And having the attitude that they know best and that other people/organisations should just accept their individualistic (selfish) viewpoint.

The laws aren't here to cater to the individual but to advance the greater common good. In that scheme of things posponing the trip to when she is 17 or 18 and after having completed her schooling is sufficient (individual) freedom. Overhauling these laws, and risk greater abuses down the line, to suit one personal extreme case is not.

I also think that the way they handled the English incident was the point where they sealed their fate. Laura was detained in England as the authorities didn't approve her skippering a sail boat singlehandedly at that young age. The father was summoned to pick her up, he refused. Then she was placed in a child care home and her father eventually did come to pick here up and take her home he put her on the boat and allowed her to sail away singlehandedly against the strict orders of the English authorities.

They had their warning and they chose to stick the finger in the eyes of the authorities. If you do that then you shouldn't be surprised that the authorities "make work" of you and even make an example out of you. The Brits then informed the Dutch child care organisations and by that time everything had become official and we all know that then the letter of the law is stricktly applied.

I can't shake the feeling that the father failed to learn an important lesson on his past adventures. This is western Europe and not some banana republic were you can arrange for anything with enough cash and determination.

Maybe Laura can take on the nationality of say Somalia; we all know they are pretty relaxed about applying law and order; especially of the maritime kind !

Wouter