Most teenage girls are more concerned with fashion than weather
patterns, but for Jessica Watson it is all she can think about.
Aged just 16 Jessica is preparing to become the youngest person to
sail, unassisted, non-stop around the world.
For full story and pictures:
Australian Jessica plans to leave Brisbane in September of this year
heading east across the southern ocean to South America through before
embarking across the treacherous South Atlantic and Indian Oceans
before returning home.
In her quest to re-write the record books, the bubbly schoolgirl will
embark on her eight-month journey in three months, hoping to return
before she reaches seventeen.
With the full backing of her family, Jessica is hoping to travel the
dangerous 23,000 nautical miles and break the record set by her fellow
Australian Jesse Martin who completed the journey at the age of 18 in
1999.
“I have been set on this adventure since I was eleven,” says Jessica,
who lives in Buderim on Australia’s Sunshine Coast.
“My mother told me about Jesse Martin and even though I had only been
sailing a few years I can remember clearly thinking ‘That is what I
want to do, I want to be the youngest.’”
Starting out sailing dinghies at eight years of age, Jessica worked
hard at building her skills and knowledge of sail changes and making
the most of the wind and tide.
“I was what you would call a slow learner,” says the potential
globetrotter.
“I realised very quickly that confidence is the key and after that
came to me then the rest all fell into place.”
Having now progressed to her 34ft yacht named Youngestround.com,
Jessica hopes to set off on her journey in September of this year and
to return in April of 2010, one month before her 17th birthday.
Sailing northeast across the equator through the Pacific, around the
sailors graveyard that is Cape Horn and on through the Southern Ocean,
Jessica’s voyage is a test, even for veteran sea goers.
“The challenge is mental, definitely,” says schoolgirl Jessica.
“I am receiving training in telecommunications, radar, mechanics,
first aid and of course in ocean going sailing.”
Up until now Jessica has not sailed solo anywhere in the world.
“In February I travelled with two experienced sailors from Australia
to New Zealand across the Tasman Sea,” Jessica says.
“However, they did not help me one bit and for all intents and
purposes it was a solo voyage to see if I could hack it.
“They were only there for insurance purposes.
“Now I am sixteen I don’t legally need any one to go with me.”
Studying up until she leaves Australian shores, Jessica will not only
be dealing with 40ft waves, possible 360-degree boat rolls and rogue
whales.
“I will be bringing school work with me on the voyage,” says Jessica.
“I study through a correspondence school anyway, so I suppose it
doesn’t make any difference really.”
Bringing 230 days worth of food with her for her journey, Jessica
needs to maintain a daily diet of 5000 calories to sustain her energies.
“The food is just plain boring, freeze dried and canned,” explains
Jessica.
“I will collect water from the sails and may even turn my hand to
fishing.”
Still looking for potential sponsors to complete the necessary funding
needed, Jessica is looking to make this voyage as media friendly as
possible.
“I am going to be involved daily with phone calls to my base in
Brisbane and I will be talking to supporters round the world through
my emails.
“It is going to be important to stave off the boredom.
“I can only bring so many DVD’s with me.”
Jessica has also expressed interest in taking advice from Britain’s
Dame Ellen MacArthur, on the perils of solo global yachting.
“She is obviously a hero, especially as she is a woman who has taken
on the men and won,” says Jessica.
Both Jessica’s parents, Julie and Roger have left their jobs to devote
all their energies to Jessica’s record attempt.
“My mum knew from the beginning that I was serious about this,”
explains Jessica.
“Even though we are not a sailing family I have been hit bad by the
bug and I guess my mum just knew.
“However, convincing my Dad was a totally different matter. He was not
keen on me leaving him for two weeks, let alone eight months to sail
round the world.”
The second youngest of four children, Jessica and her family are
waiting for her yacht to leave dry-dock so that sea trials can begin.
“I’m feeling really good about it all, the hardest part so far was
getting the project up and running,” says mum Julie, 45, who has left
her job as an occupational therapist to support her daughter.
“Jessica has put in an enormous amount of work to get this far and the
people who have supported her are just outstanding. They keep telling
her she can do it but I think she knew it all along.”
Her father Roger, 47, a former real estate agent, said he was fully
behind his daughter’s quest.
“I’ve probably only just come to terms with the project even though it
has been going to happen for years,” says Roger.
“The day she told, well, asked me what she wanted to do is very vivid
in my mind. You have to give her all the support you can, even though
we won’t get much sleep for eight months!”
There are currently two male solo sailors attempting to break the
“youngest” record, Briton Mike Perham who is 17 years and American Zac
Sunderland, 17 years.
However, Jessica will beat them both if she sails into Brisbane
harbour in April 2010.
“It’s only natural that I will be a little nervous and scared when I
am out there, but that’s the great attraction of solo sailing -
testing yourself to your limits,” says Jessica.
“Mum and Dad are right behind me and I’m hoping to inspire other young
Australian girls to live their dreams.”
Words by James Nye
Pictures by Liam Kidston / Barcroft Media
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