Laura Dekker, age 13, wants to sail around the world by herself in a 25-foot boat, and her parents support her. Social workers in the Netherlands have stepped in to try to make Laura a ward of the court, which would prevent the parents from allowing her to do it.
Laura had a yacht by the age of six and began sailing solo when she was 10.
"Since I was 10 years old, I've known that I would like to sail around the world," she told Dutch television.
"I want simply to learn about the world and to live freely."
Dutch bid to thwart young sailor