Sailor, 16, gets under way in round-the-world bid

A 16-YEAR-OLD Australian steered her bright pink yacht out of Sydney Harbour yesterday on Sunday to start her bid to become the youngest person to sail solo and unassisted around the world.

Jessica Watson’s plan to make a 23,600-mile 38,000-kilometer journey through some of the world’s most treacherous waters sparked a debate in Australia about whether someone so young should be allowed to try such a potentially dangerous feat.

Watson and her family insist she is an experienced and capable sailor who has studied navigation, electronics and maritime safety procedures. Although she will sail solo and unassisted, she will be in constant contact with her support team via radio, email and a blog.