True Spirit 2023

Jessica Watson was raised along the stunning Sunshine Coast of Australia, where her family’s life revolved around the ocean. As a child, she spent countless hours on their family boat and found herself enchanted by the sea’s beauty. This passion ignited in her teenage years when she began sailing, dedicating four years to studying everything she could about sailing boats. With determination, Jessica juggled three part-time jobs to save up for her ambitious dream of sailing around the world.

In 2009, at just 16 years old, Jessica, portrayed by Teagan Croft, set her sights on becoming the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe non-stop and unassisted. This monumental journey would require her to sail alone without docking at any port for the estimated 200-day trip, crossing all meridians of longitude and the equator. Backing her is a supportive team composed of her parents, Julie (played by Anna Paquin) and Roger (portrayed by Josh Lawson), along with her siblings Tom (played by Stacy Clausen), Emily (portrayed by Bridget Webb), and Hannah (played by Vivien Turner), along with her coach, Ben Bryant, a once-renowned sailor who has faced his own share of challenges.

Jessica’s journey begins on the Pink Lady, where she remains in contact with her team via satellite phone. Having met Ben at the pier when she was young, she recalled, “I am an adventurer and an explorer,” expressing her desire to onboard him as her coach. However, her voyage encounters a significant setback during a test run when her boat collides with a freighter due to an alarm oversight. With her family concerned but still supportive, Ben advises them against alerting the coast guard, given the media’s keen interest in her potential failure. He insisted they do everything possible to keep her journey on track.

As Jessica’s sailing adventure kicks off from Sydney on October 18, 2009, she initially glides through her expedition, reporting coordinates daily. However, significant challenges arise on her 33rd day when she battles her first major storm, which knocks her unconscious. Despite fears of injury, she bravely assures her parents she is alright and persists with her mission. As her impressive video blog gains traction, people become captivated by her journey, leading to an unexpected wave of viral attention.

Crossing the treacherous Cape Horn on her 82nd day, Jessica faced colossal waves and turbulent waters, all while confronting mental hardships and loneliness around her 113th day. An explosive argument with Ben highlights the pressures mounting on both her and her coach, who ultimately decides to step back, only for Jessica to overcome the emotional turmoil with encouragement from her mother.

The winds of change come, and she finally heads back toward Australia. As she nears her home port, three ferocious storms threaten to undo all her efforts. With winds howling at 70 kmph and towering waves, her tenacity is put to the ultimate test when she decides against altering her route. On day 198, Jessica confronts the storm head-on, resulting in her boat capsizing and triggering a frantic search for her safety. Miraculously, the Pink Lady rights itself, and she is able to reassure her family of her safety.

Finally, after a grueling 210 days, Jessica returns triumphantly to Sydney Harbor on May 15, 2010, greeted by a crowd of 80,000 spectators. The culmination of her journey sees her honored as the 2011 Young Australian of the Year, proving that with unwavering dedication and the spirit of adventure, dreams can indeed become reality. She also shares her journey through two books, defying her challenges with dyslexia while continuing her love for sailing.