3,000 boats expected to welcome Aussie teen home

Aussie teen Jessica Watson is set to arrive back in Sydney on Saturday morning, bringing to an end a 210 day, non-stop, singlehanded circumnavigation of the globe.

‘I can’t believe how fast this last week has gone’ Jessica, who is 16, writes. ‘Only two more sleeps till the finish line! Have I mentioned how excited I am? It’s like the day before Christmas except I don’t ever remember getting this excited about Christmas. Two more sleeps till a hot shower, fresh food and, and, and, everything else!’

Jessica’s feat has been the subject of some controversy, with some sources claiming it is not far enough to count as a full circumnavigation. But Jessica is unfazed: ‘I’ve actually been having a bit of a giggle over the whole thing. If I haven’t been sailing around the world, then it beats me what I’ve been doing out here all this time,’ Jessica wrote in her blog last Thursday.

British teenager Mike Perham, who sailed around the world last year on his Open 50 totallymoney.com, and Australian Jesse James, who currently holds the non-stop record, will be in Sydney to welcome Jessica and her yacht, Ella’s Pink Lady, home.

The Sydney Morning Herald said that NSW Maritime expects over 3,000 boats to welcome her home, and have established an exlusion zone around Ella’s Pink Lady.

More on jessicawatson.com.au, where you can read Jessica’s blogs.