06-05-2009, 01:49 PM
Aussie girl Jessica Watson aiming to be youngest solo round-the-world sailor
A 15-YEAR-old girl will attempt to become the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world just after her 16th birthday next week.Jessica Watson, from Buderim on the Sunshine Coast, who turns 16 next week, will set out from Brisbane on her 10.4m sloop, Youngestround.com, soon after her birthday.
Jessica has been inspired by Kay Cottee, the first woman to sail solo non-stop unassisted around the world, and Jesse Martin, the youngest person so far to achieve the feat, The Daily Telegraph reports.
Jesse, who sailed from Port Phillip Bay to set the record in 1999, celebrated his 18th birthday during his journey.
Jessica's aim is to return home before she turns 17, taking more than a year off Jesse's age record.
The trip will cover more than 40,000km and is expected to take her between seven and eight months.
Jessica will sail a Sparkman and Stephens 34, which became famous after Jon Sanders, David Dicks and Jesse Martin used the brand of yacht for their history-making solo circumnavigations.
Sparkman and Stephens yachts are popularly used in the classic Sydney to Hobart blue water classic.
Jessica will launch her bid in Brisbane today.
A 15-YEAR-old girl will attempt to become the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world just after her 16th birthday next week.Jessica Watson, from Buderim on the Sunshine Coast, who turns 16 next week, will set out from Brisbane on her 10.4m sloop, Youngestround.com, soon after her birthday.
Jessica has been inspired by Kay Cottee, the first woman to sail solo non-stop unassisted around the world, and Jesse Martin, the youngest person so far to achieve the feat, The Daily Telegraph reports.
Jesse, who sailed from Port Phillip Bay to set the record in 1999, celebrated his 18th birthday during his journey.
Jessica's aim is to return home before she turns 17, taking more than a year off Jesse's age record.
The trip will cover more than 40,000km and is expected to take her between seven and eight months.
Jessica will sail a Sparkman and Stephens 34, which became famous after Jon Sanders, David Dicks and Jesse Martin used the brand of yacht for their history-making solo circumnavigations.
Sparkman and Stephens yachts are popularly used in the classic Sydney to Hobart blue water classic.
Jessica will launch her bid in Brisbane today.
I would stop eating chocolate.. but I'm not a quitter!
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