Skipper Jessica Reaches New Zealand

by Abi Thomas, Northern Advocate/Sail-World on 15 Jan 2009 Jessica Watson was pretty wobbly when she docked at Marsden Cove Marina in Whangarei Harbour on the north island of New Zealand.

Not surprising, considering the 15-year-old Australian had just spent nearly 13 days skippering a boat from the Australia's Gold Coast to Whangarei, on a practice trip towards her goal of being the youngest person to sail solo around the world.

Jessica was 'still wobbling, both my legs and my head,' after arriving about 11am yesterday, but was pleased to be on land and looking forward to having some icecream.

She had just sailed the Magic Roundabout, the 10m yacht used by Whangarei-based organisation OceansWatch. She was not solo this time, having two crew on board.

Because Jessica is too young for a boat licence, Jim Craddock was officially skipper for insurance purposes, but she 'was skipper and calling the shots'. The trip went largely to plan, with the crew fuelled by bread her mum baked, but tricky wind conditions tested her sailing skills.

'Sometimes the wind was pretty strong, but mostly it was light winds, which definitely tests your patience ... you're always concentrating but it's not all exciting action.'

Jessica has been around boats since she was eight years old.

'I guess I started to get more serious about trying for the youngest around-the-world record about four years ago.'

The sailing doesn't daunt her, but she admits the organisation is huge.

Jessica will fly back to Australia in a few days, to look at boats she might use mid-year, in her first attempt to be the youngest person to sail solo across the Tasman.

Then her efforts would turn towards an around-the-world attempt before the end of the year.

Jessica will turn 16 during her journey. There are two records she could break that are in the process of being set right now.

Seventeen-year-old Zac Sunderland is making his leisurely way around the world, and has only to cross the Atlantic, transit the Panama, and sail to San Diego to be the youngest sailor to sail round the world.

However, sixteen year old (108 days younger) Michael Perham has just left the Canary Islands and is heading for the Cape of Good Hope in a much faster racing boat, attempting to sail NON-STOP and UNASSISTED round the world. If he reaches the Canary Islands again any time less than 108 days after Zac reaches San Diego, then he will be beat Zac's potential record, and also the NON-STOP and UNASSISTED criteria.

Jessica will have to beat both to be the 'youngest around', but it wouldn't prevent her from being 'youngest woman around'. For more information and to check out Jessica's blog, or even to assist her in her journey, see: www.youngestround.com