QLD: Watson on song for an Opera House landing in May

AAP General News (Australia)
04-10-2010
QLD: Watson on song for an Opera House landing in May

By Darren Cartwright

BRISBANE, April 10 AAP - Teenage solo sailor Jessica Watson is hoping to make a grand
dry land return beside the Sydney Opera House in the first week of May, her manager says.

Watson, 16, who is aiming to be the youngest person to sail solo around the world,
is expected to complete her record-breaking journey about seven weeks ahead of schedule.

The Sunshine Coast teenager should re-enter Australian waters and pass Cape Leeuwin,
the most southwesterly point on the Australian mainland, sometime this weekend.

"It's all weather dependent, but the first week of May on current average speed is
what we are aiming for," her manager Andrew Fraser told AAP.

"We are sorting through all the logistics of that at the moment and the Opera House
is being considered.

"We are in discussions with several departments and we hope to finalise it next week."

Watson will time her entry into Sydney for a morning arrival to coincide with a major
onshore celebration.

"It will definitely be a morning, some stage late morning," Mr Fraser said.

Her journey on the 10-metre boat Ella's Pink Lady started from Sydney on October 18 last year.

It was originally expected to take eight months with a projected return in mid-June.

She has less than 4000 nautical miles out of 23,000 nautical miles (7500km out of about
43,000km) remaining in her attempt to be the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop and
unassisted around the world.

"I spoke with her last night and she is in great spirits," Mr Fraser said.

"She is looking to get past Cape Leeuwin so she gets another Cape under her belt.

"Her average speed is about five knots so on a good day she covers about 100 nautical
miles (187km) a day."

AAP dac/sn/apm

KEYWORD: SAIL

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