Sydney - A 16-year-old Australian on Sunday dismissed calls for her to abandon an attempt to become the youngest sailor ever to solo around the world. Jessica Watson said on her website she would not be deterred by a September 9 collision that damaged her boat and forced her back to port.
Watson's 10.4-metre yacht was dismasted when in the dead of night it hit a 63,000-ton coal carrier on the way to Sydney to start the 8-month voyage.
"Jessica Watson and her team wish to advise all of her supporters that she remains on track to achieve her goal of being the youngest to sail solo around the world," a posting on her website said. "The team is now undergoing final preparations on Ella's Pink Lady on the Gold Coast, with Jessica planning to sail to Sydney later next week."
Watson has refused to say whether she was asleep below decks when her fibreglass boat was battered and almost sunk by a Chinese ship in a busy shipping lane near Brisbane.
Maritime Safety inspectors, in a report leaked to Brisbane's Courier Mail, concluded that Watson "most probably dozed off before her vessel was hit." They also said that she "could not produce a clear, plotted plan for her journey."
In response to the adverse findings, Queensland deputy premier Paul Lucas said authorities had spoken to Watson's parents but could not compel them to ground their daughter.
"Governments cannot legislate for common sense," he said. "All I say is, this is a very serious matter and I appeal to Jessica and her parents as to whether she is in fact ready to do this."
Watson had initially set her sights on a record set 10 years ago by fellow Australian Jesse Martin, who at 18 circumnavigated the globe on his own. Martin's record was broken last month by 17-year-old Briton Mike Perham.
