Gumleaf
May 14th, 2010, 09:36 PM
12:18 AEST Sat May 15 2010
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/1052751/watson-to-sail-into-history
Teenage adventure sailor Jessica Watson's triumphal Sydney homecoming is now not expected until at least 1pm (AEST) on Saturday.
Her spokespeople aboard the media boat on Sydney Harbour say the 16-year-old's finish line crossing has been delayed by 1.5 hours to two hours, meaning she should arrive at around 1pm.
The young Queenslander - who hopes to go down in history as the youngest person to sail solo and unassisted around the world - says she's taking deep breaths to stay calm amid the excitement of returning home.
With an hour or two of her epic voyage remaining, Watson said in a live interview broadcast at the Sydney Opera House that she was mentally preparing herself for the homecoming.
"It's all building up," she said.
"It's definitely getting exciting."
However, despite rough seas and her impending return, Friday night wasn't a sleepless one.
"I managed to get a couple of hours' sleep," she said.
"I am taking a deep breath before I get in."
The 16-year-old is relishing the last moments of her odyssey, saying she will miss being at sea, but is looking forward to fresh fruit, washing her hair, seeing her family and being a normal teenager.
Watson will set foot on dry land wearing shorts and expects to be a bit wobbly on her legs.
"It's been so long since I have been able to stretch my legs," she said.
"Every time I have come in from a short passage, I have been wobbly for a few days.
"I am expecting to be very wobbly."
Watson realises life will change the moment she disembarks from her pink yacht, Ella's Pink Lady.
"I do realise it is going to change and I am going to try to do normal things," she said.
Earlier, her manager Andrew Fraser said her trip along the NSW coast had been slowed because of a torn mainsail. She had been expected to enter Sydney Heads at about 11.30am.
The tear was caused by winds of up to 30 knots early on Saturday as she sailed up the NSW south coast.
She was battling rough seas and strong winds, Mr Fraser said.
"It's very tricky out there - the swell is very big," he said.
"... You have to remember that sail has been in use for seven months."
The crowd gathered around the Opera House foreshore to welcome home the young hero was already about six deep at around 10.30am on Saturday with tens of thousands expected to flock in before she docks.
Boats were swarming on the harbour, reminiscent of a Sydney to Hobart start.
NSW Premier Kristina Keneally, waiting at Sydney Harbour to welcome the 16-year-old, said Jessica would be a "changed young woman" after her long voyage.
"I suspect she will have come back a changed young woman," Ms Keneally told Sky News.
"Many of us would probably struggle to spend seven days by ourself, much less seven months."
Ms Keneally, who spoke with Watson via Sky pe on Thursday, said Watson's round the world trip carried a message for all parents.
"I think to all of us as parents, sometimes we have to let our children voyage out into the world to find themselves.
"I think the message that she sends out is that if you don't take risks you never succeed."
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will join Ms Keneally to welcome Watson home after her 23,000 nautical mile (about 38,000km) odyssey.
© AAP 2010
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/1052751/watson-to-sail-into-history
Teenage adventure sailor Jessica Watson's triumphal Sydney homecoming is now not expected until at least 1pm (AEST) on Saturday.
Her spokespeople aboard the media boat on Sydney Harbour say the 16-year-old's finish line crossing has been delayed by 1.5 hours to two hours, meaning she should arrive at around 1pm.
The young Queenslander - who hopes to go down in history as the youngest person to sail solo and unassisted around the world - says she's taking deep breaths to stay calm amid the excitement of returning home.
With an hour or two of her epic voyage remaining, Watson said in a live interview broadcast at the Sydney Opera House that she was mentally preparing herself for the homecoming.
"It's all building up," she said.
"It's definitely getting exciting."
However, despite rough seas and her impending return, Friday night wasn't a sleepless one.
"I managed to get a couple of hours' sleep," she said.
"I am taking a deep breath before I get in."
The 16-year-old is relishing the last moments of her odyssey, saying she will miss being at sea, but is looking forward to fresh fruit, washing her hair, seeing her family and being a normal teenager.
Watson will set foot on dry land wearing shorts and expects to be a bit wobbly on her legs.
"It's been so long since I have been able to stretch my legs," she said.
"Every time I have come in from a short passage, I have been wobbly for a few days.
"I am expecting to be very wobbly."
Watson realises life will change the moment she disembarks from her pink yacht, Ella's Pink Lady.
"I do realise it is going to change and I am going to try to do normal things," she said.
Earlier, her manager Andrew Fraser said her trip along the NSW coast had been slowed because of a torn mainsail. She had been expected to enter Sydney Heads at about 11.30am.
The tear was caused by winds of up to 30 knots early on Saturday as she sailed up the NSW south coast.
She was battling rough seas and strong winds, Mr Fraser said.
"It's very tricky out there - the swell is very big," he said.
"... You have to remember that sail has been in use for seven months."
The crowd gathered around the Opera House foreshore to welcome home the young hero was already about six deep at around 10.30am on Saturday with tens of thousands expected to flock in before she docks.
Boats were swarming on the harbour, reminiscent of a Sydney to Hobart start.
NSW Premier Kristina Keneally, waiting at Sydney Harbour to welcome the 16-year-old, said Jessica would be a "changed young woman" after her long voyage.
"I suspect she will have come back a changed young woman," Ms Keneally told Sky News.
"Many of us would probably struggle to spend seven days by ourself, much less seven months."
Ms Keneally, who spoke with Watson via Sky pe on Thursday, said Watson's round the world trip carried a message for all parents.
"I think to all of us as parents, sometimes we have to let our children voyage out into the world to find themselves.
"I think the message that she sends out is that if you don't take risks you never succeed."
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will join Ms Keneally to welcome Watson home after her 23,000 nautical mile (about 38,000km) odyssey.
© AAP 2010