Teen sailors' friendly rivalry around world

Jessica Watson on board Ella has been hit by storms in the South Atlantic in recent days. Photo / Supplied

BRISBANE - Australian sailor Jessica Watson might have another 21,300km to go, but her mother says it's a great comfort to know she's officially homeward bound.

The 16-year-old passed the halfway mark yesterday on her 23,000-nautical-mile (42,600km) quest to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world, nonstop and unassisted.

But the teenager, who hails from Queensland's Sunshine Coast, has had a rough few days after being hit by a raging storm on Friday in the southern Atlantic that damaged some of her equipment and left her bruised.

And another low-pressure system could send more wild weather her way in the next 24 hours.

Jessica's experiences will be watched closely by American Abigail Sunderland, who is four months younger than Jessica and who set off at the weekend from California to attempt the same journey. If the American is successful, any record Jessica might set will be short-lived.

But Jessica's mum, Julie, insists the two young sailors are not rivals, but kindred spirits who keep in touch and do their best to support each other.

"They email quite regularly and certainly Jessica has emailed Abby to say good luck for yesterday's departure," Julie Watson said.

"In Jessica's words, the record's there and if she gets it, it'd be lovely, but that's not the basic motivation for her trip."

Watson said her daughter was feeling pretty sore after four knock-downs during Friday's storm, including one that tipped her vessel Ella upside down and tore some wind instruments from the mast.

"She said it was like being in a collision - she just feels exhausted," Watson said.

"She's fairly bruised. She said her hands are very sore from hanging on."

And more wild weather is looming.

Jessica's spokesman Andrew Fraser said another low-pressure system was expected to cross her path in the next 24 hours, with weather forecasters warning of gales.

But on the upside, winds and currents are generally expected to speed Jessica's journey home now she's passed the halfway mark.

"We're hoping the second half of the trip might be a bit quicker due to the swells and westerlies basically pushing her back towards Australia," he said.

"All going well she should be home in early May."

- AAP