Australian teen becomes youngest ever to sail solo, unassisted around the world

Australian teen completes round-the-world sail

SYDNEY — An Australian teen who spent seven months at sea has become the youngest person to sail solo, nonstop and unassisted around the world.

Sixteen-year-old Jessica Watson sailed into Sydney Harbour on Saturday after completing a 23,000-nautical mile voyage.

Thousands lined the harbor to cheer on Watson as she cruised into port in her pink 34-foot yacht. She will set foot on land for the first time in 210 days when she docks at the Opera House.

Watson battled 40-foot waves and multiple knockdowns during her journey, which took her northeast through the South Pacific and across the equator, south to Cape Horn at the tip of South America, across the Atlantic Ocean to South Africa, through the Indian Ocean and around southern Australia.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

SYDNEY (AP) — Thousands lined Sydney Harbour on Saturday to welcome home a 16-year-old Australian, who was just a few miles from the finish line in her bid to become the youngest person to sail solo, nonstop and unassisted around the world.

Jessica Watson, who has spent seven months at sea, was battling choppy conditions in the last leg of her adventure but was in good spirits as she neared the shore.

“I can’t believe I’m heading in!” Watson told Australia’s Ten Network — one of her sponsors — as she edged closer to the finish line. “It has been so long and I’ve got so used to it out here, so yeah, it’s going to be quite an adjustment.”

Watson, from Buderim, north of Brisbane in Queensland state, sailed out of Sydney on Oct. 18 in her pink 34-foot yacht and has traveled 23,000 nautical miles. She plans to dock at the Opera House, where she will be greeted by her parents, a throng of media and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Her parents were heavily criticized for letting her go on the trek, but argued she has been sailing since she was 8 and was well-prepared. They were all smiles Saturday after catching a glimpse of Watson from a nearby boat.

The teen has survived 40-foot waves and multiple knockdowns during her journey, which took her northeast through the South Pacific and across the equator, south to Cape Horn at the tip of South America, across the Atlantic Ocean to South Africa, through the Indian Ocean and around southern Australia.

People around the world have followed Watson’s adventures on her blog, which she has regularly updated from the computer on board her boat. She has used a satellite phone and the video chat program Skype to keep in touch with her family and management team in Australia.

Australian Jesse Martin holds the current record for the youngest person to sail around the world solo, nonstop and unassisted, after he completed the journey in 1999 at the age of 18. He plans to board Watson’s boat after she crosses the finish line into the harbor and take over, so she can relax as they cruise toward the Opera House.

Watson’s feat, however, will not be considered an official world record, because the World Speed Sailing Record Council discontinued its “youngest” category.

Some sailing enthusiasts have also argued that Watson didn’t travel far enough north of the equator for her journey to count as a true round-the-world trek as defined by the record council’s rules. Watson’s managers have dismissed those claims and argued she doesn’t need to adhere to the council’s rules anyway, since they won’t be recognizing her voyage.

Sixteen-year-old American Abby Sunderland of Marina del Ray, California, launched her own solo round-the-world bid in January. In May, she had to pull into port in South Africa for boat repairs, ending her nonstop attempt. She still plans to try to complete her voyage.

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Online:

jessicawatson.com.au