En-route to fulfil her lifelong dream of sailing solo around the world, the teenager says she’s settling in well to her life at sea, RAY CHESTERTON writes.
Sailing out into the big blue, intrepid teenager Jessica Watson admits she had no idea what to expect – and that the world of beauty and joys of solitude she’s since discovered surpass even her wildest expectations.
With the wind at her back, the 16-year-old adventurer sailed away from controversy and into the calmer blue waters of the mighty Pacific Ocean on October 18 on her quest to be the youngest person ever to circumnavigate the globe non-stop.
Pushing aside the storm of concern about the perils of her voyage, Jessica, from the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, has embraced the full enormity of her unforgettable journey. She’s also relishing the newfound freedoms afforded by her adventure.
In a detailed diary, Jessica writes of her amazing encounters with marine animals, breathtaking sunsets and quiet nights sleeping on the deck under the stars.
The online journal gives Woman’s Day readers the chance to share in the excitement of her trip as she reveals not only these experiences, but also her battles with the more mundane aspects of sailing – like daily cooking and cleaning routines. She recounts one such week aboard her yacht, Ella’s Pink Lady.
For more of Jessica’s journal, grab Woman’s Day (on sale November 2, 2009)
Your say: Do you think Jessica’s Parents did the right thing by letting her go on her solo voyage?
