Sailing Around The World, BRB
By Fitsmi December 3


“It’s been another squally overcast day and tonight’s become a bit bouncy with the wind gusting to 30 knots and the seas standing up as we pass over a shallow patch.” Jessica Watson blogs, sounding like a true sailor (minus the swearing). She’s only 16, but Jessica definitely knows her stuff when it comes to sailing. That’s because she’s on a mission to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world.

Jessica set sail on October 29 and she’s expecting to arrive back home in Australia in about 8 months, just before her 17th birthday. In order for her trip to be legit, she has to follow a specific route and set of rules. “I must depart and arrive from the same port, cross all lines of longitude, cross the equator entering into the Northern Hemisphere at least once, and round the southern landmarks of South America and South Africa,” she explains on her website.

Less than one month into her journey, Jessica was able to check off one thing on her list of requirements: crossing the equator. Her family was so excited about her accomplishment that they had a party for her, which she attended via satellite phone.

Sure, taking a few months off from school to cruise around on a pink yacht is a pretty sweet deal, but it takes a lot of guts to leave friends and family behind to brave the open sea all by yourself—rough waters, climate changes and all. In fact, the Australian government was reluctant to send Jessica on her mission alone until her family made a convincing argument that she had proper training and means of communication.

We just hope she steers clear of the Bermuda triangle…

If you could hold a world record, what would it be for?

Photo by m.a.r.c.