A teenage girl from the Netherlands sailed into St Maarten harbour on Saturday, ending a year long solo journey around the globe. The Guinness World Records has said it’s not going to back that up though. It no longer recognises records for youngest sailors because it wants to discourage dangerous attempts.

Dutch officials tried to block her trip; they said she was too young to risk her life. School authorities have even complained she should be in a classroom.

But, that didn’t stop people cheering as Laura Dekker fist-pumped the air in celebration while she sailed past a drawbridge raised for her arrival in the port from which she sailed almost a year ago.

The teenager says she was born aboard a boat and first sailed solo at age six. At 10, she said, she began dreaming about circling the globe.

“Her story is just amazing,” said one of Dekker’s fans, 10-year-old Jody Bell of Connecticut, “I can’t imagine someone her age going out on sea all by herself.”

Bell was in St Maarten on a work trip with her mother, Deena Merlen, an attorney in Manhattan, who wanted to see Dekker complete her journey.

The two wore t-shirts that read: “Guppy rocks my world.”

“My daughter and I have been following Laura’s story, and we think it’s amazing and inspiring,” Merlen said.

Dekker completed the last leg of her journey after navigating through high seas and heavy winds after leaving Cape Town.

She hugged her family and wept before addressing the crowd, and claiming one of the most amazing feats humanly possible.

[Source: SMH]