RNW

Dozens of people have made donations in the past two weeks to help solo sailor Laura Dekker achieve her challenge to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe alone.

Her father Dick Dekker made an appeal for extra funds at Christmas, so that his 15-year-old daughter could "sail on with worrying about finances". The project was not actually in danger, but there was no financial room for extras, like a visit at Christmas by her father.

Mr Dekker would not say how much the project had received.

The solo sailor had hoped to sell filming rights to a television company, but the company pulled out at the last minute. The voyage was the subject of controversy due to the young age of Laura.

When she first announced her plans to sail around the world at the age of 13, the Dutch child welfare authorities refused to give her permission to take time off school and eventually she was made a ward of court. Nevertheless, a judge lifted the wardship last July.

Laura Dekker is currently on the island of St Maarten. If she wants to break the record for the youngest person to circumnavigate the world solo, she needs to beat current Australian record holder Jessica Watson, who finished her solo voyage around the world a couple of days before her 17th birthday. Laura Dekker will be 17 on 20 September 2012.

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