Before Jessica Watson became one of the most recognised teenage sailors in the world, her dream nearly collapsed in the middle of the ocean. During the very first night of a sea trial before her historic voyage officially began, her 34-foot yacht, Ella’s Pink Lady, collided with a massive 63,000-ton bulk carrier, as reported by The National Geographic. The impact destroyed the yacht’s mast and left the boat badly damaged. Many people believed the accident proved what critics had been saying for months, that the young Australian was too inexperienced and too young to attempt such a dangerous challenge. Questions were also raised about her parents and the growing trend of teenage sailors attempting world records. Yet instead of walking away, Watson quietly repaired her yacht and prepared to sail again. What followed would soon become one of the most talked-about sailing stories in modern history.
