Wild seas delay Jessica Watson's homecoming to May 15

HEADWINDS, sleep deprivation and a desire to stay well away from busy shipping lanes have forced solo sailor Jessica Watson to delay the end of her round-the-world voyage to the weekend of May 15-16.

Until early yesterday Jessica had held on to the slim hope she would be able to make up the significant ground lost because of the horrific weather she has encountered since entering Australian waters just under a month ago.

The 16-year-old finally conceded her fate is to spend almost two more weeks at sea before she is able to step on to dry land to a hero's welcome at the end of her bid to become the youngest person to sail round the world.

"We didn't want her to be under any pressure to arrive earlier. Everyone wants her to be doing it at her own speed and safely," Jessica's mother Julie Watson said.

"This will also give her time to catch up on some sleep as well. She's barely had a break the last week."

The Sunshine Coast teenager, who had a run-in with a freighter during a test run to Sydney before starting her trip, has survived a barrage of rough weather in recent weeks, including violent wind squalls, lightning storms, driving rain, thick fog and monster 12m swells.



heraldsun.com.au