True Spirit: The True Story of a 16-Year-Old Australian Who Sailed Solo, Nonstop, and Unassisted Around the World [Paperback]

Jessica Watson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 7, 2010

On May 15, 2010, after 210 days at sea and more than 22,000 nautical miles, 16-year-old Jessica Watson sailed her 33-foot boat triumphantly back to land. She had done it. She was the youngest person to sail solo, unassisted, and nonstop around the world.

Jessica spent years preparing for this moment, years focused on achieving her dream. Yet only eight months before, she collided with a 63,000-ton freighter. It seemed to many that she’d failed before she’d even begun, but Jessica brushed herself off, held her head high, and kept going.

Told in Jessica’s own words, True Spirit is the story of her epic voyage. It tells how a young girl, once afraid of everything, decided to test herself on an extraordinary adventure that included gale-force winds, mountainous waves, hazardous icebergs, and extreme loneliness on a vast sea, with no land in sight and no help close at hand. True Spirit is an inspiring story of risk, guts, determination, and achievement that ultimately proves we all have the power to live our dreams—no matter how big or small.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Jessica to be interviewed on metro ABC stations, including ABC Melbourne, ABC Sydney and Conversations on ABC Brisbane and also key commercial radio stations. Reviews in major metro newspapers and magazines, including the Courier Mail, the Herald Sun, Woman's Day and New Idea. Major key events and/or signings in metro cities. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Jessica Watson was born on May 18th, 1993 on the Gold Coast of Australia . On May 15, 2010, at just sixteen,  she became the the youngest person to have ever sail solo, unassisted and non-stop around the globe.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Atria Books; Original edition (September 7, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1451616317
• ISBN-13: 978-1451616316
• Product Dimensions: 1 x 6.2 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #201,104 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #11 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Ethnic & National > Australian

More About the Author

Jessica Watson was born on May 18th, 1993 on the Gold Coast of Australia. On May 15, 2010, at just sixteen, she became the the youngest person to have ever sail solo, unassisted and non-stop around the globe.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent on Multiple Levels, September 26, 2010

By 

Robert Bernecky - See all my reviews

This review is from: True Spirit: The True Story of a 16-Year-Old Australian Who Sailed Solo, Nonstop, and Unassisted Around the World (Paperback)

True Spirit is an excellent book in at least three respects. First, it is an entertaining read, slowly building, and then suddenly carrying the reader along at a page-turning clip as a very young teenage girl sails alone, intent on circumnavigating the world non-stop.

Second, the writing is from the very rare perspective of a teenage girl, in clear and simple prose that often surprises with its poetic imagery.

Third, though by no means a philosophical treatise, it brings to mind Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance : "The real cycle you're working on is a cycle called `yourself.' " Watson's narrative of her pertinacious pursuit is ultimately an inspiration, charming in the telling, and effective in its impact on the reader. For example, when in the Australian Bight, she tells us, "Another forecast came through, predicting yet again a gale with 65 knot winds and 30-foot seas. I wasn't happy at all! I spent half an hour moping and let loose a few tears... then I got angry at the way I was letting it all get to me. I decided I wasn't going to finish my trip being miserable and that I had to toughen up some more and deal with it." Reader beware, that spirit can become infectious.

It is not a spoiler to let the reader know that Jessica Watson sailed into Sydney Harbor to overwhelming adulation. A sixteen year-old slip of girl was the talk of the town, the city, and the nation, and her book is a must-read for every young person and every parent of a young person who wishes to say, "Yes, we can!"

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing story of an amazing girls amazing adventure, September 27, 2010

By 

W. Louis "Glitch" (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: True Spirit (Kindle Edition)

I happened to follow this young lady's blog as she sailed around the world solo, non-stop and unassisted on a 34' pink sailboat while she was doing it so I was familiar with the story. Even though I knew the story, this book filled in a lot that was never mentioned in her blogs. The book takes you from her childhood and this dream of sailing around the world all the way to the completion of her epic journey sailing into Sydney Harbor. This is a book that should be required reading for all school children young and old.

I couldn't put the book down and I'm looking forward to reading it again, this time on my Kindle.

Buy this book. You won't be sorry.

Jessica Watson is truly One True Spirit.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Personable, September 14, 2010

By 

E. Daniel - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: True Spirit: The True Story of a 16-Year-Old Australian Who Sailed Solo, Nonstop, and Unassisted Around the World (Paperback)

Jessica Watson tells this story from inspiration through preparation to the actual cirumnavigation in an easy flowing, almost conversational manner. Interspersed between entries from her blog, she adds background and detail about this incredible voyage.