As the momentum of excitement accelerates in anticipation of Jessica's homecoming, Ella's Pink Lady has infected people all over the world with a craze by dancing gracefully through the water as she sails her intrepid captain safely home.
Setting sail from Sydney on 18 October 2009 Jessica and Ella's Pink Lady have so far overcome every challenge that Mother Nature has thrown at them to achieve their goal.
Jessica and Ella's Pink Lady are expected to complete their epic voyage of adventure around the world, arriving back in Sydney on Saturday 15th May 2010. They need to cross the finish line at Sydney Heads to officially complete their voyage. They will then cruise down Sydney Harbour before docking at the Sydney Opera House.
Sydney Harbour organisers are anticipating that Jessica will cross the finish line at approximately 11:30am and arrive at the Sydney Opera House around 12.30pm, the first time she will have set foot on land in almost seven months.
Organisers are urging Sydneysiders to arrive early to secure the best vantage point and show Jessica a true hero’s welcome. Spectators are encouraged to line the shores or take to the waters of Sydney Harbour to help celebrate the remarkable achievements of this courageous teenager.
There are still an incredible number of people choosing to keep their heads buried in the sand about Jessica's achievements but as far as I'm concerned Jessica, at the age of 16, spent the best part of the last 7 months at sea sailing solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world.
Jessica and Ella's Pink Lady set sail from Sydney Harbour and crossed the equator into the northern hemisphere, passed all lines of longitude and rounded 4 southern capes namely Cape Horn, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin and Tasmania's South East Cape before ending their circumnavigation at the same port where they started, 3 days shy of Jessica's 17th birthday.
Jessica successfully achieved what she set out to do in fulfilling her ambition and ultimately realising her childhood dream! There is nothing any naysayer can say or do to diminish such an incredible accomplishment nor dampen her pride and sense of achievement.
