Homeward bound
Jessica Watson captured the hearts and imaginations of Australia when she became the youngest person to sail solo non-stop and unassisted around the world. Now she has captured her adventures in the book True Spirit, which hits the shelves on July 29. In this exclusive extract she offers a moving insight into the last leg of her journey — the one that brought her home to the Coast.
After a few weeks in Sydney I was itching to get back out on the water. A lot of people were surprised that I wanted to sail Ella’s Pink Lady up the coast, but of course I wanted to! I couldn’t wait to go sailing again and I still felt a little like I had something to finish. After all, the Sunshine Coast was where the voyage had really started for me.
Ella’s Pink Lady and Big Wave Rider headed out together on Sunday, May 31, for the 470 nautical mile voyage. Supporters Bruce Arms and Murray Dick, my brother Tom, Mike and I planned to sail up the coast together and swap around a bit. It was a bit strange being back on Ella’s Pink Lady, getting used to her motion and all the noises again. It took even longer to get used to sailing with a crew. Ella’s Pink Lady doesn’t have a big cockpit, so there were a few elbows in faces during a tack or gybe before we had it sorted.
There was a low pressure system off the east coast so it was a bit wet and wild for a few days but we missed the worst of it. While we were sailing, Lennox Head was hit by a mini tornado. It caused a lot of damage in one small pocket of the town and injured a dozen people so we got a few calls making sure we were okay and not near the area. We made quick stops at Port Stephens, Trial Bay, Yamba, Peel Island and Tangalooma on Moreton Island. Everywhere we stopped people gave me a wave or a nod and at Tangalooma we were given almost royal treatment at the resort (dinner, hot showers and dolphin feeding).
At Yamba we stopped in for fuel and chips and it was perfect timing because Kay Cottee was there working on her boat. I was so thrilled to finally meet her. Stopping to raft up to Big Wave Rider at night for the last legs was great fun. Once we reached Queensland and more familiar waters the sun came out and we had a great few days motoring up the Broadwater and Moreton Bay, the same waters I’d learnt to sail on all that time ago. I couldn’t believe how small the Broadwater looked compared to the way I remembered it. Back then it had been this huge, daunting stretch of open water — now, well, I could hardly believe I’d even been nervous!
All the way up the coast I’d been thinking the welcome home to Mooloolaba was no huge emotional deal. It was great to see the familiar outline of the Glass House Mountains against a brilliant pink sunrise as the sun rose, and I was excited as a fleet of boats, with people I knew onboard, slowly gathered around us. But it wasn’t until we sailed right into the bay off Mooloolaba that it sunk in. I was home! Up until this point I’d been laughing and having a great time watching the boys throw cupcakes and pancakes at Big Wave Rider. I don’t think the police on our escort boats were particularly impressed with their childish behaviour and I definitely wasn’t impressed with the mess all over Ella’s Pink Lady!
In contrast to the Sydney welcome home, this time we were too early. Under just a scrap of headsail to slow us down, we sailed along the beach, around the headland full of waving people, and towards the breakwaters. That was the point that it all hit me. The day I sailed into Sydney I got my head around the fact I’d made it; I’d really sailed around the world. Since then I’d been slowly coming to terms with the way the voyage had touched so many people’s lives. It was only when I saw all those people from my hometown welcoming me and Ella’s Pink Lady that the enormity overwhelmed me.
Sitting on the deck with Tom’s arm around me I had a bit of a sob as it all washed over me. I couldn’t believe I was looking out on the beautiful bay I’d been dreaming about for so long. It was much better than I’d remembered. After tying up at the dock, there was an official reception, more speeches and the chance to say quick hellos to friends and supporters before eventually heading back to our house. We’d only moved in a short time before I left so I didn’t have any particular attachment to the house itself. It was strange to see how everyone had settled in without me. I was almost a little jealous. More than anything it showed me how much time had passed.
Words by Jessica Watson
This is an excerpt from True Spirit by Jessica Watson (Hachette Australia, $35)© Copyright Hachette Australia/Jessica Watson 2010
Story: weekender Issue 637, July 29th 2010
Jessica Watson captured the hearts and imaginations of Australia when she became the youngest person to sail solo non-stop and unassisted around the world. Now she has captured her adventures in the book True Spirit, which hits the shelves on July 29. In this exclusive extract she offers a moving insight into the last leg of her journey — the one that brought her home to the Coast.
After a few weeks in Sydney I was itching to get back out on the water. A lot of people were surprised that I wanted to sail Ella’s Pink Lady up the coast, but of course I wanted to! I couldn’t wait to go sailing again and I still felt a little like I had something to finish. After all, the Sunshine Coast was where the voyage had really started for me.
Ella’s Pink Lady and Big Wave Rider headed out together on Sunday, May 31, for the 470 nautical mile voyage. Supporters Bruce Arms and Murray Dick, my brother Tom, Mike and I planned to sail up the coast together and swap around a bit. It was a bit strange being back on Ella’s Pink Lady, getting used to her motion and all the noises again. It took even longer to get used to sailing with a crew. Ella’s Pink Lady doesn’t have a big cockpit, so there were a few elbows in faces during a tack or gybe before we had it sorted.
There was a low pressure system off the east coast so it was a bit wet and wild for a few days but we missed the worst of it. While we were sailing, Lennox Head was hit by a mini tornado. It caused a lot of damage in one small pocket of the town and injured a dozen people so we got a few calls making sure we were okay and not near the area. We made quick stops at Port Stephens, Trial Bay, Yamba, Peel Island and Tangalooma on Moreton Island. Everywhere we stopped people gave me a wave or a nod and at Tangalooma we were given almost royal treatment at the resort (dinner, hot showers and dolphin feeding).
At Yamba we stopped in for fuel and chips and it was perfect timing because Kay Cottee was there working on her boat. I was so thrilled to finally meet her. Stopping to raft up to Big Wave Rider at night for the last legs was great fun. Once we reached Queensland and more familiar waters the sun came out and we had a great few days motoring up the Broadwater and Moreton Bay, the same waters I’d learnt to sail on all that time ago. I couldn’t believe how small the Broadwater looked compared to the way I remembered it. Back then it had been this huge, daunting stretch of open water — now, well, I could hardly believe I’d even been nervous!
All the way up the coast I’d been thinking the welcome home to Mooloolaba was no huge emotional deal. It was great to see the familiar outline of the Glass House Mountains against a brilliant pink sunrise as the sun rose, and I was excited as a fleet of boats, with people I knew onboard, slowly gathered around us. But it wasn’t until we sailed right into the bay off Mooloolaba that it sunk in. I was home! Up until this point I’d been laughing and having a great time watching the boys throw cupcakes and pancakes at Big Wave Rider. I don’t think the police on our escort boats were particularly impressed with their childish behaviour and I definitely wasn’t impressed with the mess all over Ella’s Pink Lady!
In contrast to the Sydney welcome home, this time we were too early. Under just a scrap of headsail to slow us down, we sailed along the beach, around the headland full of waving people, and towards the breakwaters. That was the point that it all hit me. The day I sailed into Sydney I got my head around the fact I’d made it; I’d really sailed around the world. Since then I’d been slowly coming to terms with the way the voyage had touched so many people’s lives. It was only when I saw all those people from my hometown welcoming me and Ella’s Pink Lady that the enormity overwhelmed me.
Sitting on the deck with Tom’s arm around me I had a bit of a sob as it all washed over me. I couldn’t believe I was looking out on the beautiful bay I’d been dreaming about for so long. It was much better than I’d remembered. After tying up at the dock, there was an official reception, more speeches and the chance to say quick hellos to friends and supporters before eventually heading back to our house. We’d only moved in a short time before I left so I didn’t have any particular attachment to the house itself. It was strange to see how everyone had settled in without me. I was almost a little jealous. More than anything it showed me how much time had passed.
Words by Jessica Watson
This is an excerpt from True Spirit by Jessica Watson (Hachette Australia, $35)© Copyright Hachette Australia/Jessica Watson 2010
Story: weekender Issue 637, July 29th 2010
