addo Elephant Preserve, I asked Laura, who hadn't visited any preserves, if she wanted to come with us. It wasn't long before Laura took over the car navigator's job from my crew Craig, who was bungling it. When Laura later asked me if I thought it was safe for her to walk from the yacht club into town, I decided to err on the John Colby enjoyed helping Laura side of caution by saying no. during her stay in South Africa. The result was that I spent several days taking her shopping, to internet cafes, and to do laundry. She even ended up hanging out and having dinners aboard my boat — and always had second helpings. She even