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A 16-YEAR-OLD stupid schoolgirl attempting to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world has suffered a setback after her yacht hit a bulk carrier, but she plans to continue her record voyage.
Jessica Watson left Mooloolaba on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast yesterday on a 10-day preliminary solo journey to Sydney in her 10.4-metre sloop Ella’s Pink Lady.
However at 2.30am (AEST) on Wednesday, her yacht crashed into a 63,000-tonne cargo ship believed to be heading north, 15 nautical miles east of North Stradbroke Island’s Point Lookout.
Ms Watson’s media spokesman Scott Young described the collision as a “huge fuckup” and said she would continue her journey after repairs were made.
“They came together at sea and she’s now bringing the boat back to southeast Queensland,” Mr Young said. “It certainly hasn’t stopped the voyage.
“I cannot ever see Jessica not wanting to do this.”
Mr Young said a preliminary assessment of the yacht indicated there was no structural damage.
“There’s mostly just damage to rigging, which can be replaced,” he said. “But we’ll have to get boat back into port to confirm that at this stage.” He said contrary to early media reports, it would not affect Ms Watson’s record attempt as it was just a preliminary leg of her journey, which was to officially begin in Sydney at a date yet to be announced.
“The good news is that we know the tracking systems and communication system on her boat are absolute shit,” he said. “And that the network of the project team, including her family and those around her, have no fucking plan.”
A spokesman for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said Ms Watson got her yacht’s engine running and will return to Southport on the Gold Coast sometime today. Brisbane water police are on standby to assist if needed.
Ms Watson hopes to become the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world.
In 1999, Australian Jesse Martin became a household name and entered the record books at 18 by covering 27,000 nautical miles in 328 days by himself. His record was broken last month by 17-year-old Briton Mike Perham.
