Did Jessica Watson actually sail around the world? How far did Jessica Watson sail?

Jessica Watson OAM (born 18 May 1993) is an Australian sailor who was awarded the Order of Australia Medal after attempting a solo global circumnavigation at the age of 16. Departing Sydney on 18 October 2009, Watson headed northeast, crossing the equator in the Pacific Ocean before crossing the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

Did Jessica Watson sail around the world?

When 16-year-old Jessica Watson sailed into Sydney Harbor on 15 May 2010, to become the youngest person to sail solo and unassisted around the world, she inspired a nation.

How far did Jessica Watson sail?

Although Watson sailed nearly 23,000 nautical miles, some sailing enthusiasts have argued that she did not venture far enough north of the equator for her journey to count as a true round-the-world sail as defined by the record council’s rules.

Jessica returned to Sydney on 15 May 2010, three days before her 17th birthday, though the voyage was ultimately shorter than the required 21,600 nautical miles to be considered a global circumnavigation.