Jessica Watson. A young girl who at just 16 years old has set sail on a little pink yacht on an around-the-world solo mission. She's been sailing "half her life" (?!) and is apparently well equipped for the 240 day, 23000 nautical miles (38000 kilometre) journey. It is fascinating and awe inspiring but I just have to wonder, what are her parents thinking right now? What goes through your mind as you say goodbye to your daughter for the better part of a year, as she risks her life in a journey never before undertaken by someone so young and relatively inexperienced? The media has been in a frenzy in recent weeks and everyone from the Premier to the Deputy Prime Minister have voiced their opinion on it. Jessica, who will sleep in 20 minute naps and eat freeze dried fruit and meals throughout the journey says,
"when it comes down to it, there’s no way you can prepare yourself in your head for eight months alone. There’s no test for that. How you’re gonna handle yourself after two weeks just doesn’t compare to eight months, so the only way to find out is to get out there and do it."
Anyway, this is not the sort of thing I normally write about on my blog but I can't stop thinking about this brave girl and the incredible mission in front of her. I wish her the very best of luck and will follow her blog with interest over the coming months! Read about Jessica and her journey here.