Jessica Watson is a typical girl from Queensland, Australia, who, like many young girls, made a life-changing decision in 2010 to sail around the world. Traveling around the globe is not an easy journey for anyone, especially not for a girl who was only 16 at the time. Moreover, Jessica did not follow the conventional path; she sailed solo on a small yacht, navigating through the vast oceans.
Solo Sailing Across 4 Oceans
Jessica Watson utilized the most advanced sailing technology available, albeit with limited safety measures for her journey to find herself. The only thing she had was a very small yacht, not equipped with too many modern conveniences. Jessica sailed by herself, without any assistance from anyone. Thus, she completed a voyage of 43,000 nautical miles through some of the most dangerous waters in the world over a span of 8 months, rarely coming into contact with land until she returned to Australia.
From the very beginning of her journey, Jessica faced fierce winds and waves. Many questioned whether a young girl like her had the right to undertake such a risky expedition.
Since childhood, Jessica had traveled extensively, often sharing a bus ride with her family. Inspired by Jesse Martin’s book Lionheart: A Journey of the Human Spirit, Jessica, at just 11 years old, dreamed of embarking on an extraordinary voyage to experience the most thrilling adventures.
Jessica’s determination to explore the ocean
Her family had to climb the media bandwagon, arguing that despite her age, Jessica was a qualified sailor, knowledgeable about maritime safety regulations and equipped to handle the challenges of long-distance sailing. Despite sailing alone, she kept in touch with her family and safety support teams. Alongside that, Jessica regularly posted a blog sharing her daily adventures on the internet.
7 Near-Death Experiences
Jessica Watson’s adventure unfolded just as she envisioned: facing overwhelming challenges and profound emotions. During her 8-month journey, she encountered numerous hardships. There were days when Jessica was stranded in calm waters with no wind, rendering her yacht immobile. At times, she panicked over limited supplies, personal health, and illness. Every moment, the 16-year-old girl had to fend for herself, with no one available to assist her. Jessica faced daunting challenges in reality. Every time she felt faint, she struggled to distinguish between the horizon and the sea, making her journey even more complicated, often leading to despair or being unable to reach help in times of crisis.
Jessica overcoming challenges
In the film True Spirit, which recounts Jessica’s journey, her experience culminates with her greatest challenge as multiple storms converge. The relentless waves nearly capsized her yacht, and at one point, Jessica found herself submerged 4.5 meters underwater for a prolonged period. This scenario is depicted as quite intense and harrowing in the film. As Jessica recalls, what happened outside was even more horrifying, and the cinematic portrayal does not capture the entirety of her story.
“I had 7 near-death experiences,” Jessica reveals. “Falling 4.5 meters underwater was a serious near-death experience during which I was knocked unconscious when the yacht capsized. That moment was surreal. During that time, I felt as if I had lost all sense of time, as if I was in a different dimension.”
Controversial Circumstances
When Jessica returned to Sydney after her journey, it seemed as if all of Australia had come to celebrate her achievements.
“There were so many emotional moments during the trip that seemed to be an overwhelming experience for me,” Jessica Watson remarked, reflecting on how anyone could visualize a young girl having such a momentous adventure, transcending expectations and emotions.
Now 29 years old, Jessica departed Sydney, Australia, on October 18, 2009, and returned on May 15, 2010, just before her 17th birthday. As a high school student, she had sailed an impressive 18,582 nautical miles, crossing the equator, the Pacific Ocean, and the Atlantic Ocean, all while being alone and without assistance. This remarkable feat earned her the Order of Australia, recognizing her outstanding achievements for her incredible 8-month journey.
Jessica Watson inspiring many
She set out to achieve a record as the youngest sailor to circumnavigate the globe solo. However, the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) ultimately ruled that Watson did not meet the criteria for establishing the record, as she had to cover a minimum distance of 21,600 nautical miles to qualify for recognition.
Despite the challenges she faced, Jessica Watson’s motivation was not about the accolades; she sailed because of her love for the ocean. Her voyage was driven by a passion to explore the seas. Jessica’s remarkable story has now been adapted into the Netflix film True Spirit, released in February 2023. The film, along with Jessica’s inspiring journey, has been noted as “a song about the strength and resilience of youth” and “a testament to the human spirit’s determination.”
Poster of True Spirit
Source: EW, Time
