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16 and sailing around the world alone for the next 7 months. Thoughts?




My disinterest in sport is no secret. I’ve never understood the fixation with running fastest or jumping highest or hitting a ball better than, you know, other people who can hit balls. I’m just as baffled – possibly more – by some people’s desire to risk their lives to perform huge physical challenges like climbing mountains.

So this is probably the totally wrong attitude to approach this whole Jessica Watson story.

Many people are captivated by the 16 year old courage or daring or spirit or whatever you want to call it. Me? I can’t help thinking ‘Shouldn’t she be at school?’




You might be old enough to remember another Jessica. Jessica Dubroff was 7 years old when she tried to be the youngest person to fly a plane across the United States in 1996. Almost 24 hours into her attempt, while taking off in a storm in order to keep her record hopes alive and accompanied by her father and a flying instructor, Jessica’s plane crashed and everyone on board was killed.

Partially as a result of that, The Guiness Book Of World Records no longer accepts record attempts based on age. People were just taking too many risks when they weren’t adequately prepared or experienced.

I’m not saying that Jessica isn’t prepared. What would I know about sailing? And I’m not wishing her anything other than luck. But if she were my daughter, would I have let her do it? Not on your life.

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It’s Nanna time: EVERY 16 year old thinks they can handle everything. I certainly did. It’s only as you get older that you realise you can’t. Even if you are the most mature 16 year old ever to be 16, there are a whole lot of things that only years of life experience can prepare you for.

I’ll never understand the desire some people have to test themselves physically against nature. Or why we feed that desire by turning them into heroes and legends. Can you?




UPDATE: I’ve noticed a number of comments comparing Jessica Watson to Jesse Martin who sailed around the world when he was 18 and wondering why there didn’t seem to be such a fuss made about him.

I think the reason for this is that Jesse didn’t crash into an ocean liner on his first night alone at sea like Jessica did a couple of months ago. Remember that? And the official Queensland Maritime Safety report into the incident stated she was inadequately prepared for the trip and that basic safety precautions had not been followed. I think that’s behind the media and public interest. There are real concerns that she is not ready or experience enough to do this.

Here she is on 7pm Project being interviewed by Jesse