Jessica Watson - Youngest sailor around the world

"You don't have to be someone special or anything special to achieve something amazing, you've just got to have a dream, believe in it and work hard."-Jessica Watson while her victorious welcome home speech after completing 210 day's voyage of solo unassisted sailing around the world just at the age of 16! 

How many of us have the fortitude to endeavor the dream this big!! A tender cute girl in her sixteen, Jessica Watson, had for sure!!

                                      Jessica all set for new challenges

On May 15, 2010, Jessica Watson created history after conquering the capricious oceans all alone and became world's first youngest unassisted around the world solo sailor. She started her journey on October 18, 2009! Millions including Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and ministers of Parliament anticipated to catch a glimpse of  this super kid. Thousands of boats joined in to welcome her back home!

Former Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd said, ''Jess welcome back to dry land. Welcome back home to Australia. You know something, you may feel a little wobbly on your feet just now, but in the eyes of all Australians you now stand tall as our Australian hero''.

                      Welcoming Jessica and her boat Ella's Pink Lady at Sydney Shores

Born on May 18, 1993 in Queensland, Australia, on the most coveted, The Gold Coast, this girl was born to play with treacherous menaces of the oceans! The Watson family lived on a 16 meter cabin cruiser for five years. Clearly, the waters were her play grounds and Alma mater! She and other three children in the family were home schooled by distance learning! Their first home on land was a custom made double decker bus for some time. This nomadic life and the heroic bed time stories her mother read lead Jessica to take a challenge with the mighty Oceans! 

 

Jessica contemplated her expedition from year 2008. She announced a solo non stop and unassisted circumnavigation of the globe in May 2009. Which means:

- Any kind of help, support, maintenance or moor her boat to any port could abrogate her circumnavigation .

- Four capes, Cape Horn, Cape of good hope, Cape Leeuwin & South East Cape will be passed through.

Jessica and her sweet pink boat 'Ella's Pink Lady' started from Sydney, passed near New Zealand, Fiji, Kiribati and touched equator twice and passed through four of the capes! Kudos! 

                        Jessica's Route: Key points illustrated by Localfashioners.

Before commencing her voyage, Jessica crewed on many vessels to get practical exposure to wield foreseen or unforeseen mechanical/technical situations. Following were her qualifications and experiences:

    -RYA/ISAF Offshore Safety course
    -RYA Diesel Engine course
    -RYA Radar course
    -YAs Safety and Sea Survival certificate
    -OMTC issued Certificates of Competence for Apply First Aid
    -IMO compliant Elementary First Aid Table

    -Yachtmaster Ocean theory certificates
     -Radio operator’s licence
    -About 6,000 coastal and 6,000 ocean miles experience. 

Jessica had to confront thumbs down because of the tender age for a fanciful proclamation. But her perseverance, drill and fortitude was demonstrated when she touched Australian land on May 15, 2010. This triumph brought her trophies of honor, recognition and fortune. She is awarded with ''Young Performer Of the Year'' from Australian public, ''Spirit of Sports'' from Sports Australia Hall Of Fame and selected as one of the 10 international 'Adventurers of the Year 2010' by National Geographic Society. She bagged million dolor of endorsements. 

Her boat 'Ella's Pink Lady' deserves a spotlight. This 10 meter Sparkman & Stephens S&S 34 yacht was launched in 1984. New equipments and entirely new electrical system were refitted. Jessica herself was involved in the modifications and named her boat as 'Ella's Pink Lady'. The boat had self steering windvane system that was named as 'Parker' taken from one of Jessica's favourite tele series. This chivalrous charm is bought by Government for $300,000 and now an attraction for tourists in Queensland's Australian National Meritime Museum. When you visit Australia next time, don't forget to give a visit to fearless Jessica's cute comrade.  

And our super kid is grown up now. She turned 18 on May 19. She is finishing her studies and dating, though she doesn't have much time for so!She has joined WFP in the fight against Child Hunger and a fight to save endangered Australian species Bilby. She still have to conquer countless ventures, to set paradigms for generations to come! Good on you Kid!  

Jessica's website to know more  : http://www.jessicawatson.com.au  

- Sumitra Puri.