Dutch police say teenage sailor Laura Dekker - who seeks to be the youngest person to sail solo around the world -has been missing since Friday.
Police say the 14-year-old's boat is moored at its berth and she appears to have left her father's home on her own.
Spokesman Bernhard Jens told the Associated Press news agency no criminal activity was suspected - but the authorities were concerned.
She was placed under state care after a Dutch court blocked her sailing bid.
Miss Dekker had planned to set off on her solo voyage in September, but the Utrecht District Court said concerns for her safety were too grave.
It placed her under state supervision until July 2010, but allowed Miss Dekker to continue living with her father.
Dutch police say they have issued an alert to airports in neighbouring countries for the missing teenager.
Sailing dreams
At the time of the court ruling in October, Miss Dekker's spokeswoman said she was disappointed, but that the teen could still set the record if she were to sail next year.
Miss Dekker is a seasoned sailor who was born on a yacht off the coast of New Zealand during a seven-year world trip.
She had a yacht by the age of six and began sailing solo when she was 10.
Her father, Dick Dekker, supports her attempt at the record, while her mother has expressed some concerns.
Miss Dekker had planned to spend about two years aboard her 26ft (8m) boat, Guppy, to break the record set in August by a 17-year-old UK boy.
Mike Perham tackled 50ft waves, gale force winds and technical problems during the 28,000 mile (45,000km) circumnavigation, which took him nine months.
UPDATE: YES I AM BACK UPDATING!
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