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Aussie Teen Completes Solo Voyage Around World

16-year-old sailor is the youngest person to do so

By NxBigmouthery,  Newser User

Posted May 15, 2010 1:22 AM CDT | Promoted on Newser May 15, 2010 7:30 AM CDT

(User Submitted) – After 210 days at sea, 16-year-old Australian Jessica Watson sailed into Sydney Harbour today to complete her solo and unassisted circumnavigation of the globe. She's the youngest person ever to make such a trip. Australia's ABC reports that thousands of cheering locals crowded the shore to welcome Watson, who, after taking her first steps on dry land in 7 months was later lauded with praise by Australian PM Kevin Rudd.

"At 16 years old, you are a hero to all young Australians," Rudd said. "You are also a hero to all young Australian women. You do our nation proud." An overwhelmed Watson drew cheers from the crowd at the Sydney Opera House by replying that she disagreed. "I don't consider myself a hero, I'm just an ordinary girl. You just have to have a dream, believe in it and work hard."

ORIGINAL IMAGE CAPTION: Sixteen-year-old Jessica Watson, center, shakes hands with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as her mother, Julie looks on.
ORIGINAL IMAGE CAPTION: Sixteen-year-old Jessica Watson, center, shakes hands with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as her mother, Julie looks on.   (AP)
Sixteen-year-old Jessica Watson smiles as she answers questions.
Sixteen-year-old Jessica Watson smiles as she answers questions.   (AP Photo/Jeremy Piper)
Sixteen-year-old Jessica Watson, center, hugs her mother Julie as her brother Tom, back, looks on.
Sixteen-year-old Jessica Watson, center, hugs her mother Julie as her brother Tom, back, looks on.   (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
Sixteen-year-old Jessica Watson, center, is greeted by her brother Tom, left, and her father, Roger.
Sixteen-year-old Jessica Watson, center, is greeted by her brother Tom, left, and her father, Roger.   (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
Sixteen-year-old Jessica Watson waves as she sails past the finish line at the entrance to Sydney Harbour.
Sixteen-year-old Jessica Watson waves as she sails past the finish line at the entrance to Sydney Harbour.   (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
bewilderbeast
May 17, 2010 10:06 AM CDT
I say Fantastic, Jessica Watson! Amazing. But I still wanted to know the criteria, so I looked them up:
"during the journey no other person would be allowed to give her anything and she must not moor to any port or other boat, although advice over radio communication was allowed." That's quite something! (Wikipedia has Jessica's qualifications before she even started her journey - impressive on their own).
flightofphoenix
May 16, 2010 11:38 AM CDT
I see some people downplaying her accomplishment. Reality check, how many of US could honestly do what she did (technically unassisted or not). I mean seriously, she is a kid and deserves recognistion for following through. Most teens can't clean their bedrooms let alone sail around the world alone. There is also a young boy (13 or 15 I think) climbing Mt. Everest which is pretty impressive to me as well - more impressive, he brought homework with him lol. With so many teens doing the wrong thing shouldn't we applaud kids like this?
MisterPlinkett
May 16, 2010 1:45 AM CDT
did she do it on a door while manually rowing with sharks nibbling on the wood behind her? then i'd be impressed. something tells me, however, that she has some money (or her family does) and she did it rather effortlessly stopping from place to place to fuel up and get some high quality food.

seems to me Australians just don't have much to brag about so they throw around the word hero like Americans do the word genius or the British throw around the word brilliant.

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