Teenager Dekker completes around-the-world sail Published duration 21 January 2012

media caption Sixteen-year-old Laura Dekker from Holland has successfully circumnavigated the globe

A Dutch teenager who set out to become the youngest solo around-the-world sailor has completed her voyage.

Laura Dekker, 16, was greeted by a cheering crowd as she sailed into the St Maarten harbour in the Caribbean after a year at sea.

She left on 20 January 2011 aboard her 11.5m (38ft) boat Guppy.

Before her trip, Ms Dekker won a court case against Dutch social services, who had argued that the voyage could harm her emotional and social development.

Her mother had expressed concerns about the solo voyage, but later lifted her objections.

Ms Dekker was born on a yacht off the coast of New Zealand during a seven-year world trip.