Posted: Oct 07, 2009 12:57 pm EST
(TheOceans.net, updated Dec.20, 2009) Two 16-year old teenage girls want to become the youngest to sail around the world; each on her own boat.

Jessica Watson from Australia and Abby Sunderland from the USA want to beat the records set earlier this year by 17 year old Zac Sunderland (Abby’s brother) and Mike Perham respectively.

Jessica Watson

Jessica said in a press release her five-day sail from Queensland to Sydney a few days ago proves she is ready to tackle a solo circumnavigation of the globe.

The 16-year-old faced a five-metre swell and 36 knot winds during her trip from the Gold Coast, but conditions eased on the weekend as she sailed closer to Sydney.

She said the voyage from Queensland had been great preparation for her longer expedition, and that her biggest problem was coping with being back on firm ground.

Asked how she and her family felt about critics, including the Queensland Government, suggesting she abandon the trip, Jessica appeared nonchalant.

“We’ve kind of kept out of (the debate) as we have been concentrating on getting the boat back on the water. We made the decision a long time ago that I was going and the only thing left to do was prepare properly and make it safe.”

Jessica did admit to one drawback of sailing – she suffers from sea sickness – but did not believe loneliness would be a problem in the eight months or so she would be at sea.

“I’m sure I’m going to miss my family and friends a lot, but I’m going to have a lot of communication with everyone back home, by satellite phone and the other communication equipment on board,” Jessica said.

She will also take music and books along for entertainment and if she gets really bored, she’ll tackle her schoolwork, she said.

Abby Sunderland

Abby will be 16 years old on 19 October. She is planning to leave on a solo circumnavigation November of this year and hopefully set the record as the youngest ever to do so.

This trip has been a dream of mine since I was thirteen. Abby is still negotiating sponsorships. She said on her website they still don’t have enough funding to buy the boat, but preparations have been progressing fast.

“We are at the point where the next step is to buy the open 40 in the Bahamas that we have decided on. The problem with that is we can’t buy the boat right now due to funding. If we don’t find another major sponsor soon the whole trip could fall apart, which would be awful after all the hard work and time every one has put into it.”

Jessica Watson was born on 18 May 1993 on the Gold Coast and currently lives in Buderim Australia.

Jessica’s goal is to sail solo around the world non-stop, unassisted. I have chosen a route that is a traditionally recognised path and distance for ‘around the world sailors’.

Part 1 – Departing Sydney and North to the Line Island; Part 2 – South to Chile and Cape Horn; Part 3 – Cape to Cape; Part 4 – The South Atlantic Ocean to the African continent; Part 5 – Rounding South Africa; Part 6 – Southern Ocean to Home.

Jessica stated on her website, “There are a few key targets I must achieve to qualify for around the world status. The approximate distance is 23,000 nautical miles (about 38,000 kilometres). I must depart and arrive from the same port, cross all lines of longitude, cross the equator entering into the Northern Hemisphere at least once and round the southern landmarks of South America and South Africa. This route is very similar to the one chosen by Kay Cottee, who returned in 1988.”

‘The Pink Lady’ specs according to Jessica’s website:
The S&S (Sparkman and Stephens) 34, a classic design from the famous Sparkman & Stephens, it is known firstly for its seaworthiness, toughness and track record. It is a boat capable of consistent speeds and one that Jessica can easily handle.

The S&S 34 became famous after Jon Sanders, David Dicks and Jesse Martin used them for their history making solo circumnavigations. There is now an S&S 34 association and hundreds of other S&S 34 have made and are making successful circumnavigations and offshore passages.

S&S 34’s are commonly entered in the notorious Sydney to Hobart and many participate in club racing all around Australia and the world.

Spesifications:
Length Overall: 10.23m
Waterline Length: 7.37m
Beam: 3.08m
Draft: 1.83m

American Abby Sunderland was born on 16 October 1993 and aims solo circumnavigation November 2009 and hopefully set the record as the youngest ever to do so. A lack is funding is currently preventing her from buying a boat.

Both British Mike Perham and American Zac Sunderland were 16 when they started their voyages. Zac turned 17 on November 29, 2008 and Mike turned 17 on March 16, 2009.

Both sailed around the world. Several stops were made. Mike stayed further out to sea, whereas Zac stayed closer to shore. Zac Sunderland departed on his yacht from Marina del Rey, California on 14 June 2008 and arrived back 13 months later on July 16, 2009. Mike Perham left from Portsmouth’s Gunwharf Quays on Saturday 15th November 2008 and crossed his finish line on 27 August 2009.

In August 2009 13-year old Laura Dekker was prevented from sailing alone around the world by the Dutch authorities.

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