Jessica Watson's next challenge: Sydney-Hobart

By:Carolyn Barry | November-22-2011
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Jessica Watson, the AG 2010 Young Adventurer of the Year talks about her next challenge: the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race.


VIDEO: Jessica Watson talks about her next challenge - sailing the Sydney-Hobart yacht race. (Edited by: Scott Browning and Carolyn Barry; shot on a Sony Nex 5N courtesy of Foto Riesel)


JESSICA WATSON, AG SOCIETY Young Adventurer of the Year for 2010 and current Young Australian of the Year for her achievement of being the youngest sailer to circumnavigate the globe, is gearing up for her next challenge: competing in the Rolex Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

It's one of the most guelling yachting races in the world and attracts some of the world's best sailors. More than 90 teams have entered this year and will set off from Sydney Harbour on 26 December bound for Hobart, 628 miles away. The race is not without its dangers -

At an average age of 19, Jessica and her crew of nine others (including three women), are aiming to become the youngest-ever crew to cross the finish line in Hobart. It's a "huge challenge just in itself" Jessica says.

Coaching the team on their 28-foot yacht, Another Challenge, is Chris Lewin, who, ironically, is a current record holder for being in the youngest team to finish the race.

Sydney to Hobart is all about teamwork

Most of the crew - recruited from Australia and the UK, have been sailing much of their young lives. Two have competed in the Sydney-Hobart before, and two have sailed around the world.

"There's some amazing skills and an incredible amount of experience," Jessica says.

One of the biggest challenges, says the solo sailer - apart from the lack of sleep - has been learning to skipper the team. 

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