It will be up to a Dutch court to decide whether or not a 13-year-old girl can sail solo around the world in a bid to become the youngest circumnavigator.

The District Court in Utrecht will rule Friday on the petition of the Dutch Council for Child Protection to put Laura Dekker under court custody to stop her from making the dangerous journey.

Dekker's father is supporting his daughter's world-record attempt as she is trained in sailing solo. In May, the girl sailed alone to the port of Lowestoft in England.

The girl's school has rejected her father's request for a two-year leave to make the journey. A court rejection, however, still leaves Dekker the option to start the journey in New Zealand as she is also a citizen of that country.

If cleared to sail, Dekker will try to break the record set by Mike Perham, 17, of England. Perham became the youngest person to circumnavigate the world alone after completing the 30,000-mile trip in 282 days Thursday. He left Lizard Point in Cornwall on Nov. 18.