Jessica Watson (born 18 May 1993 in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia) is an Australian sailor (age 16), resident in Buderim, Queensland. She is currently attempting to become the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world.
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As training for the round-the-world voyage, Jessica did a lot of ocean sailing as a crew member on other boats. During 2008 she sailed New Zealand-Vanuatu-Queensland, Queensland-New Zealand (where she acted as practical skipper), and other ocean sailing voyages. Schoolwork has prevented her from doing too many such trips.
During 2009 she took part as crewmember in similar trips, like Brisbane-Tasmania and New Zealand-Campbell Island-New Zealand.
The around-the-world voyage was publicly announced on May 1, 2009. During May-October she and her team were busy testing and equipping the boat. Jessica took active part in all equipment work in order to learn all about them.
Prior to departing on her world record attempt, Watson had a
test run sailing from Brisbane to Sydney. On 9 September, 2009, her first night
after leaving Brisbane, she collided at about 02.00 am with
Silver Yang, a 63,000-tonne freighter.[1]
Watson's sloop, the 10.4 metre
Ella’s Pink Lady, was dismasted in the collision. She was
able to retain control and return the boat to Southport under motor.[2]
The Australian Transport
Safety Bureau's preliminary report on the collision found that
Watson had been sleeping during the event, and that while she had
checked her radar prior to lying down, she had failed to spot the
Silver Yang. This led to the accident four minutes later. The
report also found that the Silver Yang had been aware of her
presence and had attempted to change course, but that this had been
insufficient to avoid Watson's boat. The Bureau has yet to
apportion blame for the accident, and a full report is due to be
released at a later date.[3]
She is attempting to become the youngest person to sail around the world alone.[4] The route is planned to be: Australia–New Zealand–Fiji–Kiribati–Cape Horn–South Africa–Australia. The Equator must be crossed according to the rules of world circumnavigations, which was done near Kiritimati.
She is planning to sail non-stop and unassisted, in accordance with the definitions set out by the International Sailing Federation World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC). Australian Jesse Martin currently holds the WSSRC record for the youngest person to achieve this feat. The WSSRC have since discontinued their endorsement of the age records for youngest (and oldest) circumnavigators.[5]
The journey time is expected to be eight months with an approximate distance of 23,000 nautical miles. The journey should be completed in June 2010.
Watson left from Sydney on 18 October, 2009, to start her solo circumnavigation.[4]
She crossed the equator on 19 November 2009 (Australian date)[6], at about 161°40'W longitude, near the Jarvis Island. It was the first time she ever did so on a boat. She rounded Kiritimati on 22 November 2009 (Australian date), after 36 days, and then continued south in direction Cape Horn. The sailed distance from Sydney to Kiritimati was about 3900 nm.
On 13 January 2010 (9:40 UTC) she passed Cape Horn, after having sailed around 9800 nm in 87 days. This is 1100 nm ahead of the planned 100 nm per day schedule. With 4000 nm to go to the Cape of Good Hope, the estimated time of passage there should be around 17 February.
| Jessica Watson | |
|---|---|
|
File:Jessica Approximate route taken by Watson on her voyage between October 2009 and May 2010 | |
| Born |
Jessica Watson 18 May 1993 Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Sailor |
| Known for | The youngest person to sail solo around the world. |
Jessica Watson (born 18 May 1993) is an Australian sailor. She resides in Buderim, Queensland. In May 2010, she unofficially became the youngest person to sail non-stop and unassisted around the world, although her route did not meet World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) criteria for circumnavigation of the globe.[1]
Watson departed from Sydney on 18 October 2009, heading eastbound over the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean. She returned to Sydney on 15 May 2010, three days before her 17th birthday.[2]
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Jessica Watson was born on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.[3] The second of four children of New Zealand couple Roger and Julie Watson, who moved to Australia in 1987, she has dual Australian and New Zealand nationality.[4] She has an older sister (Emily) and younger brother and sister (Tom and Hannah). All four took sailing lessons as children, and the family went on to live on board a 16 metre cabin cruiser for five years, the children being home schooled via distance learning. Later they lived on a purpose-built double decker bus for some time. When Jessica was eleven and they were still living on the boat, her mother read Jesse Martin's book Lionheart: A Journey of the Human Spirit to the children as a bedtime story. This led to Jessica forming the ambition at age twelve to sail around the world too.[5]
Watson had been planning to complete a solo non-stop and unassisted circumnavigation of the globe since at least early 2008.[6] Officially announced in May 2009, the journey was expected to take eight months with an approximate distance of 23,000 nautical miles. As the plan was to sail non-stop and unassisted, during the journey no other person would be allowed to give her anything and she must not moor to any port or other boat, although advice over radio communication was allowed.
Watson's circumnavigation route planned to start and end at Sydney and passed near New Zealand, Fiji, Kiribati, Cape Horn, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin, South East Cape.[7] In accordance with the definitions set out by the International Sailing Federation World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) for circumnavigations, the equator must be crossed;[8] this was done near Kiritimati. However the journey did not meet the WSSRC requirement of an orthodromic distance of 21 600 nm. (Refer below)
Watson arrived back in Sydney Harbour at 1:53pm, Saturday 15 May 2010. The Harbour Master, Capt. Steven Young, blew into a party whistle to signal Jessica's official arrival back home.
After the journey she began a relationship with Michael Perham, the previous youngest circumnavigator[9]. They met during a stop he made in Australia during his circumnavigation, and they had several phone conversations during her journey.
The Los Angeles Times reported Watson's reason for her journey: "I wanted to challenge myself and achieve something to be proud of. And yes, I wanted to inspire people. I hated being judged by my appearance and other people's expectations of what a 'little girl' was capable of. It's no longer just my dream or voyage. Every milestone out here isn't just my achievement, but an achievement for everyone who has put so much time and effort into helping getting me here."[10]
Watson has written a book about her experience, which is called True Spirit and published by Hachette Australia (ISBN 0733624979).[11] The book was released 29 July 2010.
Jessica has also filmed a documentary about her solo trip before, during and after completing her solo trip which will be narrated by Sir Richard Branson and premiered on ONEHD on the 16th August 2010 and then was released on DVD along with a CD album on the 20th August 2010.
As training for her voyage, Watson crewed on a number of vessels, including Oceanswatch's Magic Roundabout on which she acted as skipper during a crossing of the Tasman Sea.[12] Watson had over 10,000 nm of sailing experience before departing on her round the world trip.[citation needed]
Watson has the following qualifications:[13]
| File:Pink Lady at Ella's Pink Lady at the Australian National Maritime Museum, following the completion of her voyage | |
| Career (Australia) | Australia |
|---|---|
| Name: |
Ella's Pink Lady |
| Namesake: | Ella Baché |
| Owner: | Don McIntyre[14] |
| Operator: | Jessica Watson |
| Route: | Sydney - Kiritimati - Cape Horn - Cape of Good Hope - Cape Leeuwin - Sydney |
| Launched: | 1984[15] |
| Renamed: | original name Shanty |
| Status: | In port |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | S&S 34 yacht |
| Length: | 34 feet (10 m) |
| Beam: | 10.1 feet (3.1 m) |
| Draught: | 6 feet (1.8 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Crew: | 1 |
The boat is a 10.23 metres (33.6 ft) Sparkman & Stephens S&S 34, the same design as used by Jon Sanders, David Dicks and Jesse Martin in their circumnavigations.[7] It was obtained and refitted with new equipment under the supervision of Don McIntyre and Bruce Arms, both skilled and experienced sailors. The refitting included a new galley, reconditioned diesel and water tanks, and a complete rebuild of the electrical system.[14] Jessica Watson was also deeply involved in the preparation of the boat, which she named Ella's Pink Lady. Most of the time the boat is steered by a self-steering windvane system. She has named the system Parker after the chauffeur of the pink Rolls-Royce in the Thunderbirds television series.
During a test run sailing from Brisbane to Sydney, on her first night after leaving Brisbane, Ella's Pink Lady collided with the Silver Yang, a 63,000-tonne bulk carrier at about 02.00 am on 9 September 2009 near Point Lookout.[16] Watson's boat was dismasted in the collision. She was able to retain control and return the boat to Southport under motor.[17]
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's preliminary report on the collision found that Watson had been taking a five minute nap during the event, (thus she was asleep at the time of the collision), and that while she had checked her radar prior to lying down, she had failed to spot the Silver Yang. This led to the accident four minutes later. The report also found that the Silver Yang had been aware of her presence and had attempted to change course, but that this had been insufficient to avoid Watson's boat.[18]
The final report was released in June 2010. The report stated that both Watson and the Silver Yang's watchkeepers had failed to maintain an adequate lookout and that both had failed to properly employ the navigational aids. In addition, the report found that the watchkeeper on the Silver Yang had failed to offer assistance to Watson after the two vessels had collided.[19]
Watson sailed out of Sydney Harbour on 18 October 2009 in her pink-hulled Ella Baché sponsored Ella's Pink Lady.[20] 18 days later, on 5 November, she passed Tonga, sailing clear of both New Zealand and Fiji.
As required for a full circumnavigation, she crossed the equator on 19 November 2009 (Australian date),[21] near Jarvis Island at about 161°40'W longitude, and rounded Kiritimati on 22 November 2009 (Australian date) after 36 days. Then she crossed the equator again at 156°20'W longitude, and continued south-easterly towards Cape Horn. The sailed distance from Sydney to Kiritimati was about 3,900 nm. At Christmas she was near Point Nemo, the place located furthest from land.
On 13 January 2010 (9:40 UTC) she passed Cape Horn, having sailed around 9,800 nm in 87 days. This was 11 days ahead of the planned 100 nm per day schedule. Soon after her parents flew over her in a small plane in order to witness the passage.[22] Just over a week later, on 23 January 2010, several days after passing the Falkland Islands, she suffered four knock-downs in a severe storm with 10-metre waves and 70-knot winds. The storm caused minor damage to her boat and her emergency beacon was accidentally activated as the mast hit the water.[23][24][25]
The halfway point on the voyage was passed on 25 January 2010, her 100th day at sea, 11,500 nm based on the original calculation of 23,000 nm sailing route.[26]
On 15 February 2010, she crossed the Prime Meridian, crossing from the Western Hemisphere to the Eastern Hemisphere.[27] This placed her near the Cape of Good Hope, which she passed on 24 February, reaching Cape Agulhas, (the southernmost point of Africa), and crossing from the Atlantic Ocean into the Indian Ocean.[28] From southern Africa, Watson sailed more than 5000 nm towards Western Australia.
Watson arrived in the Australian economic zone on 10 April 2010, celebrating with crackers and Vegemite. There her parents and media flew over her in a small plane in order to welcome her.[29] She passed Cape Leeuwin on south-western Australia two days later, with approximately 2,500 nm remaining.[30]
When south of Australia, Watson suffered a lot of bad weather. In this part of the journey, she had at least three knockdowns (where the mast hit the water), one of them with the mast deep into the sea, luckily without any real damage or injury. The swells she experienced in the Great Australian Bight were up to 12 metres in height, higher than anytime before.[31]
On 3 May, Watson rounded the South East Cape of Tasmania and began heading north to Sydney, her final destination.[32]
At 1:53pm on 15 May 2010 Watson crossed the finish line in Sydney Harbour.[2]
Watson completed her journey on day 210 of her voyage, 3 days before her 17th birthday on 18 May.[2]
During the journey she had to do repairs herself to the boat and the equipment. Several of the repairs were reported on the blog [33]: The battery monitor (Dec 18). The stove, the toilet and the mainsail (Jan 24). The toilet (March 11). Replacing some wind generator blades (March 30). The Kettle (April 10). The mainsail (April 18). The wind generator, replaced with a spare (April 21). The fuel pump of the engine (May 10).
Watson's journey has been criticised, particularly after the collision with the freighter. Barry Tyler of Pacific Motor Yacht magazine wrote, "like the majority of the seafaring world [I] consider it irresponsible, cavalier and indeed ignorant to attempt such a feat, at such a tender age and with so little trans-ocean experience."[34] Questions about her experience were also expressed by Phil Jones, the CEO of Yachting Australia, and by Grant Wharington, the skipper of Skandia, with Wharington stating that he had been impressed by Watson when they had met, but that he had advised her to gain experience by undertaking a number of shorter solo passages before attempting the circumnavigation, although she chose not to follow his advice.[35] A more general concern was raised by the Australian Childhood Foundation, who questioned whether a 16 year old girl would have the ability to fully understand the risks that such a venture would involve.[36]
Nevertheless, Watson has had her supporters, also before the departure. In particular, adventurer Don McIntyre strongly supported her attempt, providing her with a boat and speaking in support of her attempt.[37] Similarly, Tony Mowbray, who, like McIntyre, has previously circumnavigated the globe, provided his support, arguing that she was "doing it for the right reasons" and that he was confident of her success.[38] The captain of the Magic Roundabout spoke highly of her skills, backing her circumnavigation attempt by describing her as a "damn-good crew member" and stating that he believed that she possessed the necessary abilities.[39] Also adventurer and company owner Richard Branson gave his support before departure.[40]
During her journey others have expressed their support for her attempt. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said in a public speech on 26 January that "Jessica Watson ... is an extraordinary young Australian"[41] According to ABC News, competing circumnavigator Abby Sunderland congratulated Jessica on rounding Cape Horn, "She's done an amazing job and I hope the rest of her trip goes as well as it has so far."[42].
Sailing website Sail-World.com published an analysis on 3 May 2010 which claims that the expected rhumb line distance travelled by Watson is 19,631.6 nm, which is less than the required distance according to the definition set by the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC), and that the journey will therefore be ineligible to claim world record status for round-the-world journeys.[43] The WSSRC definition states in part "The shortest orthodromic track of the vessel must be at least 21,600 nautical miles in length." The analysis suggests that Watson's published distance logs are based on sailed distances, including tacks and strategic weather detours, rather than the shortest orthodromic track between islands and capes as defined.[44] The rule is based on the older rule, followed by current record-holder Jesse Martin,[45] that during a circumnavigation the sailor must somewhere pass the opposite side of earth (antipode) as somewhere else on the journey. For example, if starting in southern England, a place near the start will be opposite to the track near New Zealand. It was replaced by the rule that for world records the shortest orthodromic track must be at least as long as the circumference of the earth.
Watson responded "If I haven't been sailing around the world, then it beats me what I've been doing out here all this time! Yes it's a shame that my voyage won't be recognized by a few organizations because I'm under 18, but it really doesn't worry me."[46]
Watson's manager, Andrew Fraser, dismissed the claim, noting that the WSSRC does not recognise records by sailors under eighteen.[47] He stated "Jessica has sailed a southern hemisphere solo circumnavigation, [in which] 'a vessel must start from and return to the same point, must cross all meridians of longitude and must cross the Equator'. Jessica has ticked all of these boxes. Jessica has sailed the most challenging and treacherous oceans of the world, passing the four capes (Cape Horn, Cape Agulhas, Cape Leeuwin and the Cape of SE Tasmania) and crossed the Equator twice. She has sailed around the world, non-stop, solo, unassisted and when she completes the voyage, she will be the youngest to have done that, sailing almost 23,000 nautical miles in the process. We have official TracPlus data to confirm Jessica's exact distance upon her return."[48]
British sailing journalist and author Bob Fisher published an article on Sail-World.com refuting the round the world claim. He said "True, Jessica has sailed alone and unassisted, passed under the four required capes, but the orthodromic route she has taken does not total the necessary 21,600 miles that is equivalent of the girth of the Earth at the equator. And that, Andrew Fraser, is a requirement for the world record you were claiming for Jessica, and which would put her in line to beat Jesse Martin's record."[49]
Watson commented on this matter in her book True Spirit[50](p. 316). She states that she wrote a number of letters to the WSSRC asking what she had to do to claim the record. Their answer was that she could not claim the record since age records were no longer recognized. She got the impression it was (according to WSSRC) not necessary to follow the route Jesse Martin followed (which went far north of the equator in the Atlantic), a route Watson knew well from reading Martin's book more than once. Watson decided to follow a route commonly accepted as round the world. A number a sailors, like Kay Cottee, followed a similar route which has been accepted.
In the book she also criticised those who criticised her management. Sail-World.com has written "We don’t believe she decided her route. People think we’re criticising Jessica. We’re not. We’re criticising her management". She felt hurt by that, since it hinted that "He was suggesting that I was just a puppet, that I had no voice and no will of my own."[50](p. 318).
| Sailor | Port of departure | Date of departure | Date completed | Duration (days) | Age at completion | Boat | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robin Lee Graham USA | Los Angeles, USA | Template:Safesubst:[51] | Template:Safesubst:[51] | 1738 | 21 years, 56 days | Lapworth 24: Dove Allied Luders 33: Return of Dove[52] | Westerly, via Panama Canal.[53] Solo, with stops. |
| Tania Aebi USA | New York, USA | Template:Safesubst:[54] | Template:Safesubst:[55] | 892 | 21 years, 30 days | Contessa 26 Varuna | Westerly, via Panama. Solo, with stops. Aebi had a passenger for a short stretch (80 nm). |
| Brian Caldwell USA | Honolulu, Hawaii | Template:Safesubst: | Template:Safesubst: | 477 | 20 years, 278 days | Contessa 26 Mai Miti Vavau | Westerly, via northern Australia, Cape of Good Hope, Panama Canal. Solo with stops. |
| David Dicks AUS | Fremantle, Australia | Template:Safesubst: | Template:Safesubst: | 265 | 18 years, 42 days | S&S 34 Seaflight | Easterly, via southern capes. Solo, non-stop, with assistance. |
| Jesse Martin AUS | Port Phillip Bay, Vic, Australia | Template:Safesubst: | Template:Safesubst: | 327 | 18 years, 66 days | S&S 34 Lionheart | Easterly, via southern capes. Solo, non-stop, and unassisted. |
| Zac Sunderland USA | Marina del Rey, California | Template:Safesubst: | Template:Safesubst: | 396 | 17 years, 229 days | Islander 36 Intrepid | Westerly, via northern Australia, Cape of Good Hope, Panama Canal. Solo, with stops.[56] |
| Michael Perham UK | Portsmouth, UK | Template:Safesubst: | Template:Safesubst: | 284 | 17 years, 164 days | Open 50 totallymoney.com | Easterly, via South Africa and Panama. Solo, with stops and assistance.[57] |
| Jessica Watson AUS | Sydney, Australia | Template:Safesubst: | 15 May 2010 | 210 | 16 years, 362 days | S&S 34 Ella's Pink Lady | Easterly, via southern capes. Solo, non-stop, and unassisted. |
Jessica Watson (May 18, 1993 – ) is an Australian teenager who became the youngest person to sail around the world alone. She did it without stopping or getting assistance during the journey.[1]
Jessica Watson's first attempt was in September 2009, when she left from Mooloolaba in Queensland in attempt to sail around the world. About 15 hours after she left, her yacht, "Ella's Pink Lady", collided with a bulk carrier near Stradbroke Island.[2] Watson was uninjured in the incident, but her yacht was badly damaged. After the repairs to her yacht were completed, Watson sailed from Queensland's Gold Coast to Sydney[3] and then left from Sydney on October 18, 2009 (five months after her sixteenth birthday) to sail around the world.[4]
The distance of her voyage is about 19,000 nautical miles (35,000 kilometres) and took almost seven months to complete, as she finished her journey on May 15, 2010.
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