Laura Dekker of the Netherlands adjusts a flag on her boat Guppy in the harbour of Den Osse August 4, 2010. Dekker set sail for Portugal after winning a year-long battle with child welfare authorities worried over her ambition to become the youngest person to sail the globe solo. Laura depart from the southwestern Netherlands on her 11.5-metre ketch Guppy, sailing initially with her father to complete final preparations before starting the official solo part of her journey. [Photo: Reuters]

Laura Dekker, the 16-year-old Dutch girl who hopes to become the youngest person to sail solo round the world, is reaching the end of her voyage, local media reported on Wednesday.

Dekker started the trip from Gibraltar in August 2010 and crossed the Atlantic to the Caribbean, reaching Sint Maarten in December that year. She is now set to be back at Sint Maarten in her boat Guppy at the end of this month.

Dekker first announced her plans to attempt to break the record when she was 13 but was made a ward of court when judges said the trip would be too dangerous and a risk to her emotional and social development. The order was lifted in summer 2010, clearing the way for the trip to begin.

The young sailor is expected to arrive on Sint Maarten on the Jan. 20, taking over the title of youngest person to sail around the world from the Australian Jessica Watson.