NZ first landfall in teen's solo round-the-world bid

Jessica Watson farewells her mother, Julie, and father, Roger. Photo / AP

Teenage adventurer Jessica Watson has set off under grey skies in her quest to make history as the youngest person to sail solo around the world.

After a week of blustery and wet Sydney spring weather delayed her departure, the 16-year-old Australian cast off yesterday in her yacht Ella's Pink Lady.

Jessica will head towards northern New Zealand, then to Fiji, Samoa, South America and South Africa, from where she will start the final leg of 7400km back to Australia.

Her route will be similar to that of Australian Kay Cottee, the first woman to sail solo, unassisted and non-stop around the world, in 1988.

Supporters, well-wishers and media thronged The Spit in Sydney's Middle Harbour as she cast off, cheering as she left the mooring.

A flotilla of about 20 kayakers and the same amount of small boats accompanied Jessica as she sailed into Middle Harbour.

NSW Maritime boats also escorted her out of the Heads in slightly choppy conditions, but Jessica continued smiling and waving at supporters as she headed out.

The teenager, from Queensland's Sunshine Coast, and her team spent Saturday "fine-tuning" their preparations and planned to get a good night's sleep.

Her spokesman, Andrew Fraser, said she was relieved and upbeat to be finally beginning her voyage.

Jessica is setting off despite calls for her to abandon the voyage from the Queensland Government and some of Australia's most experienced sailors.

Concerns were heightened when her yacht collided with a 63,000-tonne cargo vessel off North Stradbroke Island during an aborted journey to Sydney last month.

But Mr Fraser dismissed the doubters.

"Let's have this conversation in eight months," he said, referring to the time Jessica is expected to take to sail around the world.

"It [the collision] may have been a blessing in disguise, to be honest," Mr Fraser said.

"I think we've learned a lot from that experience, and Jessica has learned a lot."

Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard yesterday wished her a safe journey.

"I think a lot of Australians are nervous for Jessica. I'm nervous for her," she said as Jessica set off.

"But my words at this stage, given that she's determined to go, would be to wish her the best of luck and to urge her to keep safe.

"And, if there's one message, I think it would be: keep safe, to do everything she needs to do to keep safe. If that means that at some point she's got to abandon the journey, then the most important thing here is a young person's life."
- AAP