Queensland teen set to depart on solo round-world sail

10:17 PM Sat 5 Sep 2009 GMT

'Jessica Watson - about to set out on Pink Lady. Photo by The Sun' .

Acquisition of new sponsor Ella Bache has brought Australian 16-year-old Jessica Watson's attempt to sail solo non-stop and unassisted round the world closer.

She is now expected to depart in the next few days, always weather permitting.

Jessica's plan is to cross the equator in the Pacific Ocean (crossing the equator is one of the rules of a circumnavigation as recognised by the World Sailing Speed Record Council) in the Pacific, thus delaying her rounding of Cape Horn until the summer is firmly established, but allowing her to depart this month.

If the 16-year-old Buderim girl is successful in her attempt she will be the youngest person to complete a solo non-stop circumnavigation of the globe.

planned route - .. .

On Thursday, Stella Maris Father Geoff Baron blessed the boat and the young sailor's adventurous spirit. The blessing, which was attended by family, was a gift organised by Jess' New Zealand grandmother Billie, according to The Sun.

The venture now has a wide spread of sponsors, and is supported by a public relations company, 5 Oceans Media, who specialise in sports media. Her boat has now been renamed 'Pink Lady' and painted bright pink.

The record she is out to beat is held by fellow Australian Jesse Martin, who completed the journey aged 18. 17-year-old Michael Perham attempted the same record, but was forced to stop several times for boat repairs. Californian teenager Abigail Sunderland has announced that she will try for the non-stop unassisted record as well, but doesn't have a boat yet.

Recently a Dutch court took 13-year-old Laura Dekker into custody to prevent her from trying to sail around the world solo.

by Nancy Knudsen

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