Please select your home edition
Edition
Bluetti Leaderboard 200L

Jessica Watson at the Sydney Boat Show

by Sail-World.com on 2 Aug 2010
Jessica telling her story - Sydney International Boat Show 2010 Sydney International Boat Show . www.sydneyboatshow.com.au
Jessica Watson has attracted big crowds to the Better Boating Stage at the Sydney International Boat Show, with an impressive presentation.



After her first presentation, she spoke to the media about her just launched book Jessica Watson True Spirit. ‘‘I started on it going around the world and of course I have been working on it now for a few months since.

‘We used the blog post in quite a big way while sailing. In the book I tell you a lot more than I didn’t tell you while at sea. The book is about my inspiration and my life before hand because that is such a big part of the story.

‘The route was all planned very carefully – we went north above the equator in the Pacific first because it gave me a couple of months of settling in before I hit the bad stuff. Basically that was recognized as sailing around the world pretty much, a similar route to Kay Cottee, although she crossed the equator in the Atlantic.

‘I had multiple auto-pilots, ones – I had multiple everything actually. But Parker, my wind vane system did most of the work. It all worked beautifully and so I did not actually have much time on the helm.

Asked by Sail-World about the four knockdowns after rounding Cape Horn Jessica said ‘The biggest problem was I was rolling down across the wave rather than just gently rolling over. I was quite numb while reacting to it – We were upside down, we were 180 degrees over but we came back up the same way.

‘It was quite strange looking back it was quite scary and I didn’t know how badly the damage was. After the fourth big wave and knockdown, I was pretty worried for a while there.

‘Below decks was a mess. First I had to check for damage, before I could clean up. I was exhausted. It took quite a while to get over it. .


‘Now I am on the Book Tour. I am heading everywhere I think I am off to Tasmania from here, Sydney to Melbourne and back up to north. I am really looking forward to quite a bit of traveling.

‘After the book, its back to finishing school, getting my drivers license, I’ve done 30 hours so far.

‘After that, I am going to see where that takes me - a little sailing and racing is what I would love to do.

‘One of the things about sailing around the world some of the other things that have come along – the opportunities are amazing but I never expected the welcome home I’ve received. The whole experience has been amazing to share with people. ‘

Trinidad and Tobago - Sail Service StayDoyle_SailWorld_728X90px-04 BOTTOMRooster Wetsuit Range

Related Articles

Challenging conditions test sailors at Sail Sydney
Champions emerged across multiple classes Sail Sydney delivered four days of gruelling competition as fog, storms, rain, and gusty winds created a tough playing field for competitors and the race committee alike.
Posted today at 9:59 am
Vendée Globe Monday Morning Update
Yoann Richomme's Moment to Pounce? Yoann Richomme on PAPREC ARKÉA has had the highest average speed over the past 24 hours in the Vendée Globe at 21.86 knots and is sensing his moment of opportunity.
Posted today at 8:49 am
Cabbage Tree Island Race finish and standings
Penultimate race in the Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore The 2024 Cabbage Tree Island Race, the fifth and penultimate race in the Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore (ACSBWPS), started on Friday 6 December under partly cloudy skies and 8-9 knots of breeze.
Posted today at 7:24 am
Marine Auctions December Online Auction
Bidding to open Friday 13th and will close Thursday, 19th December 2024 at 2pm AEST Bidding to open Friday 13th and will close Thursday, 19th December 2024 at 2pm AEST.
Posted today at 5:07 am
2024 Women's Match Racing Worlds overall
21 wins over 21 matches for Normandy Elite Team The pinnacle day of the 2024 Women Match Racing World Championship witnessed fierce fights on the water, but elegantly and masterfully played by the top four teams - without any damages or losses in boats.
Posted today at 12:51 am
SDYC's 2024 Hot Rum Series - Overall
Blessed with almost perfect weather conditions over the three Saturdays There is a old wise tale that the three race Hot Rum Series will feature one "perfect weather race" with sun, no clouds, flat seas and a perfect westerly breeze that boats can reach/run around the course
Posted today at 12:12 am
Vendée Globe Race Sunday Update
Setback for speedster Sébastien Simon as starboard foil breaks The amazing run of French skipper Sébastien Simon, who is lying second on the Vendée Globe hit a significant setback with the news emerging today that Les Sables d'Olonnne based skipper has sustained a broken starboard foil on his IMOCA Groupe Dubreuil.
Posted on 8 Dec
Henri-Lloyd Winter Fleeces
Worn and Loved by You Worn and loved by you, Henri-Lloyd fleeces are super warm, comfortable, and perfect for the winter season. But don't just take our word for it - see what our customers have to say about our fleeces now.
Posted on 8 Dec
The oldest footage of the Flying Fifteen class
A look back into our video archive, but trying to avoid excess royalty We delve into the past, and round-up all videos which show sailing in the Flying Fifteen class of racing keelboat.
Posted on 8 Dec
18ft Skiff NSW Championship Day 2
Wins for Rag & Famish Hotel and Finport Finance Following the forced abandonment of Races 1 and 2 of the NSW 18ft Skiff Championship, due to an intense storm which hit as the fleet prepared to race, the series began on Sydney Harbour today when Races 3 and 4 were conducted.
Posted on 8 Dec