Dutch teen sailor at first stage

Laura Dekker

AAP Images

A 14-year-old Dutch sailor aiming to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world says she has reached Spain's Canary Islands off northwest Africa.

Laura Dekker says on her website she has finished the first stage of the trip.

Laura says she'll "have to look at land for a while now".

She is expected to stay in the Canary Islands for two months.

Laura set off from Gibraltar on August 21.

She says she spotted land after four days at sea.

The message, dated on Wednesday, gave no details as to where on the seven-island archipelago she was.

Messages sent to her website on Thursday were not immediately answered.

Her venture has stirred an intense debate about whether young people should be allowed sail the world's oceans alone.