By Ian Grant.
The picturesque warm and friendly waters of the Whitsunday Islands will present Sunshine Coast teenage solo sailor Jessica Watson with different sailing experience today
Jessica captured the admiration of supporters around the world after successfully steering the little sloop Ella’s Pink Lady through the wildest sailing conditions on the planet.
This time the energetic teenager who has proved her passion for mastering the physically and mentally demanding challenge of solo sailing will not be alone.
She has accepted the invitation to crew with good friend Matthew Jones as his for’ard hand in the inaugural Audi Hamilton Island Race Week SB3 championship.
“I will be up the front of the boat as the wind and wave shield” She said with her trademark smile.
But deep down her well known super competitive spirit had already warmed to the challenge.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun” she said during a press conference at Hamilton Island announcing her acceptance as the Ambassador of Tourism Queensland’s 2010 -2011 Season of Sailing.
“Jessica is a genuine Queensland inspiration and has developed an international profile which makes her the fit for the Season of Sailing campaign” Tourism Parliamentary Secretary Steve Wettenhall said.
“I am happy to encourage more people to take up the sport of sailing”.
“The Season of Sailing offers everyone, from all age groups, to get out there and give it a go” Jessica said.
She will again live the dream sailing in a warmer and more hospitable environment with skipper Matthew Jones and crew on board the speed sailing SB3 Sports boat Lumix by Panasonic.
Jessica’s personal competitive attitude suggests she will not be onboard just to soak up the scenery when Matthew Jones tests his personal helming skills against his dual Audi Australian Ocean racing champion uncle Rod Jones and a group of high profile sailors including Dragon National champion Nick Rogers from Tasmania and former Australian 505 champion Phil Gray from Mooloolaba.
Hamilton Island’s multiple National title winning sail boarder Dennis Whinstanly has also nominated to present a very competitive fleet.
Rod Jones has left nothing to chance in his title challenge with his high performance sports boat Club Marine Blue.
He will have the hiking power of Greg Macallansmith in the bow while Australian Beijing Olympic team coach Adrian Finglas will take the role of sail trimming and tactics.
All three have raced together before however the strict one-design nature of the SB3 promises to test their fleet racing skills.
The championship will be decided over a series of tactically demanding windward leeward courses off Catseye Bay which have a history of being a tortuous challenge against crew and craft in strong winds.
However when the wind whistles in the rigging and the waves crash on the deck Jessica Watson has the proven rough water sailing skills to help her young skipper and crew to become a worthy challenger with Lumix by Panasonic.