MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Australia celebrates 16 year old Jessica’s round the world sailing feat

Jessica on arriving at Sydney

Australians gathered Saturday around Sydney harbour to welcome back teenager Jessica Watson from her record round-the-world sailing adventure. The 16-year-old is said to be the youngest person to sail non-stop, solo and unassisted around the world.

But her record has been questioned with claims that she has not sailed far enough.

She will also not be recognised by the World Speed Sailing Record Council, as it has ended its under-18 category.

Ms Watson sailed into Sydney harbour on Saturday, seven months after leaving on an arduous voyage some critics said was too dangerous for someone so young.

Thousands of well-wishers lined the harbour and watched from boats as Ms Watson sailed her pink, 10 metres yacht Ella's Pink Lady over the finishing line.

Family, friends and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd have gathered to greet her. Many of the onlookers wore pink to match the boat.

PM Rudd told Watson she has done the nation proud. “Jess, welcome back to dry land; welcome back home to Australia,” he said.

“You may feel a little wobbly on your feet just now but in the eyes of all Australians you now stand tall as our newest Australian hero. At 16 years old, you are a hero for all young Australians; you are also a hero for all young Australian women: you do our nation proud. This is a great day for our country.”

But the teen adventurer humbly disagreed with PM Rudd, saying she is no hero.

“I don't consider myself a hero, I'm an ordinary girl,” she said. “You don't have to be someone special to achieve something amazing, you've just got to have a dream, believe in it and work hard. I'd like to think I've proved that anything really is possible if you set your mind to it.

”People don't realise what young people, and what young girls are capable of, and it's amazing when you take away those expectations what you can achieve.“

Jessica left Sydney on 18 October, defying critics who said she was being irresponsible for taking on such a difficult voyage at such a young age.

Ms Watson's support team says she has sailed nearly 23,000 nautical miles but the influential Sail-World website said she had not gone far enough north of the equator to claim a true circumnavigation of the globe, according to the rules of the World Speed Sailing Record Council. The council only recognises feats achieved by people over 18.

On her blog, Ms Watson said: ”If I haven't been sailing around, then it beats me what I've been doing out here all this time!”

Ms Watson has reportedly sold her story to Rupert Murdoch's News Limited for A$700,000 (625,000 US dollars).

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