Jessica Watson is an Australian sailor. 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..
Background
Her parents Julie Watson and Roger Watson are from New Zealand.
She resides in Buderim around the world, although her route did not meet World Sailing Speed Record Council
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.
Career
Watson had been planning to complete a solo non-stop and unassisted circumnavigation Officially announced in May 2009, the journey was expected to take eight months with an estimated distance of 23,000 nautical miles. To
fulfill the plan of sailing 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 permitted.
Watson's planned circumnavigation route was to start and end at Sydney, and to pass near New Zealand, Cape Horn, Cape Leeuwin.
Watson arrived back in Sydney Harbour at 1:53 pm, Saturday 15 May 2010.
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."
After the journey she continued a relationship with Michael Perham. They met during a stop he made in Australia during his circumnavigation, and they had several phone conversations during her journey. More recently, however, Jessica has also been seen spending time with Australia's youngest ever federal politician, Wyatt Roy.
Watson has written a book about her experience, which is called True Spirit and published by Hachette Australia).
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