Laura Dekker (born September 20, 1995) is a Dutch sailor.
In 2009, she announced her plan to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe single-handed.
A Dutch court stepped in, due to the objections of the local authorities, and prevented Dekker from departing while under shared custody of both her parents.
In July 2010, a Dutch family court ended this custody arrangement, and the record breaking attempt finally began on August 21, 2010. Dekker successfully completed the solo circumnavigation in an 11.5-metre (38 ft) two-masted ketch, arriving in Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten, on January 21, 2012.