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Jessica Watson - True Spirit

by vicone
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Teen sailor Jessica Watson has battled the biggest seas of her round-the-world odyssey off the treacherous South Australian coast.

A low pressure system has served up swells described by the 16-year-old as "10-metre liquid mountains" that knocked her vessel onto its side on Saturday.

But her manager Andrew Fraser says she's doing well and is focussed on crossing the finish line in Sydney, probably on May 8 or 9, just shy of her 17th birthday on May 18.

If she makes it, Jessica will secure her place in the record books as the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world.

Meanwhile, after thousands of suggestions from bloggers and supporters, Jessica's publisher Hachette Australia has announced the teenager's book will be titled Jessica Watson - True Spirit.

The book is expected to be a hit, with Jessica's website currently receiving more than one million hits a week from people around the world.

"There have been 50,000 comments posted since she first started," Mr Fraser said.

"I didn't think it would be as consistent as it has."

Jessica is planning a national (Australia) tour to meet fans sometime in August.

Source: Teen sailor Watson rides high seas

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Also a worthy contender for the title of "Young Australian of the Year". An incredible feat, well-deserving of the honors she'll receive.

Not a lot of dialog for a movie but would offer some great visuals. My own preference for a film perspective would have elements of "The Old Man and the Sea" but I expect commercial producers will probably look to "The Fast and The Furious" for inspiration.

Ivan
  • Profile picture of the author vicone
    Next stop Sydney as Watson turns north

    Jessica Watson's Ella's Pink Lady faces monster swell off Tasmania's west coast

    Weather forecasters say Jessica faces some big swells on her run into Sydney. (Jessica Watson)

    Teenage sailor Jessica Watson has successfully sailed around the south-east cape of Tasmania and is now heading towards Sydney.

    The 16-year-old from Queensland's Sunshine Coast has passed the 22,000 nautical mile mark in her bid to become the youngest person to sail around the world unassisted.

    She has had to battle raging seas and electrical storms since entering Australian waters earlier last month.

    In her latest blog post this morning, Watson says: "We passed well clear of land, in the dark and with not the nicest conditions."

    "But I still get a big kick out of it," she added.

    "I never expected rounding Tasmania to be much of a big deal, but all of last week's struggles made finally getting around the cape 10 times sweeter."

    She says although she is not letting her guard down, it is "great to be back in more familiar waters".

    Watson says the wind is currently sitting on 25 knots.

    Source: Next stop Sydney as Watson turns north - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

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    Ivan
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    • Profile picture of the author vicone
      "The 16-year-old from Queensland's Sunshine Coast is expected to arrive in Sydney Harbour tomorrow after setting off in October on her attempt to become the youngest person to sail solo and unassisted around the world.

      Tens of thousands of spectators are expected to welcome her home when she arrives in Sydney Harbour on Saturday (Sydney time).

      Jessica's grandfather Tom Watson says he was never concerned about her safety at sea, but if he were in her shoes he would have concerns about coping with the ensuing media frenzy."

      Source with more details: Watson faces 'big change' on land - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

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      Ivan
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      • Profile picture of the author vicone
        From tonight's news:

        Solo teen sailor Jessica Watson says she's not a hero, but just ''an ordinary girl who had a dream''.

        The 16-year-old was welcomed by thousands of cheering people at the Opera House and on a flotilla of boats crowding Sydney Harbour just before 3pm this afternoon after a 210-day round-the-world voyage.

        ''It's completely overwhelming right now,'' she said as thousands whistled and clapped while others chanted ''Aussie, Aussie, Aussie ... Oi, oi, oi!''.

        ''There was nothing out there ... and there's absolutely everything now.''

        The harbour was turned into a spectacular reception area, as hundreds of boats crammed into the narrow waters to greet the young adventurer on her small, pink yacht.

        Fellow solo sailors West Australian Jesse Martin and English teen Mike Perham helped Watson take her yacht in after she crossed the finish line, as an aeroplane wrote her name ''Jessica'' in white smoke in the sky.

        Fears that Watson would struggle to walk after such a long time at sea were unfounded, as she made her way up a pink carpet to the Opera House forecourt with her family, wearing a broad grin and looking none the worse for her epic voyage.

        She had left Sydney in October, sailing in sometimes difficult conditions through the Pacific, across the equator, past Cape Horn in South America, across the Atlantic, past the Cape of Good Hope, through the Indian Ocean before returning to Australian waters.

        Source: Jessica Watson Returns Home
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Did you hear though? Jessica is NOT in "the record books" because they decided to not add to that category anymore!

    If you ask me, that invalidates that record, calls their integrity into question, and even makes one wonder about the category. If a category is there, it should be right.
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