Jessica Watson to Compete in Sydney-to-Hobart Race
November 21, 2011
Byline: Associated Press
SYDNEY (AP) — Teenage round-the-world sailor Jessica Watson will take part in the next Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race, crewing aboard one of 100 craft that have been nominated for the 628-mile competition.
Watson was 16 when she completed a solo nonstop voyage around the world in 2009, but had to wait until she turned 18 to compete in the Sydney-to-Hobart event for the first time.
She will crew aboard the 38-foot Ella Bache Another Challenge in the annual bluewater classic, which starts Dec. 26 at Sydney Harbour.
Entries announced Nov. 2 by Cruising Yacht Club of Australia include the first three boats across the line in last year’s race. Wild Oats XI will try to win line honors for the sixth times but will face competition from the 100-foot Investec Loyal and the 98-foot Lahana, which finished second and third, respectively last year.
