Heavy weather ahead as Jessica Watson hits home straight

by Yasmine Phillips

TEENAGE round-the-world sailor Jessica Watson has reached Australian waters - and celebrated with an Aussie snack of crackers with Vegemite.

Reaching the major milestone in her ambitious world-record attempt, the 16-year-old declared, "It's nice to be home".

She also enjoyed an emotion-charged reunion with her parents, who flew over her yacht, Ella's Pink Lady, just off the West Australian coast.

Jess excitedly rang her parents via satellite phone the moment a "random green light" showed up on her chart, signifying she had hit Australian waters about 200 nautical miles off the Albany coast yesterday morning.

"Welcome to Australia," her mum, Julie Watson, said just before 8am yesterday.

"You're back, you're back!"

Jess replied: "It's pretty good to be home.

"Not that it feels any different, but it's pretty cool to be home.

"I'm having crackers and Vegemite to celebrate."

Her dad, Roger Watson, was delighted.

"It's really good to see you again," he said.

"We got a little emotional when we first saw you."

Mrs Watson said she considered the final leg of the round-the-world trip the most challenging.

"I'm probably more nervous than ever," she said.

"Some people said Cape Horn would be the biggest challenge but I have always been more worried about the Great Australian Bight.

"That area is notorious for difficult conditions and makes it virtually impossible for sailors to head north to avoid bad weather."

But Mr Watson said the Sunshine Coast teenager had remarkable mental strength that allowed her to tackle her dream of becoming the youngest person to sail solo around the world head-on.

"It's been pretty rough out there but Jess just gets on with it and keeps working," he said.

"She tells us everything is fine but I think we've been getting toned down reports because she doesn't want us to worry.

"That is the definition of courage - to be able to put all your fears aside and get on with the job."

The previous time her parents saw their daughter was during a fly-over off the South American coast just after Jess rounded Cape Horn in January.

"That was when it really sunk in for me," said Mrs Watson, who speaks to her daughter at least once a day.

"That really frightened me because I realised how small she really was compared to the ocean.

"It's one thing to see her in the middle of the ocean halfway into the trip, but it's another thing to see her back home (in Australian waters)."

Yesterday, Jess asked the pilot to "come in closer or you're not going to be able to see my beautiful pink toenails".

Only able to sleep for a couple of hours at a time, Jess said she was most looking forward to a long sleep-in, fresh fruit and vegetables.

Jess will time her entry into Sydney for a morning arrival to coincide with a major onshore celebration.