Dutch teenager sets off on solo round the world voyage

She's not afraid of pirates. She's packed plenty of school books. And she's going to miss her family and her dog.

Laura Dekker, 14, hopped onto her boat on Wednesday and sailed off from the Netherlands hoping to become the youngest person to make a solo voyage around the world.

About 100 supporters waved as Laura and her father, Dick, left the southern Dutch harbour of Den Osse in her 11.5m yacht Guppy, bound for Portugal where she plans to leave her father and begin her circumnavigation attempt.

Last week, Laura won a legal battle when a court released her from the guardianship of Dutch child protection agencies. They had blocked her initial plan to depart at age 13 over fears for her safety and psychological health during the trip, which will likely take around a year.

"I can be sailing now, and that's great!" she told reporters on Wednesday, sporting a skull-emblazoned black T-shirt.

Laura hoisted the black Jolly Roger-like flag of The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society above her red twin-masted ketch - the same image she wore on her shirt - before sailing out.

Laura, who was born on a yacht off the coast of New Zealand, has been working to counter objections to her voyage since the authorities stepped in last year. She got a bigger, sturdier boat, took courses in first aid and practiced coping with sleep deprivation. She also made at least one solo trip across the North Sea to England.

The Dutch court ruled that Laura's preparations were adequate and it was up to her parents to decide whether to let her make the attempt. Her mother, Babs Mueller, who is separated from her father, recently withdrew her opposition to the plan.

Her case has fuelled a global debate over the wisdom of allowing ever-younger sailors to take on the tremendous risks of sailing the high seas alone.