Never underestimate the power of persuasion – especially when it comes from a child who knows her stuff. Laura Dekker is exhibit A.

A court in the Netherlands has given the green light for the 14-year-old Laura Dekker trying to sail solo round the world.
If she succeeds, she becomes the youngest who completed a solo global circumnavigation.
The rally was supposed to have started in September last year, but was stopped by the court, referring to her young age.
Court decision on Tuesday means that the earlier decision by authorities to seize her aside.
Dekkers father, who lives with her, encourage her to carry out sailing. Her mother was against it but changed his mind.
Laura Dekker himself has recently said that she would start as soon as possible and that it should be from Portugal.

Laura Dekker poses for the media on her boat Guppy in Den Osse

Evert-Jan Daniels/AP