Australian Jessica Watson, 16, to become youngest to sail around the world - CSMonitor.com Australian Jessica Watson, 16, to become youngest to sail around the world Save for later Saved In this Oct. 18, 2009, photo from teenage sailor Jessica Watson hugs her mother Julie as her father, Roger, looks on as she prepares to depart Sydney on her boat, Ella's Pink Lady, in an attempt to become the youngest person to sail non-stop, solo and unassisted, around the world. Thousands are expected to line Sydney Harbour on Saturday to offer a hero's welcome to the 16-year-old sailor, who battled 40-foot waves, multiple knockdowns, and critics who called her too immature and inexperienced for the treacherous journey. Rick Rycroft/AP/File View Caption of Boston — After seven months on the open seas, Australian Jessica Watson is about to finish her journey as the youngest person to sail solo and unassisted around the world. The 16-year-old floated out of Sydney Harbor on Oct. 18 in her 34-ft. pink sailboat, Ella's Pink Lady, and at 11 a.m.

Sydney time Saturday she's slated to dock and end that journey. Arriving just days before her 17th birthday, she'll be more than a year younger than Australian Jesse Martin was in 1999 when he entered the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) as the youngest person to make the voyage. Recommended: Could you pass a US citizenship test? But since then, record-keeping organizations stopped recognizing "youngest" pursuits because of growing controversy over recognizing "human condition categories." Still, until now, nobody younger than Mr. Martin has completed an unassisted around-the-world sailing trip. A 17-year-old Briton completed the trip in August 2009, though his trip was classified as "assisted" because he had to stop for repairs at various ports. In December, a 14-year-old Dutch girl apparently ran... er... sailed away from home after authorities blocked her attempt to become the youngest person to sail around the world. (She was picked up on a Caribbean island.) Photos of the Day Photos of the day 02/08 Ms. Watson set sail with a goal to beat Mr.

Martin's age record, but sailing websites reported last week that Watson's route wasn't long enough to qualify as "around the world." To be recognized as a round-the-world course, the WSSRC requires sailors to hit 21,600 nautical miles measured orthodromically – measuring the shortest distance from point to point on a spherical route – and there's doubt about whether she has met that. Watson doesn't seem to care. "I've actually been having a bit of a giggle over the whole thing," she wrote May 6 on her blog, which she has updated regularly using an onboard computer and satellite Internet connection ( powered with two 80-watt solar panels, a 60-watt solar panel, and a Rutland wind generator). "If I haven't been sailing around the world, then it beats me what I've been doing out here all this time!" Decide for yourself by looking at the map of her journey. Like anyone else who has attempted this journey, Watson has experienced huge swells, freezing temperatures, bouts of boredom and loneliness, and engine problems.

"My perfect conditions came to an end late on Tuesday with thunderstorms then this freezing cold southerly wind (brrrr!)," she wrote Thursday in her latest blog post. So what's a girl to do when she docks? Watson's manager said that when she returned, she'd focus on a film documentary and a forthcoming book , already titled: "True Spirit: The Aussie Girl who Took on the World." Watson says she's looking forward to a hot shower and sleeping in a bed that doesn't move. "I can't believe how fast this last week has gone," she wrote Thursday. "Only two more sleeps till the finish line! Have I mentioned how excited I am? It's like the day before Christmas except I don't ever remember getting this excited about Christmas. Two more sleeps till a hot shower, fresh food and, and, and, everything else!" Related: Australian teen completes historic round-the-world sail - USATODAY.com Australian teen completes historic round-the-world sail Updated Enlarge By Rob Griffith, AP Sixteen-year-old Australian Jessica Watson sails past the finish line at the entrance to Sydney Harbour, capping off a nearly 23,000-nautical-miles voyage.

Watson became the youngest person to sail solo, nonstop and unassisted around the world. SYDNEY (AP)  An Australian teenager became the youngest person to sail solo, nonstop and unassisted around the world after a seven-month journey that was completed Saturday. Thousands cheered as 16-year-old Jessica Watson maneuvered her pink 34-foot yacht into Sydney Harbour, the finale to an adventure in which she overcame 40-foot waves, homesickness and critics who said she'd never make it home alive. "She said she'd sail around the world and she has," a tearful Julie Watson said as she watched her grinning daughter cruise past the finish line from a nearby boat. "She's home." Watson docked at the city's iconic Opera House, bursting into tears and gasping in relief as she stepped off her yacht and into the arms of her parents. She hung onto her father and brother as she walked slowly and tentatively along a pink carpet rolled out in her honor — her first steps on land in 210 days.

"People don't think you're capable of these things — they don't realize what young people, what 16-year-olds and girls are capable of," Watson told the raucous crowd, many wearing pink clothes and waving pink flags in honor of her yacht, Ella's Pink Lady. "It's amazing, when you take away those expectations, what you can do." Her parents' decision to let their daughter attempt such a feat was highly criticized. "I don't think any of us would ever doubt Jessica Watson again," said New South Wales state Premier Kristina Keneally, who was waiting at the Opera House to welcome the teen. "I'm completely overwhelmed. I just don't know what to think and what to say at the moment," Watson said, her voice trembling, in an interview broadcast live on a screen outside the Opera House. "It's all a bit much, but absolutely amazing." Watson, from Buderim, north of Brisbane in Queensland state, sailed out of Sydney on Oct. 18. She traveled northeast through the South Pacific and across the equator, south to Cape Horn at the tip of South America, across the Atlantic Ocean to South Africa, through the Indian Ocean and around southern Australia.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd greeted Watson at the Opera House with a grin and a hug, dubbing her "Australia's newest hero" — a description Watson dismissed. "I'm actually going to disagree with the Prime Minister," she said, as the crowd laughed. "I don't consider myself a hero. I'm an ordinary girl who believed in her dream." Australian Jesse Martin held the record for the youngest person to sail around the world solo, nonstop and unassisted, after he completed the journey in 1999 at the age of 18. He boarded Watson's boat and took over as she cruised toward the Opera House, so she could relax and wave to the fans. Watson's feat, however, will not be considered an official world record, because the World Speed Sailing Record Council discontinued its "youngest" category. Though she sailed nearly 23,000 nautical miles, some sailing enthusiasts have also argued that Watson didn't travel far enough north of the equator for her journey to count as a true round-the-world trek as defined by the record council's rules.

Watson's managers have dismissed those claims and argued she doesn't need to adhere to the council's rules anyway, since they won't be recognizing her voyage. The route took Watson through some of the world's most treacherous waters, and the teen made it through monstrous storms and suffered seven knockdowns. Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Posted E-mail | Print | To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones . For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com . Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com . Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more . W5 Team Australian teen youngest ever to sail the globe solo Sixteen-year-old Jessica Watson works with the rigging as she sails past the finish line at the entrance to Sydney Harbour in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, May 15, 2010.

(AP / Rob Griffith) The Associated Press Published Saturday, May 15, 2010 8:07AM EDT SYDNEY, Australia - A 16-year-old Australian who spent seven months at sea in her pink yacht sailed across the finish line of her round-the-world journey Saturday, becoming the youngest sailor to circle the globe solo, nonstop and unassisted. Thousands of spectators erupted into cheers as Jessica Watson sailed into Sydney Harbour, the finale to an epic adventure in which she battled 12-metre waves, homesickness and critics who said she'd never make it home alive. "She said she'd sail around the world, and she has," a tearful Julie Watson said as she watched her grinning daughter cruise past the finish line from a nearby boat. "She's home." Watson docked at Sydney's iconic Opera House. The teenager burst into tears and gasped in relief as she stepped off the yacht and into the arms of her parents, whose decision to let their daughter attempt the feat was called an act of insanity by critics. She hung onto her father and brother as she walked slowly and tentatively along a pink carpet rolled out in her honour -- her first steps on land in 210 days.

Fans screamed and waved as she walked by, many wearing pink clothes and holding pink flags in a nod to her 34-foot (10-meter) yacht, Ella's Pink Lady. "People don't think you're capable of these things -- they don't realize what young people, what 16-year-olds and girls are capable of," Watson told the raucous crowd. "It's amazing when you take away those expectations what you can do." Watson, from Buderim, north of Brisbane in Queensland state, sailed out of Sydney on Oct. 18 despite protests by critics that she was too immature and inexperienced for the treacherous journey. Her parents maintained that she was well-prepared and noted she has been sailing since the age of 8. "I don't think any of us would ever doubt Jessica Watson again," said New South Wales state Premier Kristina Keneally, who greeted Watson at the Opera House. Watson's journey took her northeast through the South Pacific and across the equator, south to Cape Horn at the tip of South America, across the Atlantic Ocean to South Africa, through the Indian Ocean and around southern Australia.

Australian Jesse Martin holds the current record for the youngest person to sail around the world solo, nonstop and unassisted, after he completed the journey in 1999 at the age of 18. Martin boarded Watson's boat to take over during her cruise toward the Opera House, so she could relax and wave to fans. Watson was given a goodie bag that included a can of whipped cream, which she partially injected into her mouth before laughing and turning away from the cameras. She was also joined on board by Britain's Mike Perham, who completed a solo circumnavigation at the age of 17 in 2009, though technical problems forced him to stop for assistance. Watson's feat, however, will not be considered an official world record, because the World Speed Sailing Record Council discontinued its "youngest" category. And though she sailed nearly 23,000 nautical miles, some sailing enthusiasts have also argued that Watson didn't travel far enough north of the equator for her journey to count as a true round-the-world sail as defined by the record council's rules.

Watson's managers have dismissed those claims and argued she doesn't need to adhere to the council's rules anyway, since they won't be recognizing her voyage. The route took Watson through some of the world's most treacherous waters, and the teen battled through monstrous storms, suffering seven knockdowns. Watson said she had moments of doubt during those times, but generally kept her spirits up. "Amazingly, I just enjoyed it much, much more than I ever thought I would and handled the challenges better than I thought," she told journalists. "You don't actually have a choice -- you're in the middle of a storm, you're being knocked down -- you can't fall apart." But her journey was also peppered with moments of beauty. On her blog, she described stunning sunrises over glassy seas, the excitement of spotting a blue whale and the dazzling, eerie sight of a shooting star racing across the night sky above her boat. She also had fun, chatting about boys and fashion with "Silly," a little brown seabird that landed on her yacht and hung around for awhile. She sang at the top of her lungs with no audience to critique her and indulged her sweet tooth with chocolate cupcakes she baked in her tiny kitchen.

A video she shot shows her giggling while dumping a ceremonial bucket of saltwater over her head after crossing the equator. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd greeted Watson at the Opera House with a grin and a hug, dubbing her "Australia's newest hero" -- a description Watson dismissed. "I'm actually going to disagree with the Prime Minister," she said, as the crowd laughed. "I don't consider myself a hero. I'm an ordinary girl who believed in her dream." Photos Sixteen-year-old Jessica Watson waves as she sails past the finish line at the entrance to Sydney Harbour in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, May 15, 2010. (AP / Rob Griffith) Australian authorities contact missing American teen sailor - CNN.com Australian authorities contact missing American teen sailor By Alan Duke, CNN Mom says Abby is 'in good spirits' STORY HIGHLIGHTS NEW: Authorities say 16-year-old has tools to survive at sea Australian maritime officials say they've made contact with missing girl Family spokesman says she's "alive and well" Fishing boat could reach Sunderland's last position on Saturday Experts consider the question, Is sending your teen out alone to cross oceans a good parenting choice?

Their answers may surprise you (CNN) -- Australian authorities on Friday made contact with a 16-year-old American girl who triggered a distress signal while attempting to sail solo around the world. But it could be a day before a French fishing vessel pulls Abby Sunderland and her boat, Wild Eyes, to shore, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said. "She's in the boat. The boat's seaworthy. It's not taking on water, and she's equipped for the conditions down there, we believe," said Mick Kinley of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. Sunderland triggered the distress signal Thursday during rough seas. Video: Contact made with missing teen sailor Video: Brother: I really wish I could see her Video: Sailing record set Australia "She's been dismasted. The rigging's over the side and in the water," Kinley told reporters Friday. He said Wild Eyes was in the Southern Ocean about 2,000 miles southwest of Perth, Australia, when rescuers contacted her Friday. "That's a long way from any merchant shipping," he said. "We're just fortunate that the French fishing vessel was in that region." Family spokesman Christian Pinkston said Sunderland communicated with rescuers via marina radio.

"We know that Australian search and rescue has contacted her ... and she is alive and well," Pinkston said early Friday morning. Sunderland's parents, Laurence and Marianne, wrote on her blog: "We have just heard from the Australian Search and Rescue. The plane arrived on the scene moments ago. Wild Eyes is upright but her rigging is down. The weather conditions are abating. Radio communication was made and Abby reports that she is fine! "We don't know much else right now. The French fishing vessel that was diverted to her location will be there in a little over 24 hours. Where they will take her or how long it will take we don't know." Mom talks about dangers her daughter faces on high seas Earlier Friday, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority had taken over the search for Sunderland, noting the stormy seas that prompted her to activate her distress beacons had calmed. "The weather is moderating. It is improving slightly," Carly Lusk of the AMSA said at the time.

"Now, it's not perfect, but any improvement in the weather is a positive when you're looking at a search and rescue operation." Sunderland's vessel is adrift in the middle of the Indian Ocean some 2,000 miles east of Madagascar, 2,000 miles west of Australia and 500 miles north of the French Antarctic Islands. Sunderland's family began scrambling to organize a search-and-rescue effort for her after they learned her emergency beacon was detected just an hour after they last spoke to her on Thursday, according to Jeff Casher, an engineer on her support team. The government of Reunion -- a French island -- diverted a fishing boat toward her last known position, but it is not expected to reach the area until Saturday, Casher said. An Australian military ship, more than two days sail away, has also been dispatched, Casher said. Electronic signals from the boat indicate it is drifting at just a mile per hour, which means it is still afloat but not under sail, Casher said. iReporter follows the story Sunderland began her journey from Marina del Rey, California, on January 23 with the goal of sailing her 40-foot boat around the world without stopping.

Mechanical troubles forced her to make two stops for repairs, including at Cape Town, South Africa, in May. She has kept in touch with family and followers through a satellite telephone. Her website has published frequent blog updates, including one posted Wednesday. "The last few days have (been) pretty busy out here," Sunderland wrote in her last blog entry. "I've been in some rough weather for awhile with winds steady at 40-45 knots with higher gusts. With that front passing, the conditions were lighter today." Sunderland is a "very determined" and "very capable sailor," Thomas said. "She's pretty much unfazed by most everything, but she had been fatigued by this period of winds which she's been going through for several days now," he said. When Abby's older brother Zac sailed around the world alone last year, with stops, he became the youngest person to ever do so at 17. Mike Perham of the United Kingdom, a younger 17-year-old, took over the distinction weeks later.

Last month, Australian Jessica Watson, days before her 17th birthday, claimed to have become the youngest person to have completed a non-stop, unassisted solo circumnavigation -- a mark held by then 18-year-old Jesse Martin of Australia since 1999. However, sailing journalists have said -- and her team hasn't disputed -- that Watson's route was less than 21,600 orthodromic nautical miles, which is the length of the equator and the distance generally used for round-the-world sailing records. Abby has been on a schedule to complete her global journey about two months before her 17th birthday, which is on October 19. CNN's Samuel Gardner, Ed Payne, Irving Last and Allison Blakely contributed to this report. Share this on: 5 teens who have sailed around the world solo | MNN - Mother Nature Network MNN.com > Lifestyle > Eco-Tourism 5 teens who have sailed around the world solo These young sailors braved months at sea (and in one case, a fight against the government) in pursuit of a dream. 65 AHOY: On Jan.

21, Laura Dekker became the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe alone. (Photo: Agence France-Presse) The first people to sail a ship around the world were the handful of survivors of Ferdinand Magellan's expedition, which was completed in 1522. Joshua Slocum set the record for the first solo trip around the world on his boat Spray in 1898. Since then, circumnavigation has become a badge of honor with sailors chasing the dream of taking certain routes and completing the journey in the least amount of time. Most people who even think about steering a boat around the world by themselves via [skipwords]wind power[/skipwords] have many years, sometimes decades, of sailing experience under their belts. But for every 10 gray-haired circumnavigators there's one teenager willing to risk his or her life for the thrill of the ultimate adventure.

The governing body of around-the-world sailing, the World Sailing Speed Record Council , no longer recognizes the category of youngest (or oldest, or any other "human condition category") to sail around the world for two reasons: "Almost anyone would be able to claim a record of some sort," and "the verification of age/disability/marital status etc. is a less exact science" than monitoring and ratifying speed/time records. Even still, teen sailors continue to make the trip, content to simply be known as the youngest person to sail solo around the planet. Here's the story behind the adventurers 18 years old and younger who have completed the trip. David Dicks Photo: Greg Wood/Getty Images David Dicks set out on his trip in February 1996 from Fremantle, Australia, on a 34-foot boat named Seaflight. He spent the next nine months fighting his way through bad weather (four-story-high waves!), mechanical breakdowns and food poisoning, overcoming each challenge to grab the unofficial record for a solo, nonstop assisted circumnavigation. Unfortunately David lost the chance to claim his voyage as non-assisted when he accepted a bolt from the British Royal Navy mid-ocean to complete a repair vital to his continued efforts.

Nevertheless, David, who was 18 when he completed his journey in November 1996, was hailed a hero in his native Australia. *** Jesse Martin Photo: jessemartin.net Though Australian Jesse Martin was a couple of weeks older than David Dicks when he completed his trip around the world in 1999, he grabbed the spot as the youngest person to sail around the world nonstop, unassisted and solo by avoiding taking help of the kind that David was forced to take. Jesse made his trip in his 34-foot boat, Lionheart-Mistral, documenting his journey in the book "Lionheart: A Journey of the Human Spirit." He traveled 27,000 nautical miles from December 1998 to October 1999, and was the impetus behind the World Sailing Speed Record Council discontinuing recognition for the youngest sailor to make a circumnavigation.

*** Zac Sunderland Photo: Hans Gutknecht/ZUMA Press In 2009, Zac Sunderland became the first person younger than 18 to sail solo around the world when he successfully completed his 13-month trip in Intrepid, the 36-foot boat he bought with $6,500 that he had saved up from after-school jobs. (He completed his trip without any major corporate sponsorship.) The California native set out on his trip in June 2008 when he was still 16 and finished in July 2009 before he became legally eligible to vote. He snatched the now-unrecognized record of youngest circumnavigator from Jesse Martin and held it for all of six weeks before losing it to 17-year-old English sailor Michael Perham, who was a few months younger when he completed his trip.

(Zac's sister Abby attempted the same feat in January 2010 but was thwarted more than halfway through her quest when the mast of her boat Wild Eyes collapsed in heavy seas in the Indian Ocean that June, sparking a rescue mission.) *** Michael Perham Photo: Frantzesco Kangaris/ZUMA Press Michael Perham also held the unofficial title of the youngest person to sail solo around the world. According to the BBC, "his father was a merchant naval officer, his grandfather served with the Royal Navy during the Second World War, and his great-grandfather was a Royal Marine in the Crimean war." Michael started sailing when he was 7 years old. In November 2008, he set out from Portsmouth, England, in a 50-foot yacht and in August 2009, he pulled back into Portsmouth at the ripe old age of 17 years and 164 days. *** Laura Dekker Photo: ZUMA Press 16-year-old Laura Dekker of the Netherlands wrapped up her attempt in January 2012, giving her the new unofficial spot as the youngest to find success sailing solo around the world. But first she had to convince the government to let her try.

A Dutch court put her under the guardianship of child protection authorities in October 2009 to block her from making the journey. The order was lifted in July 2010, and she set out on her voyage in her 38-foot boat Guppy in January 2011. Honorable mention: Australian Jessica Watson sailed around the world alone from October 2009 to May 2010 at the age of 16, but some sailing experts note that because she didn't sail far enough north of the equator, her voyage would not be recognized as true circumnavigation by the World Sailing Speed Record Council. Australian teen nears end of round-the-world sail - Boston.com Asia Australian teen nears end of round-the-world sail In this file photo from Oct. 18, 2009, teenage sailor Jessica Watson walks to her boat after her final shower on land as she prepares to depart Sydney on her boat Ella's Pink Lady in an attempt to become the youngest person to sail non-stop, solo and unassisted, around the world.

Thousands are expected to line Sydney Harbour on Saturday, May 15, 2010, to offer a hero's welcome to 16-year-old Jessica Watson, who has battled 40-foot (12-meter) waves, multiple knockdowns and critics who called her too immature and inexperienced for the treacherous journey. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, File) By Kristen Gelineau Associated Press Writer / May 13, 2010 E-mail this article Add a personal message:(80 character limit) Your E-mail: | Text size – + SYDNEY—An Australian teen who has spent seven months at sea in a bid to become the youngest person to sail solo, nonstop and unassisted around the world was just a few hundred nautical miles from her goal Friday, and likened the excitement over her return to the anticipation of Christmas. Sixteen-year-old Jessica Watson was expected to sail past the finish line at the entrance to Sydney Harbour on Saturday, capping off a nearly 23,000 nautical mile voyage that many thought she wouldn't survive. "Have I mentioned how excited I am?

It's like the day before Christmas except I don't ever remember getting this excited about Christmas," Watson wrote on her blog Thursday. "Two more sleeps till a hot shower, fresh food and, and, and, everything else!" Thousands are expected to line the harbor to cheer on the teen as she cruises into port in her pink 34-foot (10-meter) yacht. Watson plans to dock at the Opera House, where she will be greeted by her parents, a throng of media and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Watson, from Buderim, north of Brisbane in Queensland state, sailed out of Sydney on Oct. 18, despite protests from critics who said the trek was far too treacherous for someone so young. Her parents stood by their decision to let their daughter go, arguing that she had been sailing since she was 8 and was well-prepared. Watson herself said she wasn't surprised by the criticism. "As long as it's sensible and good advice, you listen to it all," she told The Associated Press last June, a few months before she set sail. "The one thing I won't accept is when someone calls this reckless. This is years and years of planning and preparation.

We haven't just jumped into this." Watson battled 40-foot (12-meter) waves and multiple knockdowns during her journey, which took her northeast through the South Pacific and across the equator, south to Cape Horn at the tip of South America, across the Atlantic Ocean to South Africa, through the Indian Ocean and around southern Australia. She has stayed well-fed thanks to a steady supply of prepackaged meals (lamb chops were a favorite), dried fruit, candy and the occasional cupcake, baked on her stove. On Friday, she told her parents via the online video chat program Skype that she was eager for a fresh salad and pavlova, a fruit-topped meringue dessert popular in Australia and New Zealand. People around the world have followed Watson's adventures on her blog, which she has regularly updated from the computer on board her boat. She has used a satellite phone and Skype to keep in touch with her family and management team in Australia. "It just constantly amazes us -- we just can't get over how much she's captured people and taken them along with her journeys," Watson's mother, Julie, told Australia's Ten Network, one of Watson's sponsors.

Australian Jesse Martin holds the current record for the youngest person to sail around the world solo, nonstop and unassisted, after he completed the journey in 1999 at the age of 18. But Watson's feat will not be considered an official world record, because the World Speed Sailing Record Council discontinued its "youngest" category. Some sailing enthusiasts have also argued that Watson didn't travel far enough north of the equator for her journey to count as a true round-the-world trek as defined by the record council's rules. Watson's managers have dismissed those claims and argued she doesn't need to adhere to the council's rules anyway, since they won't be recognizing her voyage. Sixteen-year-old American Abby Sunderland of Marina del Ray, California, launched her own solo round-the-world bid in January. In May, she had to pull into port in South Africa for boat repairs, ending her nonstop attempt. She still plans to try to complete her voyage. Though Watson is excited for her homecoming, she said she was sad that her adventure was ending. "I'm going to miss being out of range of my annoying brother!

I'm going to miss doing things at my own pace and singing at the top of my voice without clearing the room," she wrote on her blog. "I'm going to miss the kick I get from overcoming challenges by myself, flying along in the dark. A new sunset every night and the time I always take to watch it." -------- Australian Teen Becomes Youngest Person to Sail Solo Around the World | Fox News Australian Teen Becomes Youngest Person to Sail Solo Around the World Published May 15, 2010 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 livefyre Email Print May 15: Sixteen-year-old Jessica Watson waves as she sails past the finish line at the entrance to Sydney Harbour in Sydney, Australia, capping off a nearly 23,000 nautical miles voyage. (AP) In this file photo from Oct. 18, 2009, teenage sailor Jessica Watson walks to her boat after her final shower on land as she prepares to depart Sydney on her boat Ella's Pink Lady.

(AP) Previous Next SYDNEY -- A 16-year-old Australian who spent seven months at sea in her pink yacht sailed across the finish line of her round-the-world journey Saturday, becoming the youngest sailor to circle the globe solo, nonstop and unassisted. Thousands of spectators erupted into cheers as Jessica Watson sailed into Sydney Harbour, the finale to an epic adventure in which she battled 40-foot waves, homesickness and critics who said she'd never make it home alive. "She said she'd sail around the world, and she has," a tearful Julie Watson said as she watched her grinning daughter cruise past the finish line from a nearby boat. "She's home." Watson docked at Sydney's iconic Opera House. The teenager burst into tears and gasped in relief as she stepped off the yacht and into the arms of her parents, whose decision to let their daughter attempt the feat was called an act of insanity by critics. She hung onto her father and brother as she walked slowly and tentatively along a pink carpet rolled out in her honor -- her first steps on land in 210 days.

Fans screamed and waved as she walked by, many wearing pink clothes and holding pink flags in a nod to her 34-foot yacht, Ella's Pink Lady. "People don't think you're capable of these things -- they don't realize what young people, what 16-year-olds and girls are capable of," Watson told the raucous crowd. "It's amazing when you take away those expectations what you can do." Watson, from Buderim, north of Brisbane in Queensland state, sailed out of Sydney on Oct. 18 despite protests by critics that she was too immature and inexperienced for the treacherous journey. Her parents maintained that she was well-prepared and noted she has been sailing since the age of 8. "I don't think any of us would ever doubt Jessica Watson again," said New South Wales state Premier Kristina Keneally, who greeted Watson at the Opera House. Watson's journey took her northeast through the South Pacific and across the equator, south to Cape Horn at the tip of South America, across the Atlantic Ocean to South Africa , through the Indian Ocean and around southern Australia .

Australian Jesse Martin holds the current record for the youngest person to sail around the world solo, nonstop and unassisted, after he completed the journey in 1999 at the age of 18. Martin boarded Watson's boat to take over during her cruise toward the Opera House, so she could relax and wave to fans. Watson was given a goodie bag that included a can of whipped cream, which she partially injected into her mouth before laughing and turning away from the cameras. She was also joined on board by Britain's Mike Perham, who completed a solo circumnavigation at the age of 17 in 2009, though technical problems forced him to stop for assistance. Watson's feat, however, will not be considered an official world record, because the World Speed Sailing Record Council discontinued its "youngest" category. And though she sailed nearly 23,000 nautical miles, some sailing enthusiasts have also argued that Watson didn't travel far enough north of the equator for her journey to count as a true round-the-world sail as defined by the record council's rules.

Watson's managers have dismissed those claims and argued she doesn't need to adhere to the council's rules anyway, since they won't be recognizing her voyage. The route took Watson through some of the world's most treacherous waters, and the teen battled through monstrous storms, suffering seven knockdowns. Watson said she had moments of doubt during those times, but generally kept her spirits up. "Amazingly, I just enjoyed it much, much more than I ever thought I would and handled the challenges better than I thought," she told journalists. "You don't actually have a choice -- you're in the middle of a storm, you're being knocked down -- you can't fall apart." But her journey was also peppered with moments of beauty. On her blog, she described stunning sunrises over glassy seas, the excitement of spotting a blue whale and the dazzling, eerie sight of a shooting star racing across the night sky above her boat. She also had fun, chatting about boys and fashion with "Silly," a little brown seabird that landed on her yacht and hung around for awhile. She sang at the top of her lungs with no audience to critique her and indulged her sweet tooth with chocolate cupcakes she baked in her tiny kitchen.

A video she shot shows her giggling while dumping a ceremonial bucket of saltwater over her head after crossing the equator. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd greeted Watson at the Opera House with a grin and a hug, dubbing her "Australia's newest hero" -- a description Watson dismissed. "I'm actually going to disagree with the Prime Minister," she said, as the crowd laughed. "I don't consider myself a hero. I'm an ordinary girl who believed in her dream." Advertisement Laura Dekker: Dutch girl, 16, becomes youngest to sail around the world on her own | Daily Mail Online comments Dutch teenager Laura Dekker finished her solo sailing journey around the world in good spirits, despite endless debate about the terms under which she is allowed to be at sea. She completed her 518-day trek today after docking her yacht Guppy in St. Maarten, ending a yearlong expedition that supposedly made her the youngest person ever to sail alone around the globe, though her trip was interrupted at several points. Ms Dekker, 16, faced several court cases from the time she announced her intentions to travel the world at the age of 14.

She said government organisations tried to deter her from her journey, and because of that, she may not return home to the Netherlands. Scroll down for video Around the world in 518 days: Laura Dekker arrived in St.Maarten Yacht Club today after sailing around the world solo, the youngest ever to do so, she claims Land ho! The strong-willed 16 year old looks happy to touch down on dry land Nothing but blue skies: The port of Simpson Bay, Saint Maartin was a scenic way to end the journey Dutch authorities tried to block Ms Dekker's trip, arguing she was too young to risk her life, while school officials complained she should be in a classroom. She once said she wanted to move to Australia after her voyage was over, the Associated Press reports, though it’s unclear what she’ll do now that she’s finished. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share She may sail to New Zealand or Bonaire, Dutch News says. Or perhaps finish her schooling. The strong-willed teenager made it clear that she didn’t feel like returning to her home country of the Netherlands. ‘Over a period of 11 months, I was constantly afraid that Youth Care would lock me up,’ she wrote on her blog.

‘It was all a frightening and traumatic experience. So often these terrible memories come to me. I can’t ignore them.

It is painful.’ Unhappy: She wrote on her blog that she is deeply unhappy with how the Dutch government handled her desire to travel the world and said she may never return At home at sea: A 15-year-old Laura Dekker poses for a photo upon arrival in Kralendijk, on February 9, 2011 on the Caribbean island of Boanaire Sail away: Laura Dekker, then 14, sails away from the port of Den Osse for world solo sailing bid, on August 4, 2010 on her yacht Guppy (centre) She continued: ‘Now, after sailing around the world, with different port approaches, storms, dangerous reefs, and the full responsibility of keeping myself and Guppy safe, I feel that the nightmares the Dutch government organisations put me through, were totally unfair.’ 'After sailing around the world with the full responsibility of keeping myself and Guppy safe, I feel that the nightmares the Dutch government organisations put me through, were totally unfair.' -Laura Dekker In all, she sailed 27,000 nautical miles, on a trip with stops that sound like a skim through a travel magazine: the Canary Islands, Panama, the Galapagos Islands

, Tonga, Fiji, Bora Bora, Australia, South Africa and now, St.

Maarten. Dozens of people jumped and cheered as Ms Dekker waved, wept and then walked across the dock accompanied by her mother, father, sister and grandparents, who had greeted her at sea earlier. She arrived at the port after struggling against high seas and heavy winds on a final leg from Cape Town, South Africa. There and back again: A map on Laura Dekker's website shows the dizzying journey she completed by herself The spitfire teenager claims she is the youngest sailor to complete a round-the-world voyage. However, Guinness World Records and the World Sailing Speed Record Council did not verify the claim, saying they no longer recognize records for youngest sailors to discourage dangerous attempts. Ms Dekker said she was born aboard a yacht off the coast of New Zealand and said she first sailed solo at six years old. At ten, she said, she began dreaming about crossing the globe.

Her mother Babs Muller told the Dutch News that her daughter ‘sails like a devil.’ Legal troubles: In 2009, a 13-year-old Laura Dekker and her father left, fought a civil court case by the youth protection services seeking to her stop the solo sailing plans Allowed to travel: After going to court to fight for her right to travel, Laura, 14, showed her boat off to the press Ms Dekker’s lawyer agreed. ‘Her wish to do this was something that came from her heart and soul and no one was going to stop her,’ Peter de Lange said. He advised the teenager throughout her journey. In 2009, Ms Dekker, then 14, ran away to St. Maarten to buy a boat after leaving her father a note telling him ‘Don’t worry about me. You’re always in my heart.

I will find freedom soon.’ THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY: STORY OF A TEEN TRAVELLING SOLO Laura Dekker travelled more than 27,000 nautical miles Started voyage in 2009, aged 14 Finishes journey aged 16 and 123 days old Spend the last 518 days at sea Her vessel, Guppy, is a 38-foot Jeanneau Ginfizz ketch Yacht has two masts and six-foot draft Travelled to the Canary Islands, Panama, the Galapagos Islands, Fiji, Bora Bora, Australia, South Africa and St. Maarten Authorities in St. Maarten found her and took her away just as she was buying a boat. She celebrated her 16th birthday during the trip, eating doughnuts for breakfast after spending time at port with her father and friends the night before. Her father told Dutch News that her daughter is independent and stoic, and isn’t interested in the media attention. ‘She would prefer to be completely left alone when she comes to St Maarten, no journalists, no fuss,’ he said. ‘She doesn’t care that American television stations are clamouring for interviews.

She’s become a global brand but she’s just not interested.’ Unlike other young sailors who recently crossed the globe, Ms Dekker repeatedly anchored at ports along the way to sleep, study and repair her 38-foot sailboat. During her trip, she went surfing, scuba diving, cliff diving and discovered a new hobby: playing the flute, which she said in her weblog was easier to play than a guitar in bad weather. Ms Dekker also complained about custom clearings, boat inspections, ripped sails, heavy squalls, a wet and salty bed, a near-collision with two cargo ships and the presence of some persistent stowaways: cockroaches. Ms Dekker launched her trip two months after Abby Sunderland, a 16-year-old U.S. sailor, was rescued in the middle of the Indian Ocean during a similar attempt. Jessica Watson of Australia completed a 210-day solo voyage at age 16, a few months older than Ms Dekker.

Round-the-world teenage sailor Jessica Watson gets hero's welcome in Australia - CSMonitor.com Round-the-world teenage sailor Jessica Watson gets hero's welcome in Australia Prime Minister Kevin Rudd welcomed 'our newest Australian hero' Jessica Watson home Saturday after the round-the-world teenage sailor arrived in Sydney. By Kathy Marks, Correspondent Save for later Saved Sixteen-year-old Jessica Watson sails past the finish line at the entrance to Sydney Harbour in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, capping off a nearly 23,000 nautical miles voyage. Watson crossed the finish line of her round-the-world journey Saturday, becoming the youngest person to sail solo, nonstop and unassisted around the world. Rob Griffith/AP View Caption of Sydney, Australia — After seven months at sea, and a tumultuous welcome home, 16-year-old Jessica Watson now has to complete a book and a television documentary. So no one complained Sunday when the Australia schoolgirl, the youngest person to sail around the world solo, non-stop and unassisted, had a sleep-in, then spent the day with her family. Ms.

Watson was hailed as “our newest Australian hero” by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd , among thousands of people who turned out to greet her at the Sydney Opera House Saturday. The crowd cheered when the teenager, still a little unsteady on her feet, declared: “I’m going to disagree with the Prime Minister. I don’t consider myself a hero. You don’t have to be someone special to achieve something amazing.” Recommended: Could you pass a US citizenship test? Proving the critics wrong Before she set off last October, many claimed she was too young and inexperienced for such a challenge. Photos of the Day Photos of the day 02/08 The criticism intensified when she fell asleep and crashed into a cargo ship during a test run. Her parents, Julie and Roger, were condemned as irresponsible for allowing her to attempt the trip. But when her yacht, Ella’s Pink Lady, cruised into Sydney Harbour – 2 1/2 hours late, thanks to a torn mainsail and a strong southerly which blew her off course – the national mood was one of jubilation. Hundreds of boats turned out to escort Ms Watson across the finish line.

Hero's welcome Setting foot on dry land for the first time in 210 days, she collapsed into the arms of her parents. The premier of New South Wales state, Kristina Keneally , told her she had inspired the nation. “You have reminded us in a spectacular way that life itself is a risk, and those who don’t risk never win,” said Ms. Keneally. Despite her achievements, Watson’s journey will not be recognized as an official world record, because – in an effort to discourage ever more youthful sailors from such a risky endeavor – the World Speed Sailing Record Council has abolished its “youngest” category. Last year, the Dutch courts prevented 13-year-old Laura Dekker from attempting to circumnavigate the world solo. Doubts have also been cast on Watson’s route, with some experts suggesting she did not venture far enough north of the equator to qualify as having sailed around the world.

Watson, who turns 17 on Tuesday, shrugged them off, saying: “For me, it was never about the record.” Book contracts and scholarship deals The schoolgirl – who has book contracts and sponsorship deals worth at least $885,800 – covered almost 23,000 nautical miles as she traveled north-east through the South Pacific and across the equator, then south to Cape Horn , at the tip of South America , then across the Atlantic Ocean to South Africa , then finally through the Indian Ocean and around southern Australia. During her months at sea, she struggled against homesickness, loneliness, and boredom. She also battled wild storms. On one occasion her mast was pushed 180 degrees into the water. Her youth was underlined by Mr. Rudd’s birthday present to her: a free driving lesson. Until Tuesday, she will be too young to drive a car.

Related: Australian teen becomes youngest ever to sail solo, unassisted around the world Australian teen becomes youngest ever to sail solo, unassisted around the world By Kristen Gelineau, AP Friday, May 14, 2010 Australian teen completes round-the-world sail SYDNEY — An Australian teenager became the youngest person to sail solo, nonstop and unassisted around the world after a seven-month journey that was completed Saturday. Thousands cheered as 16-year-old Jessica Watson maneuvered her pink 34-foot yacht into Sydney Harbour, the finale to an adventure in which she overcame 40-foot waves, homesickness and critics who said she’d never make it home alive. “She said she’d sail around the world and she has,” a tearful Julie Watson said as she watched her grinning daughter cruise past the finish line from a nearby boat. “She’s home.” Watson docked at the city’s iconic Opera House, bursting into tears and gasping in relief as she stepped off her yacht and into the arms of her parents. She hung onto her father and brother as she walked slowly and tentatively along a pink carpet rolled out in her honor — her first steps on land in 210 days.

“People don’t think you’re capable of these things — they don’t realize what young people, what 16-year-olds and girls are capable of,” Watson told the raucous crowd, many wearing pink clothes and waving pink flags in honor of her yacht, Ella’s Pink Lady. “It’s amazing, when you take away those expectations, what you can do.” Her parents’ decision to let their daughter attempt such a feat was highly criticized. “I don’t think any of us would ever doubt Jessica Watson again,” said New South Wales state Premier Kristina Keneally, who was waiting at the Opera House to welcome the teen. “I’m completely overwhelmed. I just don’t know what to think and what to say at the moment,” Watson said, her voice trembling, in an interview broadcast live on a screen outside the Opera House. “It’s all a bit much, but absolutely amazing.” Watson, from Buderim, north of Brisbane in Queensland state, sailed out of Sydney on Oct. 18. She traveled northeast through the South Pacific and across the equator, south to Cape Horn at the tip of South America, across the Atlantic Ocean to South Africa, through the Indian Ocean and around southern Australia.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd greeted Watson at the Opera House with a grin and a hug, dubbing her “Australia’s newest hero” — a description Watson dismissed. “I’m actually going to disagree with the Prime Minister,” she said, as the crowd laughed. “I don’t consider myself a hero. I’m an ordinary girl who believed in her dream.” Australian Jesse Martin held the record for the youngest person to sail around the world solo, nonstop and unassisted, after he completed the journey in 1999 at the age of 18. He boarded Watson’s boat and took over as she cruised toward the Opera House, so she could relax and wave to the fans. Watson’s feat, however, will not be considered an official world record, because the World Speed Sailing Record Council discontinued its “youngest” category. Though she sailed nearly 23,000 nautical miles, some sailing enthusiasts have also argued that Watson didn’t travel far enough north of the equator for her journey to count as a true round-the-world trek as defined by the record council’s rules.

Watson’s managers have dismissed those claims and argued she doesn’t need to adhere to the council’s rules anyway, since they won’t be recognizing her voyage. The route took Watson through some of the world’s most treacherous waters, and the teen made it through monstrous storms and suffered seven knockdowns. Online:

Question: Name the sixteen year old Australian who completed her (claimed youngest ever) round-the-world sailing in May 2010?
Answer: Jessica Watson