“I don’t consider myself a hero. I’m an ordinary girl who believed in a dream. You don’t have to be someone special, or anything special to achieve something amazing… you just got to have a dream, believe in it and work hard.” –Jessica Watson
This past Saturday, May 15 2010 — Australian teenager Jessica Watson sailed into Sydney Harbor after 210 days at sea. It was her first time setting foot on land, let alone seeing another human for the last 7 months. What Jessica had just accomplished was a complete solo-cicumvanigation of the globe, spanning over 21,000 nautical miles… all completely unassisted. She had no escort boats for safety support. No stops for food or equipment repairs. Just one girl on a 34 ft yacht named The Pink Lady, all alone of the wide dangerous sea.
And the most incredible fact of all, Jessica Watson did all this at the tender age of sixteen — making her the youngest person (male or female) to sail solo around the world.
Jessica’s route around the world
She left Oct 18, 2009 crossing the South Pacific and battling severe storms in the treacherous waters of Cape Horn and Hope. She was knocked down 7 times, nearly capsizing. She had to fight gale force winds, severe cold, extreme boredom and loneliness that have caused many older and experienced sailors to break down under the pressures of drifting alone on the vast unknown.
Many people said she’d never make it. Many more criticized her parents for letting their young daughter embark on such a clear suicide mission. They said she was too young and inexperienced to sail all on her own. They said she wasn’t psychologically mature enough to handle the crippling solitude, the lack of sleep, the overwhelming responsibility. They looked at her freckles, her earnest smile, her little girl voice… and they doubted.
But thousands more chose to believe. And as Jessica sailed further and further, weathering every storm, her fan base grew. Jessica cut through the swirling controversy with the ease and resolve of an expert navigator. And by the time she made it back to home, the whole country of Australia and yes the world was swept in a wake of inspiration. She proved what she knew she was capable of all along. That she could accomplish greatness no matter her age or gender. In spite of expectations.
And this is Jessica Watson’s ultimate message of empowerment: that no horizon is too great, no destination too far to reach if you just believe in your ability to get there.
Take a minute to watch the incredible homecoming footage of Jessica sailing into Sydney Harbor. Tens of thousands of people crowded the docks outside the famous Opera House, all inspired by this young teenager’s courage and accomplishment. And to watch that tiny pink boat surrounded by a fleet of hundreds of bigger ships all sailing her home… simply astounding. I have never seen such a homecoming in my life.
Cheers to Jessica for her incredible journey, for her resiliency of spirit and humility. For reminding us that it’s never too earlier to set sail for the dreams we desire most… and never too late to make those dreams a living, breathing reality.
Keep dreaming big Superforesters!
love,
aaron
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