Official Jessica Watson Blog

What a week! Time has flown, but at the same time it feels like I’ve been away from Ella’s Pink Lady and back on land for years. Maybe it just feels like that because so much has happened. So where do I start?

The day before sailing into Sydney started out just like any other day and felt like just another day out on the water. But by the end of the day, we’d been visited by 6 helicopters, a plane and Big Wave Rider had joined us too. So it was fast becoming apparent that my quiet days of sailing were well and truly over. As the wind and sea slowly dropped off in the evening and as the heavy grey skies slowly cleared, I could see a huge glow on the horizon and a few tiny twinkling city lights. With Big Wave Rider circling around us to keep watch for shipping, I managed a few hours sleep, but mostly spent the night tacking back and forth, catching up on the latest music on the FM radio. I’ve never been so excited about listening to ads and was thrilled that I actually recognised some of the songs from before I left.

As it got light on the Saturday morning, I could make out a thin strip of land in the distance and spent the rest of the morning tacking into the wind towards land. The wind slowly died some more, until sailing conditions were pretty much perfect. As we inched closer, a trickle, then a flood of boats came out to join us. The thing that really struck me that morning was when we were 10 nm from land, the wind suddenly changed. It seems like such a small thing in comparison to all the other excitement that day, but all of a sudden I could smell land. The wind suddenly felt dry and cold like it does on winter mornings with the wind blowing off the land.

Coming up to the finish line, the excitement was really building (I mean REALLY building!), as boats and helicopters slowly closed in. I brought Ella’s Pink Lady off the wind a little and as the Sydney Heads slowly lined up, we were surfing along at 6 knots. At that point things just got completely overwhelming. A smile just wasn’t anywhere big enough to express how I was feeling.  By the time we were in Sydney Harbour, I’d gone from slightly hysterical to a bit frozen up. Bruce had to yell across the water to tell me to furl in the head sail so that Jesse Martin, Mike Perham and the customs guys could board.

Then there was stepping off at Man O War steps at the Sydney Opera House! Stepping into the arms of my family was what I’d been dreaming about for so long but at the same time, letting go of Ella’s Pink Lady was so hard. The crowd there to meet me was just amazing. Very overwhelming, but somehow or other, with Dad and my brother Tom on either side of me, we made it up the pink carpet to meet the Prime Minister and NSW Premier and then gave everyone a wave.         

Since then, I’ve had a chance to catch up with everyone and do all those things I’d been longing to do for so long. My first hot bath was heaven! Chasing seagulls on the beach was great fun! Eating fresh food was out of this world, but best of all was just looking at everyone’s faces. Sounds strange I know. 

Then there’s been the media attention and all that. It’s been very strange but I know having my family around me will always keep my feet firmly planted on the ground (you know I didn’t even get made breakfast in bed the morning after getting in!).

And I have a lot to thank Andrew and all the 5 Oceans Media team for. They did such a good job of making sure I wasn’t overwhelmed in the first week. I actually went completely stir-crazy the first morning back (I drove everyone mad!), as it was just so strange to have time off again and do nothing, after having had this huge, every thought-consuming project on my plate for so many years.

So this week, I’ve been for lots of great walks, done a lot of shopping (ouch!), been to three birthday parties (first mine, then Tom, then Dads).There’s been a photo shoot and media interviews. We went diving with the sharks, surfing at Manly with seven time world champion Layne Beachley. I also helmed one of the big Manly ferries across the Sydney Harbour yesterday. I just can’t seem to sit still. There’s just too much to do!

I’ve slowly been sleeping better, waking up less and managed a good sleep-in this morning. Thanks to everyone who sent me a card, gift or letter. I really appreciate them, although we have a bit of a chocolate and flowers overload problem!

But more than anything, I love hearing about other people’s dreams and how my voyage has showed them that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!

Jesse