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Revision as of 06:16, 26 January 2011

Jessica Watson
Born (1993-05-18) 18 May 1993 (age 31)
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
NationalityAustralian
OccupationSailor
Known forThe 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]

Early life

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]

Circumnavigation

Approximate route taken by Watson on her voyage between October 2009 and May 2010

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.

Preparation

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 nmi (19,000 km) of sailing experience before departing on her round the world trip.[citation needed]

Watson has the following qualifications:[13]

  • RYA/ISAF Offshore Safety course (ISAF SR 6.01) Cat zero (one day 8 hour course)
  • RYA Diesel Engine course (one day 8 hour course)
  • RYA Radar course (one day 8 hour course)
  • YAs Safety and Sea Survival certificate (two day 16 hour course)
  • OMTC issued Certificates of Competence for Apply First Aid HTLF301B
  • IMO compliant Elementary First Aid Table A VI/1-3 STCW95 (one day 8 hour course)
  • Yachtmaster Ocean theory certificates (40 hour course)
  • Radio operator’s licence
  • About 6,000 coastal and 6,000 ocean miles experience.

Boat

Ella's Pink Lady at the Australian National Maritime Museum, following the completion of her voyage
History
 AustraliaAustralia
NameElla's Pink Lady
NamesakeElla Baché
OwnerDon McIntyre[15]
OperatorJessica Watson
RouteSydney - Kiritimati - Cape Horn - Cape of Good Hope - Cape Leeuwin - Sydney
Launched1984[14]
Renamedoriginal name Shanty
StatusIn port
General characteristics
TypeS&S 34 yacht
Length34 feet (10 m)
Beam10.1 feet (3.1 m)
Draught6 feet (1.8 m)
PropulsionSails
Crew1

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.[15] 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.

Test run and collision

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]

Journey

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 nmi (190 km) 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 (130 km/h) 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 nmi (21,300 km) based on the original calculation of 23,000 nmi (43,000 km) 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 5,000 nmi (9,300 km) 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 nmi (4,600 km) remaining.[30]

When south of Australia, Watson suffered a lot of inclement 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]

Watson completed her journey on day 210 of her voyage at 1:53pm on 15 May 2010 when she arrived in Sydney Harbour. Her 17th birthday was 3 days later.[2]

During the journey Watson 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, toilet and mainsail (Jan 24), the toilet again (March 11), replacement of wind generator blades (March 30), the kettle (April 10), the mainsail again (April 18), replacement of the wind generator with a spare (April 21), and finally the fuel pump of the engine (May 10).

Criticism

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]

Circumnavigation scrutiny

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 nmi (36,357.7 km), 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][45] The rule is based on the older rule, followed by current record-holder Jesse Martin,[46] that during a circumnavigation the sailor must pass two points on opposite sides of the earth (antipodes). 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 (hence 21,600 nautical miles).

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."[47]

Watson's manager, Andrew Fraser, dismissed the claim, noting that the WSSRC does not recognise records by sailors under eighteen.[48] 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."[49]

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."[50]

Watson commented on this matter in her book True Spirit[51] (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."[51](p. 318).

Praise

At the arrival in Sydney, she was met by approximately 75,000 spectators. Among them was the Australian Prime Minister at the time Kevin Rudd. He 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 newest Australian hero." [52]

She has received the “Spirit of Sport” award from Sport Australia Hall of Fame.[53] She was selected "Young Performer of the Year", an award voted by the Australian public.[54]

Jessica was given the Young Australian of the year award, a very prestigious award.[55]

References

  1. ^ Munoz, Daniel (15 May 2010). "Australian teenager finishes round-world solo sail". Reuters. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Jessica Watson completes historic round-the-world voyage". Australia Times. 15 May 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  3. ^ "About Jessica and her mission", Jessica Watson. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  4. ^ Jessica Watson blog entry - she states she has both Australian and New Zealand passports: only New Zealand citizens are entitled to be issued New Zealand passports.
  5. ^ Solo Girl[dead link] by Mike Colman, The Courier Mail magazine, June 2009
  6. ^ Kelly, Claire (25 April 2008). "Mooloolaba's Jessica dreaming of the open sea". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  7. ^ a b "Ella's pink lady". Jessica Watson. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
  8. ^ "The Courses Offshore". World Sailing Speed Record Council. Retrieved 26 January 2010. To sail around the World, a vessel must start from and return to the same point, must cross all meridians of longitude and must cross the Equator.
  9. ^ "Jessica Watson finds love with Perham". News.ninemsn.com.au. Retrieved 2010-11-19.
  10. ^ Burgess, Kelly (22 February 2010). "Sailors Abby Sunderland, 16, crosses the equator; Jessica Watson, also 16, nears southern point of Africa". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  11. ^ "Jessica's Book to be Titled 'True Spirit'". Jessica Watson. 25 April 2010. Retrieved 14 May 2010."Jessica's Book Tour Dates Confirmed". 14 July 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2010.
  12. ^ Pares, Jane (9 January 2009). "Another Teen Solo - 15 year-old Jessica is on her way". Sail World.com. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  13. ^ Knudsen, Nancy (27 September 2009). "Jessica Watson blames instruments for bulk carrier collision". Powerboat World. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  14. ^ "News & Views". Precision Wind Technology. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  15. ^ a b McIntyre, Don (23 September 2009). "The Making of Pink Lady". Trade-A-Boat. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  16. ^ "Silver Yang". marinetraffic.com. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  17. ^ Johnson, Stephen (9 September 2009). "Jessica Watson yacht collision probe begins". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 21 October 2009. [dead link]
  18. ^ Christine, Kellett (20 October 2009). "Watson asleep during crash: report". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  19. ^ "Jess Watson and tanker both to blame for collision". Sydney Morning Herald. 16 June 2010. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
  20. ^ "Jessica Watson sails in search of record". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 18 October 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  21. ^ "Teen solo sailor Jessica Watson crosses equator}work=news.com.au". November 19, 2009.
  22. ^ Lulham, Amanda (16 January 2010). "Jessica Watson's parents see their sail-around-the-world daughter as they fly over her in Southern Ocean". Herald Sun. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  23. ^ Clare, Bianca (25 January 2010). "Jess makes running repairs". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  24. ^ "Watson battered by 10-metre waves". ABC News. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  25. ^ Lulham, Amanda (25 January 2010). "Watson fights fierce waters". Herald Sun. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  26. ^ Ferrier, Tracey (25 January 2010). "Jessica Watson passes halfway mark". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  27. ^ "More Wind and Across the Prime Meridian". Jessica Watson. 16 February 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  28. ^ Knudsen, Amanda (23 February 2010). "Jessica Watson at Cape Agulhas, Abby Sunderland over the equator". Sail World.com. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  29. ^ Phillips, Yasmine (10 April 2010). "Jessica Watson off the coast of Western Australia". The Sunday Times. Perth, Australia. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  30. ^ Trenwith, Courtney (12 April 2010). "Jessica on home stretch, passes third landmark". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  31. ^ Lulham, Amanda (29 April 2010). "Jess survives wild seas". Herald Sun. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  32. ^ Watson, Jessica (3 May 2010). "The Last Cape!". Jessica Watson. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  33. ^ Watson, Jessica (6 May 2010). "Official Jessica Watson Blog". Jessica Watson. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  34. ^ Tyler, Barry (November 2009). "Should She, or Shouldn't She?". Pacific Motor Yacht. p. 6.
  35. ^ Pierce, Jeremy (28 September 2009). "Jessica not ready, warn top yachties". The Courier Mail. Queensland, Australia. p. 9.
  36. ^ Pierce, Jeremy (11 September 2009). "Storm in a port". Hobart Mercury. Tasmania, Australia. p. 9.
  37. ^ Taylor, John (18 June 2009). "'She can do it': Teen's sailing adventure". The 7.30 Report. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
  38. ^ Dinneen, Martin (3 October 2009). "Support in a sea of critics". The Newcastle Herald. New South Wales, Australia. p. 34.
  39. ^ "Veteran yachtie backs solo trip". The Cairns Post. Queensland, Australia. 15 October 2009. p. 9.
  40. ^ Pierce, Jeremy (1 October 2009). "Jessica Watson sails out, with support from Richard Branson". The Courier Mail. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  41. ^ Rudd, Kevin (26 January 2010). "Transcript of address: Flag Raising and Citizenship ceremony, Canberra". Prime Minister of Australia. Retrieved 14 May 2010. [dead link]
  42. ^ Ross, Monique; Pollard, Emma (26 January 2010). "Rudd lauds Jessica Watson in Australia Day speech". ABC News. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  43. ^ Knudsen, Nancy (5 May 2010). "Jessica Watson: Keeping the Record Straight". Sail-World.com. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  44. ^ "ISAF/World Sailing Speed Record Rules for individually attempted Passage Records or Performances Offshore". World Sailing Speed Records Council. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  45. ^ Girl, 16, shrugs off controversy as she ends global sail. CNN World, May 14, 2010. Retrieved 9 Dec 2010.
  46. ^ "Kylie Browne at St Leonard's Primary wanted to know why I am heading so far up into the Atlantic and why not cut straight across to South Africa. I have to go around the Azores Islands in the North Atlantic which is called my antipodal point. This means it is the exact opposite side of the Earth to Melbourne." Martin, Jesse (9 March 2009). "Lionheart 4". Jesse Martin. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  47. ^ Watson, Jessica (6 May 2010). "Savouring Every Second". Jessica Watson. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
  48. ^ Levy, Megan (5 May 2010). "Teen sailor Jessica Watson 'will miss out on world record'". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  49. ^ "The Facts About Jessica's Voyage". Jessica Watson. 5 May 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  50. ^ Bob Fisher (6 May 2010). "Lies, Damn Lies, and PR Spin". Sail World.com. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  51. ^ a b Watson, Jessica (2010). True Spirit. Hachette. ISBN 0733624979.
  52. ^ "Jessica Watson our newest hero, says Rudd".
  53. ^ "Jessica Honoured with Prestigious Hall of Fame Award".
  54. ^ "Sports Award Continues Jessica Watson's Wave of Success".
  55. ^ Jessica Watson is Young Australian of the Year. Retrieved 25 Jan 2011.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jessica Watson.

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