Australia readies hero’s welcome for round-the-world teen

An Australian schoolgirl who sailed out of Sydney under a cloud of controversy will return to an ecstatic hero’s welcome tomorrow as she ends a remarkable seven-month round-the-world voyage.

Thousands of boats and spectators are expected to gather to watch Jessica Watson, 16, sail back into Sydney Harbour as the youngest person to ever circumnavigate the globe solo and unassisted, setting an unofficial record.

Millions more Australians are expected to watch the much-hyped event live on commercial television, with Watson’s team urging the nation to take part in what they declared an “historic” moment.

“It will be with great pride that all of Jessica’s family, friends, sponsors, support team and millions of fans will welcome her back to Sydney as the youngest person to have sailed solo around the world,” her management said.

“It is a monumental achievement from an inspirational 16-year-old Australian who has touched people’s hearts all around the world.”

The teenager, who has been sailing since she was eight, will take her first steps on dry land in almost seven months at the world-famous Sydney Opera House, three days before her 17th birthday and one month ahead of schedule.

But she is unlikely to give many details about her odyssey, after selling her story to Rupert Murdoch’s News Limited for a reported A$700,000 (US$625,000).

Although the World Speed Sailing Council will not recognise Watson’s record, as its minimum age is 18, the 210-day voyage will make her the youngest person to ever sail solo and non-stop around the world without help.

Fellow Australian Jesse Martin will continue to hold the body’s record for the feat, which he set over 328 days aged 18 in 1999.

“It’s a shame that my voyage won’t be recognised by a few organisations because I’m under 18, but it really doesn’t worry me,” Watson wrote on her blog last week.

“I mean there’s millions, (maybe) billions of people who still don’t believe in global warming, so I’m more than happy to settle for a few people going against the tide and declaring that mine hasn’t been an official circumnavigation.”


Watson’s 23,000 nautical mile journey took her through some of the world’s most challenging and treacherous waters, pitting her bright pink 33ft (10m) yacht against 40ft swells and gale-force winds.

She twice sailed over the equator, crossed all meridians of longitude and passed the world’s four capes as she traversed the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

Project manager Bruce Arms said Watson was a “very strong-willed young lady”, while Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has described her as “inspiration for all Australians” - a far cry from the furore that surrounded her departure.

Authorities questioned her abilities after she smashed into a massive coal freighter during a test sail, snapping her yacht’s mast and damaging its rigging and hull.

An investigation found she was asleep and tracking the wrong vessel when she hit the 63,800-tonne bulk carrier Silver Yang, and heavy criticism was directed at her parents for encouraging her bid.

“There are people out there who I suppose have their doubts, and rightly so because it’s a big, scary and possibly dangerous thing,” Watson said, speaking ahead of her voyage.

“But I am not here without confidence.”

As the prospect of reintegration into society approaches, Watson said on her blog that she had mixed feelings about journey’s end.

“In one way I think sailing back through Sydney Heads is going to be as tough as it was sailing out through them,” she wrote. “I’m told that things are going to change pretty majorly for me as well, so that’s a little scary.

“But I’m not worried because I know that if I can find a reason to laugh while surrounded by huge waves, in the dark and after a knockdown, then I’ll be able to smile through whatever comes my way.

“Oh dear, I’m getting far too soppy and reflective, so I’d better finish up.”

Gulf Times

Agencies/Sydney