You circumnavigate, girl!

Watson on her awesome pink yaht, aptly named "The Pink Lady."
Source: thepunch.com


Jessica Watson left from her home country of Australia today on a quest - to become the youngest person to sail solo and unassisted around the globe. She seems to be the first female teen to attempt the feat, and whether completed with assistance or not, would beat Zac Sunderland at being the youngest person to make the trip. Sunderland and Briton Mike Perham, both 17, completed the trip this summer during seperate months "assisted," meaning they had to get outside help fixing their boats during their attempts.

"The first leg of Watson's journey will take her past northern New Zealand, then Fiji and Samoa. In a trip expected to last about eight months, she plans to pass around the southern tips of Africa and South America," according to the Associated Press.

Let the criticisms fly.

Andrew Cape, navigator of PUMA Ocean Racing, second place winner of the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race, stated in a letter he wrote to Watson, "I do not want to shatter your dreams but to undertake such a voyage requires more experience than you currently have. Obviously you have to start somewhere to gain experience but to head straight into the Southern Ocean on your own is foolish."

Cape also said that he thinks Watson has a 33 percent chance of having a successful voyage, 33 percent chance of damage to her boat or crew, and 33 percent chance of losing her boat or crew.

Karen Brooks of The Punch writes that Jessica's attempt is merely a grab at the 15 minutes of fame; a foolish decision that doesn't need to be made in order for her to enter adulthood.

"If she breaks the record, will we then approve 15, 14 and 13 year olds making the journey for the same reasons? To fulfill their dreams? To make history?" Brooks says.

In fact, 13 year-old Laura Dekker's dreams of attempting the same trip have been suspended, thanks to a Dutch court. On the topic, NPR's Frank James writes, "We can predict there'd be a 12-year old next and after that maybe a 10-year old. There could even be a seven year old eventually, like Jessica Dubroff, the girl who wanted to be the youngest to fly across the country and wound up dying in a plane crash with her father and flight instructor.

Megan's two cents:

As long as there's no pageant-mom reason for Jessica's attempt, I say live it up, girl. Live your dreams.

Despite all the controversy,

Jessica, the Awesome Amigas salute you!!

Resource:

A tour of the Pink Lady with Jess