Today teenager Jessica Watson sailed into Sydney Harbor after being gone for 210 days. Where had she been all that time? On a little jaunt AROUND THE WORLD. By herself. In a boat! At 16 years old!! She is the youngest person to have accomplished this amazing feat.
Jessica Watson, teenage sailor from Australia, completes an unassisted, non-stop solo around-the-world voyage in seven months.
If the definition of a FuchsiaWoman is doing one bold thing, then Jessica Watson more than qualifies. She traveled 23,000 miles, endured 45-knot headwinds, 40-foot swells, and seven knockdowns. I am not a nautical person, but I gather these conditions make a difficult journey even more so.
I can get barfish on a ferry across Puget Sound and overdose on Dramamine, so the thought of seven months on a boat by myself makes me think a hike across the Sahara in July—in a pair of flip flops and a parka—sounds more pleasant.
Jessica Watson's yacht: Ella's Pink Lady
Jessica named her sailing vessel Ella’s Pink Lady. On the triumphant return home to Australia, the welcoming committee rolled out the standard “red” carpet. But in this case they called it “pink.” But according to my color chart, it’s darn close to fuchsia.
What do you suppose motivated this young person to attempt such a challenge? In her own words, she had a dream. At the welcome-home ceremony, Jessica told the crowd that she disagreed with the way Prime Minister Rudd introduced her—as “Australia’s latest hero.” She said:
“I don’t consider myself a hero. I’m an ordinary girl who believed in her dream.”
And how did she achieve her dream?
“You’ve just got to have a dream, believe in it, and work hard.”
I think Christian Siriano would call that her “inner ferocia.”
Jessica also told the crowd she was “completely overwhelmed.” You and the rest of the world! Congrats on this incredible achievement. Oh, and for being the 6th recipient of the coveted FW Now trophy. A Dreamer and a Doer—the best combination possible!
P.S. Perhaps on Jessica’s next voyage, she can wear the FW beehive hat—to keep the sun out of her eyes. And look ‘ferosh’ in the process.
