Yachting is often described as a dangerous and challenging sport. Brave men and women have lost their lives venturing into the unknown. When sailors compete in ocean racing, no one knows what the ocean will have in store. While out sailing at sea anything can happen. There are sailors that are drawn to the sport in an attempt to sail around the world. Some sailors take part in professional organized races while others want to achieve the fastest times in which to sail around the world. And finally there are those who go for the thrill of setting speed records. However, Australian school girl, Jessica Watson is attempting “to become the youngest person to sail solo, non –stop and unassisted around the world”i
Teenagers like Jessica dare to dream. Her inspiration for the journey was Jessie Martinii, who held the record for being the youngest to sail around the world. The seeds of this adventure took root when her mother read Jessie Martin’s book to her a very long time ago. This is when she realized that sailing solo around the world was achievable. This isn’t usually what young girls dream about. She is one of the lucky few to get her family on board to support her to make her dream come true. At the appointed hour she proudly announced to Australia that she was going to attempt to become the youngest person to sail around the world!
This was no longer a dream. The young school girl left Mooloolaba , Queensland, bound for Sydney on a 10 day preliminary test journey ahead of her solo around the world trip. But tragedy struck as her 10.4 meter yacht, Pink Lady, collided with a 63,000 tonne bulk carrier, Yang, near North Stradbroke Islandiii. Authorities claim that Ms Watson was very lucky to escape unscathed, with only damage to her mast, rigging and hull. This incident was very serious. Big ships are unforgiving in the face of a collision with a small boat. After investigations it was learnt that the teenage skipper was asleep when her yacht hit the bulk carrier. iv
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau reported that she had been catnapping at the time of the crash. Investigators noted that young Jessica had not seen the bulk carrier on her radar equipment in spite of checking four minutes before the crash. She had spotted another vessel on her radar which was a good six miles away and concluded that she was on a collision free course. All this she did before setting her alarm and going to bed.v. To make things worse this happened on the very first night of a week long test run to Sydney ahead of the solo attempt to sail around the world! During the collision it was further learnt that "The collision had woken up Ms Watson; she had climbed out of the cabin, grabbed the tiller and tried to steer the yacht. She looked upwards and thought that it was likely that the yacht's rigging would become entangled with the ship and dismast her vessel, so she returned to the cabin and within seconds her mast came crashing down. When the crew on board the ship realized that there was a crash, they promptly put off their engine.”Despite this incident Jessica, along with her team, did the essential repairs to her Pink Lady and prepared for her round the world journey. But before leaving Sydney the Safety Bureau took the teen sailor to visit the watch keeper’s position on a Tanker Ship to understand what could be seen from that vantage point. They also suggested she visit fatigue experts. Lead investigator Peter Foley saw that improvements were made to the high quality equipment on board her yacht. “Safety Investigators declined to comment on whether it was wise for her to proceed with the eight-month journey, saying it was up to Jessica and her support crew to decide.” vi
She remained unfazed by critics who claimed “she's too young and inexperienced for such a journey”. Jessica said "Preparation is 80 per cent of a successful voyage and I've had so many wonderful people helping me," vii.Despite the odds stacked against her, she set off from Mooloolaba for the second time. “This time she successfully tested her 10.2- metre yacht, following the boat's complete refit including new mast, rigging, rudder and enough electronic gear to run a small office”. According to a report, everything went well .Jessica had plugged a few leaks. She got used to the new navigation equipment: the autopilot and the recording equipment. Now she was just one sail away in starting her journey to attempt to be the youngest person to sail solo around the world. On the other side of the world Laura Dekker, the 13-year-old Dutch girl who had also planned a solo sailing trip around the world was forbidden to go through with it. A Dutch court had came to a verdict and taken her into temporary custody. Psychologists will decide whether she is physically and mentally ready for the planned two-year trip. viii
Jessica Watson’s positive decision to go ahead despite her recent failed first test run has come under lots of criticism and encouragement.
The Queensland Minster for safety, Phil Reeves, has said his Government would not try to prevent Jessica attempting her “dream”. Jessica Watson has received encouragement from 17 year old Briton Mike Perham, who recently became the youngest person to sail solo round the world.ixBut John Morrissey, of the Australian Family Association, said the trip was too risky. He is a secondary school teacher who has been teaching 15 year old girls for the past 42 years and he has gone on record to say that he would be amazed if any of them could cope with such an expedition. Bill Muehlenberg, Secretary of the Family Council of Victoria, made it clear it was an irresponsible act and should not be allowed at such a young age as it is a highly risky venture. x.A veteran of 40 years sailing experience, Don McIntyre, the man who donated the yacht agrees with protesting family groups that a regular teenager shouldn't embark on such an arduous trip alone. But he argues that Watson is no regular teenager. According to him, "Jessica is a very competent and able sailor who really knows what she is letting herself in for; they have no idea of Jessica's background and her level of expertise or experience”.xi
While everyone is worried about Jessica’s safety, this is what Jessica had to say. ”Mum worries about the storms, dad worries about me getting lonely, but for me, it's about me worrying about everyone worrying back home.” Julie Watson says when her daughter first expressed a desire to sail solo around the world, she hoped the then 13-year-old would get another idea. Ms Watson believes Jessica is now mature beyond her years and is up for anything the ocean can challenge her with. Jessica made up her mind to do this,
years ago. “She didn't go into it half-hearted."xiiJessica’s father, Roger Watson, had confessed on 60 minutes - a program on Nine Network, that it would be worse to deny his daughter permission to pursue her dream than to lose her on the treacherous journey. Mr. Frasier, spoke person for Jessica Watson, explained that she would have made the voyage with or without her parents' blessings. He said, technically she can go ahead with her expedition whether we like it or not as she is 16 and can make her own decisions.xiii Before the ill fated race that cost sailing legend Andrew Short his life, he had delivered a hand written letter warning that the unforgiving ocean could cost her life. The Letter was penned by one of the world’s leading yachtsmen, Andrew Cape and then passed onto Mr.Short who was Jessica’s friend and mentor.xivVeteran yachtsman Andrew Cape wrote to Jessica saying she had just a 33 per cent chance of completing the treacherous journey through the Southern Ocean. In his letter Mr. Cape, who is serving as navigator on the Puma Ocean Racing team's 21-metre racing yacht compared Jessica's attempt to "growing up on a farm and, upon acquiring a 303 rifle, [feeling] you are ready to take on the Taliban”.” You would also not climb Mount Everest on your first climbing adventure," he wrote.xv.To answer her critics, Jessica said she had done lots of sailing trips. This included a `mock' solo trip across the Tasman, sailing in the presence of licensed sailors but as if she was by herself. Mr. Frasier explained that this was because Jessica wasn't eligible for a boat license until she turned 16 this September. He quickly defended the young sailor referring to Andrew Cape’s letter that the teenager had clocked up 10,000 nautical miles on the open water ahead of her world voyage attempt.xvi
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said she's inspired by Ms Watson's dream but believes the safety report from the accident puts a "question mark" over her preparedness.xvii.But at the same time Jessica has strong support. Five-times Moto GP World Champion Mick Doohan ,America's Cup winner John Bertrand and adventurer and Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson are among her band of supporters .xviiiActing Queensland Premier Paul Lucas appealed to her family to call off her around-the-world solo expedition, when the collision report suggested she was inadequately prepared. He went on record to say, ''She needs to be ready to do it and I don't believe on the evidence that I have read, she is.''xix Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard had wished young sailor Jessica Watson all the best in her world record quest, and urged her to keep safe. When a reporter asked if she should be going, she replied that people have to make their own decisions, she explained that a lot of Australians are nervous for Jessica herself included. xxSeven times World Champion Surfer Layne Beachley supports Jessica Watson and wished her luck. And having spent time with Jessica, Layne believes that she could do it. She went on to say that she is well prepared, incredibly focused and unbelievably mature for a 16 year old girl. She also said that those with a spirit of adventure would relate to her courage, desire and determination to follow her heart and silence her critics. xxi
Former world record holder Jesse Martin, who became the youngest person to sail around the world in 1999 at the age of 18 had the opportunity to sail with Jessica on her yacht in Sydney Harbour after successfully completing her test run. He said “It was great to go for a sail with Jessica and he was pleased to see that nerves do exist. He explained it’s that type of approach that’ll keep her safe on her journey.” "Experience is overrated. All you need is a good attitude and Jessica certainly has that."xxii .Her friend and mentor James
Castrission, 27, who kayaked across the Tasman Sea last year, said ’’ [Jessica ] is a very, very independent, strong young lady. I've got complete faith that she's going to go all the way round.''xxiii “Today, I am going to sail around the world.” – Jessica Watson. She left Sydney, without doubting herself. She set sail in pursuit of achieving her dream and going after the world record. xxiv
According to her official website, critics have been drowned out by supporters. The website is being bombarded with almost half a million hits a day and more than 1000 from around the word emailing comments on her blog posts every day .The international sailing community is following her journey along with non-sailors who are inspired and touched by her courage.xxv
In the end, all her supporters and critics wish her well. It is evident that some people think it is an admirable endeavor. There are those who think it is foolishly insane while there is an overwhelming thought that it is admirably insane. In retrospect the accident was the best thing that could have happened. To have the accident close to home rather than far from help worked in favor of the teenage sailor. It was definitely humiliating to crash on her trial run to Sydney, the departure point of her world record attempt. Perfect fodder for critics who think it’s insane for her to undertake such a journey. As she left Sydney her critics and supporters hope she has learnt from her mistake and also hope that it has made her more prepared for her round the world solo expedition. The sad truth is that there will be no definite answer as to who is right or wrong until we know her fate.
