14-year-old Dutch sailor girl leaves the Netherlands ahead of solo trip around the world

14-year-old Dutch sailor girl heads out to sea

AMSTERDAM — A 14-year-old Dutch girl who hopes to become the youngest person to sail around the world by herself has climbed onto her boat and left the Netherlands.

Laura Dekker and her father Dick Dekker have left the southern Dutch harbor of Den Osse in her 38-foot (11.5-meter) yacht Guppy, bound for Portugal, where she hopes to begin her solo attempt later this year.

Dekker plans to stop at dozens of ports along the way to rest, study and receive assistance in maintaining her ship.

She won a prolonged legal battle last month when a court released her from Dutch child protection agencies that had blocked her departure over fears for her safety.

She told reporters before leaving Wednesday she would miss her dog.