Let's hope the real boats are slightly larger than these...
Imagine it. One day you decide to sail solo non-stop around the world. You get a boat, giver her a name, then set off toward the horizon - alone. Could you do it? Not me. I can't think of anything more daunting. But still, somehow, there are teenagers from all parts of the world making this exact kind of voyage. Teenagers, yes. Sailing around the world, on their own. Is that really possible? And even if it's possible, then why are they doing it?
I asked 16 year old Australian Jessica Watson for some insight as she navigates her long and courageous path around the globe. Her answers come directly from somewhere deep in the far South Pacific Ocean.
SS: It seems to me you'd have to be almost completely fearless to take on this type of adventure. Does anything scare you?
Jessica: I'm definitely not completely fearless, it’s just that being miles from anywhere along in the middle of the ocean is something that I'm perfectly comfortable with. For me working out how to overcome each little challenge and risk has always been far more interesting than the adrenalin parts, I'm not at all the adrenalin junkie that a lot of people think I am!
SS: When can you remember first thinking about sailing around the world on your own?
Jessica: Mum reading Jesse Martin's book about his around the world voyage to me when I was 11 first put the idea in my head, but it wasn’t till a few years later that I actually started thinking about it.
SS: Do you listen to music when sailing around the world?
Jessica: All the time! I listen to a total random mix, before I left everyone gave me their favorites so I have a bit of everything.
SS: What's the strangest thing you've seen out there?
Jessica: Sailing in fog was new to me so I found it pretty strange and a bit eerie to be surrounded by a really thick fog with no wind and a big swell rolling through.
SS: Do you mind being alone?
Jessica: I've missed everyone from the moment that I sailed out of Sydney and have a lot of contact through the sat phone and email but other than that mostly I hardly mind being alone at all, it’s definitely got its up sides!
SS: I love your boat's name (Ella's Pink Lady). Do you have other creative names for the things on board?
Jessica: Yes! I call the windvane (which is a self steering system that hangs off the back of Ella’s Pink Lady and steers us using the wind and water) “Parker”. He's named after Parker who drives a pink Rolls-Royce in the the TV series Thunderbirds. It’s amazing the way the nickname has stuck and everyone loves it!
SS: What's your favorite thing to cook out there?
Jessica: Mum did a pretty amazing job of organizing all my food so I love all my meals. A favorite would have to be frying tinned potatoes into chips for a treat and I enjoy having a go at muffins and cupcakes - decorating them is the best part!
SS: Have you got a favorite wildlife sighting or interaction so far?
Jessica: I really loved watching the Albatross flying in the big sea down south, but having that dolphin swim along next to Ella's Pink Lady for almost 6 hours while we rode out our first gale would have to be the best of all. That was amazing. Then I saw hundreds of dolphins just last week which was also a pretty incredible sight.
SS: We've been talking about the Plastic Island in the North Pacific Gyre. I don't s'pose you've seen it?
Jessica: I'd heard a lot about the terrible rubbish patches particularly in the North Pacific from other sailors but didn’t sail far enough north to see it for myself. Actually, until last week, I've seen very little rubbish at all. But in the Atlantic, I have noticed lots of plastic floating around and it looks terrible. So I have made a resolution to reduce my use of plastic bags when I get back to Australia.
Words: Angus Andrew
Illustration: Sarah Pallisi