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The true story of True Spirit : What really happened on Jessica Watson's solo sail around the world

EW breaks down fact vs. fiction in Netflix's inspiring movie based on the incredible true story of the 16-year-old who attempted to become the youngest person to sail alone around the world.

Sydney Bucksbaum is a writer at Entertainment Weekly covering all things pop culture – but TV is her one true love. She currently lives in Los Angeles but grew up in Chicago so please don't make fun of her accent when it slips out.

Warning: This article contains spoilers about True Spirit, now streaming on Netflix.

True Spirit , Netflix's latest book-to-movie adaptation, is an inspiring tale about Jessica Watson, a teen who endeavors to become the youngest person to sail alone, nonstop, and unassisted around the world. Starring Titan 's Teagan Croft and based on the book of the same name, the film follows her harrowing journey as she attempts to sail 23,000 nautical miles around the globe in 8 months — something no other 16-year-old had ever accomplished before. But what makes it even more amazing is that it actually happened in real life.

Below, EW breaks down the biggest moments from the film and the true story behind them.

Is Jessica Watson a real person?

Yes! Watson exists, and she wrote the book about her own experience circumnavigating the globe upon which the movie is based. "There's so many layers of emotion in it for me," Watson tells EW of watching the film for the first time. "It's amazing, and Teagan's performance is extraordinary. It's me, but it's also something else, which I just love."

After playing half-demon empath Raven on the DC Comics series Titans for years, Croft was excited to finally take on a role closer to home. "Playing Raven on Titans , it's purple hair, very sullen," she says. "And the [ True Spirit ] producers needed to double-check that I wasn't like that in real life, that I'd be able to play Jess. I cracked a couple jokes, made a couple remarks, and they saw I'd be able to pull off perky. It's much more in my wheelhouse. And being able to act in my own accent was something I hadn't had the opportunity to do before. It was nice to have that burden lifted."

Watson and Croft met in person for the first time over dinner before the movie began filming, and they had a conversation with director Sarah Spillane about how the onscreen version of Watson wouldn't just be an imitation. "Then we also went sailing the next day altogether, and we met a few times up after that," Croft says. "It was so weird and awkward at first. I felt a weird guilt, like, 'Hello, I'm playing you.' But she was so lovely about it, and we get on really well now."

Did she really attempt to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world?

She sure did — Watson, now 29, departed from Sydney, Australia,, on Oct. 18, 2009, and returned on May 15, 2010, just before her 17th birthday.

Did she succeed?

Well, it's complicated and depends on who you ask. Watson sailed an estimated 18,582 nautical miles, crossing through the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans, all on her own and without stopping. But ultimately, the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) ruled that Watson was ineligible for the record, having traveled just short of the minimum 21,600 nautical miles necessary to claim circumnavigation of the globe. In response to the decision and criticism, Watson wrote on her blog at the time, "If I haven't been sailing around the world, then it beats me what I've been doing out here all this time!"

The movie notably doesn't mention the controversy about whether or not she earned the title of the youngest person to sail solo, nonstop, and unassisted around the world. Once she returns to Sydney Harbour amid a massive celebration, the credits roll immediately. "The movie and what Jess is all about is not about the record," Croft says. "That's not what drove her. That's not what she was sailing for. She was sailing for the love of it. The point of the movie is about this girl who had a goal that was crazy and dangerous, and what she did was incredible."

"The thing is, it's a bit of an invented controversy because there actually is no record," Watson tells EW. "There's no 'youngest' record because the body that does official sailing records doesn't recognize youngest records, which is understandable. So I don't really understand how there can be controversy over a record that doesn't exist. The voyage and the way I sailed around the world was very similar to what other people did, but there's actually no official rules, so it's a bit hard to not comply with rules that don't quite exist."

All these years later, Watson isn't concerned about any official records or titles. "It really doesn't worry me because it was about the adventure," she adds. "But also, gosh, people really feel the need to add some drama or find a way to almost diminish it slightly. And I'm like, 'Cool, you guys do that. I'm cool with that.' Maybe I think about it too simplistically, but I'm just like, 'Why are we arguing about the number of nautical miles for a record that doesn't exist?' There is no set nautical miles. You can't argue over a rule that doesn't exist."

Did all the characters in the movie exist?

All except for two — and those two were still based on real people. In the film, Avatar : The Way of the Water 's Cliff Curtis plays her sailing coach Ben, but Watson reveals he was just a "beautiful representation of a few people who otherwise wouldn't have been able to be portrayed," from the crew who helped her repair her boat to the group of people advising her over the phone about the weather during her voyage and more.

Her parents were pretty much exactly as they appear in the movie, played by Anna Paquin and Josh Lawson . "Mum was the one who firstly read me Jesse Martin's book from the get-go, which was what inspired me to do this," Watson says. "She had the same curiosity and inspiration for the voyage as me, whereas dad really didn't believe it was going to happen for much longer. And then, obviously, he was quite reluctant, as you see. That is probably pretty accurate in terms of mom and dad's dynamic."

Croft struggled the most filming the scenes where Jessica talks to her family over the phone during her journey. "At that point, the other actors were gone, and it was just me, so sometimes that was really difficult to get into the scene," she says. "But what was lucky in a twisted way was that COVID was really big in Australia at that time, and so the borders between my home state and the state we were filming in had closed. I'd just come from filming Titans , I hadn't seen my sisters or my dad for seven months by the end of shooting True Spirit , so I was able to pull a real, genuine emotion from my real life from the real phone calls I was having."

Watson adds that the reporter, played by Todd Lasance, was fictional but represents all of the members of the media who were aggressively and publicly criticizing her plans. "There were some that were pretty damn similar to him," she adds with a laugh. "I was protected slightly from some of the intensity of it at the time because I was just so single-mindedly focused on this thing, which you need to be to do something like that. It was my team and my poor family who caught the worst of that, but it was intense."

She continues, "I can really understand where people were coming from, and it's kind of beautiful that there was so much concern. But at the same time, I don't think people really understood that there had been years and years of preparation. And this is a really safe boat, it's done this a number of times. It's not as crazy as it seems if you've got no idea about that world."

Did her pre-voyage trial run really end in a massive collision?

Unfortunately, yes. Watson forgot to turn on the proximity alarms before taking a quick nap, and a few minutes later, her boat (named Ella's Pink Lady), crashed into a cargo ship. "That collision scene's one of the ones that's really accurate, so that one's pretty intense for me," Watson says. "That was something I still have the occasional nightmare about, but it's so important to the story. It really made me in a way because having to go through that and find the strength to continue really set me up for being able to deal with the storms at sea."

Did she really leave her hairbrush at home?

In a moment of levity in the movie, Jessica realizes she forgot to pack a hairbrush for her long journey and tapes two forks together to detangle her hair for months. That did happen ... but not on her long trip around the world. "That happened on a sea trial," Watson admits. "So not quite the whole voyage. And actually, I got the idea from Jesse Martin who did forget his hairbrush for his trip and used a fork."

Did she battle dyslexia during her journey?

Watson is dyslexic in real life, and she loves how the movie accurately portrays the struggles she faced whenever she got stressed and messed up her longitude and latitude coordinates. "So many people can relate to this, and it's not far off from my reality," Watson says, before admitting with a laugh, "I mean, I like to think that I was never that bad with my lats and longs and getting muddled up. But at the same time, it's also based on the truth that mum did used to call me out when I'm tired or flustered, and I was getting stuff like that wrong."

Did she get knocked out during a storm?

In the first big storm she faces at sea, Jessica is hit in the head with a frying pan and gets knocked out. But it turns out that entire scene was made up for the movie. "I feel bad calling out some of the things that weren't quite true, but no, no frying pan," Watson says. "Although there was legitimate danger with stuff flying around inside the boat in a storm — household everyday objects become deadly. Keeping your cabin tidy is something I should have been better at."

Did her boat get stuck for a week without any wind?

In the movie, Jessica hits an emotional low point when there's no breeze for an entire week. She gets frustrated and ends up arguing with Ben over the radio. That was all fictionalized for the film but was based on real emotions Watson felt throughout her trip. "In reality, you never get such long stretches without wind," she says. "Often, it's more like a couple of days. And even within that, you might get a few puffs along the way. It is, however, very true to what that experience is like for a sailor, how incredibly frustrating it is to just be at the mercy of the elements and just waiting for the wind to come back. There's nothing you can do. Emotionally, they were some of the really tough days out there."

Did a massive storm temporarily sink her boat?

Onscreen, Jessica's journey ends with her biggest test yet, as multiple major storms merged into one. The giant waves flip her boat upside down, and she gets stuck 15 ft. underwater for an extended period of time. It's a terrifying scene, and it turns out, the movie version isn't even the full story.

"There were seven knockdowns," Watson reveals. "Not all of them were quite that bad. A lot of the time, it's just the boat being knocked over. But the 15 ft. underwater is real because my emergency beacon did self-activate as the boat sank. That happened. But the time I was upside down for, it certainly felt like a long time. I haven't really got a concept of how long it was in reality, but we are talking seconds compared to what we see in the movie, which stretches on forever in minutes and minutes and minutes. That's a little bit of an exaggeration there, but it was real to the experience of it feeling like forever."

Was her return to Sydney as epic as it appeared?

Absolutely! When Jessica arrives in Sydney Harbour at the end of her journey, it looks like all of Australia came to celebrate her accomplishment. And as the credits roll, real footage from that moment plays, showing the real Watson reuniting with her family. Incredibly, a young Croft was there in attendance that day.

"I was actually there in Sydney Harbour when she came in, but I'd forgotten since I was only six," Croft says. "When I came across this script, my parents were like, 'We were there!' I've been trying to figure out where we were in the crowd to see if you can see me in that footage. Maybe I'm there in a little pink skirt or something ridiculous."

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True Spirit

The story of Australian teenager, Jessica Watson, the youngest person ever to sail solo, non-stop around the world. The story of Australian teenager, Jessica Watson, the youngest person ever to sail solo, non-stop around the world. The story of Australian teenager, Jessica Watson, the youngest person ever to sail solo, non-stop around the world.

Sarah Spillane
Rebecca Banner
Cathy Randall
Alyla Browne
Teagan Croft
Cliff Curtis
58 User reviews
37 Critic reviews
50 Metascore
2 nominations

Young Jessica

Jessica Watson

Roger Watson

Julie Watson

Emily Watson

Hannah Watson

Young Emily

Craig Atherton

Reporter #1
Reporter #2
Georgina Bauer

Susie the News Presenter

Female Politician

Young Hannah
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Trivia Jessica Watson was allowed to keep the replica of her boat used for filming after production had completed.
Goofs In the movie in rough weather Jessica is seen strapped to the bunk . Yachts do not use this system, they all use lee cloths . Which you see on the real boat at the end of the movie with real footage from the boat . Hint its red.

Jessica Watson : There's strength in being yourself. You know, I think... that's as hard as climbing any mountain. You know, I think there's bravery in admitting that you're not okay.

Soundtracks Walking on a Dream Written by Luke Steele , Jonathan Sloan and Nick Littlemore (as Nicholas Littlemore) Performed by Empire of the Sun Courtesy of EMI Music Australia Pty Ltd/Astralwerks Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User reviews 58

Feb 23, 2023
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February 3, 2023 (United States)
United States
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True Spirit: Hải Trình Của Jessica
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Runtime 1 hour 49 minutes
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Yachting World

Digital Edition

Jessica Watson: the true story of True Spirit star’s voyage

Helen Fretter
March 3, 2023

Jessica Watson talks to Helen Fretter about what her round the world journey was really like and how accurate the Netflix film True Spirit is

In the late Noughties and early 2010s, sailing garnered astonishing levels of attention due to a series of teenagers bidding to become the youngest sailor to sail around the world. One of the most high profile was Jessica Watson, who set off from Sydney in 2009 aged 16, and completed her loop of Antarctica – and a dip north across the Equator in the Pacific – to return an all-Australian hero after 210 days at sea .

It was a remarkable story, much of which was told in real time in Watson’s blog and video diaries. Thirteen years on, Netflix has made a feature-length sailing film based on her voyage, called True Spirit . Following the film’s release in the UK, we spoke to Watson about the experience.

True Spirit is available to watch on Netflix worldwide

Jessica Watson in the spotlight

In the film version of True Spirit viewers are introduced to the teenage Jessica Watson aboard her S&S 34 Ella’s Pink Lady on a trial solo sail, when a violent collision with a 63,000 tonne cargo ship off Queensland leaves the yacht dismasted, and both Watson and her family ashore shaken.

It’s the same opening scene Watson begins her autobiography with, and it’s as shocking to watch as it is to read her written account: “I grabbed at the tiller, flicked off the autopilot and tried to steer us. It was hopeless.

“There was nowhere to go, nothing I could do. Shuddering and screeching, we were being swept down the ship’s hull. A glance told me that the ship’s stern, with its bridges protruding, was fast approaching. The noises were getting louder and, knowing that the mast and rigging were about to come down, I rushed back below hoping for some protection.

“The cupboard next to me ripped apart as the chainplate behind the bulkhead splintered it into a million pieces. The boat heeled to one side then suddenly sprung upright with the loudest explosion yet as the entangled rigging suddenly freed itself and crashed to the deck.”

While the collision would be a terrifying experience for anyone to go through, let alone a teenager on their own, the film highlights how the media storm that met her ashore was even more intimidating. Many commentators questioned the judgement of Watson’s parents, an additional pressure which the film captures neatly.

Watson, now 30, admits that the prospect of being the centre of attention once again with the film’s launch didn’t entirely fill her with joy. “I certainly went into this with mixed emotions. I enjoy my life, I like not being recognised very often, and so there was a bit of trepidation. But at the same time, I’m just so grateful and hopefully this is good for sailing.”

An ethical dilemma

The teen solo sailor trend was a remarkable phenomenon. Australian Jesse Martin was one of the earliest, when he completed a non-stop, unassisted solo around the world voyage to and from Melbourne in 1999 aged 18. Martin recounted the trip in his S&S 34 Lionheart, also the title of his book, which was a major influence and source of inspiration for Watson.

With increasing unease and debate on the ethics of encouraging young teens to take on such potentially dangerous challenges, both within the sport of sailing and across newspaper columns and chat-show sofas around the world, the World Sailing Speed Record Council discontinued recognition of its ‘youngest’ sailor category. Martin has since remained the perpetual record holder, despite the flurry of much younger skippers which followed.

Jessica Watson (right) with actor Teagan Croft who played her in the film adaptation. Photo: Everett Collection Inc/Alamy

Much of the debate ignored the fact that the teenagers were often extraordinarily experienced yachtsmen from remarkable families. Certainly that was the case for Dutch sailor Laura Dekker , as well as American brother and sister Zac and Abby Sunderland, who both attempted circumnavigations (Zac successfully, Abby’s Open 40 was dismasted).

Jessica Watson also had a fairly nomadic childhood with years spent living on boats or converted buses. Ironically, her father had a television hire company but the Watson family never owned one, as she recalled in her autobiography: “I think Dad saw how dependent people became on them and how they restricted the lives of their owners – keeping them inside and inactive – and he decided he didn’t ever want to be like that.”

The Watson family’s unconventionality gets a little lost in the film, so keen were directors and scriptwriters to make them relatable, and show the toll Jessica’s attempt took as an emotional undercurrent tugging throughout the film. For Jessica herself, however, the family storyline was a powerful one to watch.

“Seeing the emotional experience that [my family] went through is pretty intense. I think I’ve appreciated it better in the years since, particularly when other sailors I knew have been in trouble at sea and I’ve had to sit on shore. It’s far worse waiting for news, I would rather be out there in the thick of it. So it is really a reminder of the one extraordinary thing they did by reluctantly letting me go.”

Other figures who had a huge part in Watson’s story – including Golden Globe Race organiser Don McIntyre, who secured her S&S 34 – are blended into one single character who becomes her mentor, shore team, and sounding board.

Some scenes in True Spirit have been dramatised. Photo: Everett Collection Inc/Alamy

How close to reality is True Spirit film?

While it’s gratifying to see sailing in a mainstream family film , sailing hasn’t always succeeded on the silver screen and there are elements of True Spirit which will rankle. It’s something Jessica Watson is well aware of.

“Of course, as sailors there’s parts of the movie which will be a little bit maddening for us.

“I was never relaxed about the details. I always wanted the details to be right where possible. So I have mixed feelings [about some of it]. But there’s so much I love about it too, that it showcases how beautiful it is, how special it is [to be at sea], and there’s nothing better than a little S&S sailing along for me.

Scene from the Netflix film of Watson’s solo circumnavigation. Photo: Images: Everett Collection Inc/Alamy

“It was a case of spending a lot of time with the director and the cast, talking about the inspiration behind it and helping them understand that world. And then I had to step away when it came to shooting some of the details and left them to do that.”

There is one scene – a knockdown which Watson did experience in real life – that involves a degree of suspension of disbelief. “That massive wave did happen in the Atlantic, but it probably didn’t happen quite that dramatically,” Watson says. “Though they did capture the essence of the feeling that time does stand still when you’re upside down in a knockdown.”

Watson arriving back in Sydney Harbour to a hero’s welcome in 2010. Photo: Reuters/Alamy

There are other moments where dramatic licence takes over, including one where Watson is nearly swept overboard through the lifelines. The reality was rather more boring. “I had a furling headsail and then a staysail on an inner forestay, where the storm jib went as well. That all worked incredibly well. As the weather picked up, I was able to just furl the headsail away and have the storm sail ready to go,” she explains, “Something I’m quite proud of is I that I never went on the foredeck – in fact I never left the cockpit – in over 30 knots of wind.

“Sure, I maybe sacrificed a little bit of speed, but that was part of the really conservative way that I was sailing. I could put my fourth reef in from the cockpit, but very often approaching really bad conditions I’d have the mainsail stitched and away.”

Unsurprisingly there’s little in the movie to show more mundane tasks, such as waiting for GRIB files to download. In fact, Jessica Watson was very well supported for weather routing by New Zealand meteorologist Bob McDavitt, who sent multiple daily updates which Watson would overlay with her own weather charts.

Jessica Watson and Ella’s Pink Lady cross the finish line for her unassisted solo circumnavigation. Photo: Christophe Launay/DPPI Media/Alamy

While routing has always been accepted for solo record attempts, with no official governing body to answer to, the question of what counted as ‘unassisted’ for youth sailors was open to interpretation. In 2007 British teenager Michael Perham became the youngest person to solo sail across the Atlantic aged just 14, while his father shadowed him sailing in a separate yacht.

For Watson, there was controversy whether her 23,000-mile route ventured far enough north of the Equator to count as a true around-the-world. “It certainly doesn’t worry me,” says Watson. “The biggest thing for me is that there’s no official record, as none of the bodies recognise the youngest records, which is perfectly understandable. So I don’t understand how there can be a debate about whether or not you comply with a rule that doesn’t exist.

“The route I took, chosen with my team, was about making it as safe as possible. It put me in the right oceans at the right times, and it did the things that are generally recognised as sailing around the world . I’m very at peace with that.”

The next Jessica Watson?

While Watson was inspired by reading about Jesse Martin’s adventures, would she welcome new young sailors inspired to tackle a circumnavigation after watching True Spirit ? “Absolutely, if people are serious,” she says.

Such a project is, however, very reliant on having the right yacht. “People do ask me if I would do it again, and my answer is only if the boat was exactly the same and I had the same support crew, otherwise it’s a resounding ‘No!’.

“It was absolutely that boat and how she was set up that enabled it to be possible. Someone said almost as a criticism, ‘lt was just the boat that got her there.’ But I agree with them.

“The S&S 34 is just such a gorgeous little boat. There’s nothing quite like the way that they sail beautifully upwind in a bit of a blow.”

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Digital edition

Jessica Watson – the real sailor behind the True Spirit film

Laura Hodgetts
February 3, 2023

Whilst the new Netflix True Spirit movie was being filmed, celebrating Jessica Watson's real-life teenage solo, non-stop global circumnavigation, the 29-year-old was battling her biggest-ever challenge ashore.

“Generally, I actually am quite a risk-averse person, and don’t like doing crazy things, I know that’s really hard to believe.”

Thirteen years ago, in 2010, Jessica Watson arrived in Sydney, having sailed solo, non-stop around the world aged 16.

Now, as a film inspired by her adventure, True Spirit , is released on Netflix, Jessica shares insight into how it compares to the reality of navigating some of the world’s most remote oceans, surviving seven knockdowns and 210 days alone at sea aboard S&S 34 Ella’s Pink Lady .

“It’s so strange for me. Because I really have no idea what it’s like to watch as someone else who’s not so close to the story. For me, I almost can’t get past being so close to it, and then not really being able to watch it like a movie. “I love so much of what they’ve done with it. It’s really cool to see the sport of sailing have this showcase, and hopefully, there are a lot of moments in the film that will really make people understand what is so amazing about sailing.”

Jessica Watson, 16, crossing the finishing line of her unassisted solo voyage around the world in her yacht Ella’s Pink Lady at Sydney Harbour May 15, 2010. Credit: REUTERS/Daniel Munoz/Alamy

Jessica Watson on the accuracy of the film?

“It has moments where it kind of jumps out and I think ‘Oh my gosh, yes. That’s exactly what it was’, like, in an expression or view in a sequence or a scene. But of course, there’s movie magic involved as well. “There are some details that certainly don’t follow the reality, and sailors will, no doubt, pick them up. The big storm scene where the boat’s underwater for quite some time in reality, wasn’t that dramatic. But in that moment, it certainly felt like it. So maybe it’s sort of true to the feeling behind it.”

Repairs on board is one area the film isn’t quite so accurate on.

“There’s quite a leak in the movie that it looks like I’m fixing with blu-tack. In reality there was nothing major, which again, was a real testament to the preparation behind it and a lot of things going right; a lot of conservative decisions. “There were torn sails, of course, that needed a bit of repair on the way, a solar panel that was warped in from the impact of a knockdown , which limited my power a little bit, and I had to replace the wind generator, and a fuel pump towards the end of the trip. “I was running the engine for a little bit of power as required, when the wind and sun weren’t doing their thing. The important thing is there was nothing catastrophic.”

Jessica Watson, 16, crossing the finish line of her unassisted solo voyage around the world in her yacht Ella's Pink Lady S&S (Sparkman and Stephens) 34 at Sydney Harbour.

Jessica Watson, 16, aboard Ella’s Pink Lady S&S (Sparkman and Stephens) 34 at Sydney Harbour. Credit: Christophe Launay/DPPI/Alamy

With the benefit of hindsight, Jessica would advise her younger self to go ahead, with provisos.

“People often ask, ‘Would you do it again?’ And I always do make it very clear that I would, but it’s with that boat and the way she was set up. “It’s really that boat and the way she was set up that got me there safely. There’s absolutely no doubt about it. “Without those conditions, and the preparation that was in place, I absolutely wouldn’t do it. It really was about that boat and the setup.”

Jessica is the second of four children of New Zealander couple Roger and Julie Watson, who moved to Australia in 1987. A focus of the film is the support her parents gave their teenage daughter to undertake the voyage, set against the reality of her facing towering waves alone in the Southern Ocean , and a media storm when she ran into a 63,000 tonne ship at sea .

Jessica said: “Some of the characters in my family are actually pretty true to who they are. But the main kind of character in the movie, Ben, who’s the mentor and advisor is actually an amalgamation of a number of real people that kind of represents a whole team of people. “There’s not the opportunity in a movie format to give so many different people their own characters, so they had to go with this approach. “There are so many real moments represented by those people in this character. “I actually really love that mentor relationship Ben has with Teagon, who plays me, because that’s so important and such a big part of how it was possible; there were all these extraordinary people, predominantly men, who were so determined to see a young girl succeed.”

When asked about the long-term impact of her circumnavigation , Jessica says: “It’s absolutely a part of who I am, and I can’t imagine who I am without that adventure and everything that led to that.

“More widely, certainly I hope it has made people stop for a moment and think ‘hey, what can young people do when they put their minds to it?’

“I think it’s been part of a movement that a lot of people have put a lot of work into, supporting female sailors over recent years. And it’s been amazing to see such a change there and to see such a strong presence out in the water.

“There’s absolutely still a long way to go. But it’s really great to see that and representation of any kind helps in that regard.”

Talk of a film, inspired by Jessica’s book, True Spirit , has been on the cards since it was first published in 2010.

Jessica said: “There’s been discussions about making a film for years, but I don’t think I really ever believed it. “So it really is only in the last week when I’ve seen it on the big screen that it’s actually starting to sink in a little bit that ‘Oh, my goodness, this has actually happened’.”

Real heartbreak

Teagan Croft and Jessica Watson and the True Spirit premiere

Attending premieres with friends has been a highlight for Jessica, who has faced a huge personal tragedy recently with the loss of her partner Cameron Dale.

Cameron, who she met in 2011 whilst competing in the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, died of a stroke in August 2021, aged 29, as the result of undiagnosed high blood pressure.

Jessica wrote in The Weekend Australian Magazine “I’ve been called courageous for my sailing exploits – but the courage it’s taken to get through this is incomparable.”

She told Practical Boat Owner ( PBO) : “For us it completely came out of nowhere. It’s not something that’s on the radar for active young people; it’s the last thing on your mind to think about blood pressure or strokes. “And I suppose for me, it’s just a real moment to hopefully get that really simple message out there. To get the check. It’s such a simple thing you can do. And don’t dismiss it as something that might not impact younger people. “A lot of people ask if I was involved during the shooting of the movie. And actually, it’s not a tricky question to answer. Because obviously, I was with Cam in an ICU (Intensive Care Unit).”

Cameron Dale and Jessica Watson

Regular Cape 31 racing at weekends with a group of close friends has been a vital support.

“Cam and I met through the Sydney Hobart campaign, and probably actually knocked heads for quite a bit through that project. And then we got together at the end of it. Sailing was just the kind of core of our lives and something we absolutely did together. “Sailing has just been the most extraordinary and probably the best possible way to help with grief, you know, sailing with a bunch of people who were all Cam’s best mates and mine as well. “And that kind of environment on the boat and being part of that community and just being on the water, it’s good for focusing your head. window._taboolaSlots=window._taboolaSlots||[];window._taboolaSlots.push({"mode":"thumbnails-a-mid","container":"taboola-mid-article","placement":"Mid Article","target_type":"mix"}); “Sailing is definitely very special to me, now more than ever.”

Jessica describes dark days and suicidal thoughts and how family, friends and sailing, in particular, has pulled her through.

“A particular moment that stands out vividly is one of slight chaos after we’d just broken something.

“Full of adrenaline, I found myself no doubt looking like a dork in Cam’s oversized hat, furiously trying to bail water out of the boat, everyone laughing at me as waves dumped over me and straight back into the cabin.

“Perhaps it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I’m still savouring that moment and the revelation it gave me – a sense of being glad to be living.”

Working life

Jessica Watson

Day to day, Jessica has “a sensible desk job” as a manager at prestigious management consulting company Deloitte.

She said: “People are often surprised by that. But it was important for me to go back and challenge myself in different ways and give myself a life away from constantly being known as that 16 year old girl who circumnavigated. “I really love my role with Deloitte, one of the big four accounting firms in a management consulting team. It’s been really lovely to have some other challenges in my life and to keep sailing as something that’s absolutely the biggest part of my life, but something that’s a lifeline, hobby and passion, rather than day to day.”

Jessica was eight when her family first went to a sailing school. She particularly enjoyed messing about with trailer-sailers and sailing dinghies at her local club.

She said: “Mum and Dad wouldn’t claim to be sailors, but we sort of learned and got involved in boating and sailing as a family. “My younger sister doesn’t sail, although my older sister is the first mate on a superyacht so she’s absolutely a water person and an avid diver. And I have a brother as well who’s a geologist so he’s into more land based things.”

Officially there is no ‘youngest record’ recognised by the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) in a bid to avoid ambitious parents sending ever-more-youthful offspring out to sea.

Jessica’s unofficial title was usurped in January 2012 by Dutch teenager Laura Dekker , who at 16 years and four months, was nearly eight months younger.

Jessica Watson, 16, crossing the finish line of her unassisted solo voyage around the world in her yacht Ella's Pink Lady at Sydney Harbour May 15, 2010

Jessica Watson, 16, at the finishing line of her unassisted solo voyage around the world in her yacht Ella’s Pink Lady at Sydney Harbour May 15, 2010. Credit: REUTERS/Daniel Munoz/Alamy

Addressing criticism that her logged circumnavigation of just over 24,000 miles did not venture far enough north of the equator for her journey to count as a true round-the-world sail or that the orthodromic distance sailed was just over 18,000nm, less than the 21,600nm required by the WSSRC, Jessica said: “It certainly doesn’t really worry me.

“I think that the biggest thing there for me is that there’s no official record, as obviously none of the bodies recognise the youngest records, which is perfectly understandable. So I don’t understand how there can actually be a debate about whether or not you comply with a rule that doesn’t exist. I sort of struggle to get past that.

“I think it is a shame that there are people who just really feel the need to nitpick because there’s no official rule. So there was no way to comply with an official rule.”

She added: “The route that I took, chosen with my team, was just about making it as safe as possible. It did put me in the right oceans at the right times, and it did the things that are generally recognised as sailing around the world. I’m very at peace with that.”

Film director Sarah Spillane spoke to Jessica “a lot” over many years, to get “under the cover of what the circumnavigation was about, the inspiration behind it and the sailing.”

Jessica said: “As time went on, it became more about practical questions, and details of the script, ‘Could this have happened’, ‘Would this have been possible?’ “I did a lot of work with the scriptwriters, then when shooting started, I obviously met everyone, which was amazing, and I got to see a bit of it. But it was then a case of stepping away and letting them get on with it.”

Beautiful moments

The film manages to capture some key memories for Jessica: “There are some really beautiful moments that I think do translate in the movie. There’s a particular starry scene that is pretty extraordinary and real to what it was like.

“The thing I never got bored of was just watching the boat dance along through the waves on a breezy day, with the spray flying. I suppose maybe I got used to it as there’s not a lot else to look at but I honestly never, ever got bored of watching Ella’s Pink Lady sail along.”

Another vivid moment was her finish in Sydney Harbour.

Jessica said: “I think there’s still part of that emotion with me today. There was the extraordinary overwhelmingness of it, when you’ve been so deprived of everything for so long. “It was just such a sensory overload, you’ve got colours and noises, and smells, and people and all these things you haven’t experienced for so long, all of a sudden, all at once. “It’s just an extraordinary amount to take in but in the most beautiful, positive, exciting way.”

She added: “Maybe there’ll be another big circumnavigation again one day, but it’ll be stopping along the way. For now, I think as long as sailing is the biggest part of my life still, that’s awesome for now.”

A teenage girl crossing the finish line of her unassisted solo voyage around the world in her yacht Ella's Pink Lady at Sydney Harbour May 15, 2010

The finishing line of her unassisted solo voyage was “an extraordinary amount to take in but in the most beautiful, positive, exciting way.” Credit: REUTERS/Daniel Munoz/Alamy

True Spiri t , now showing on Netflix, is described as: A tenacious Australian teen chases her dreams — and faces her fears — as she sets out to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world. Teagan Croft stars with Cliff Curtis, Josh Lawson and Oscar winner Anna Paquin in this inspiring drama based on a true story.

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This article was updated to clarify that Jessica Watson logged just over 24,000 miles on her voyage, but the orthodromic distance sailed was just over 18,000nm, less than the 21,600nm required by the WSSRC.

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Netflix’s Real-Life Sailing Adventure <i>True Spirit</i> Is an Anthem of Teenage Independence

Netflix’s Real-Life Sailing Adventure True Spirit Is an Anthem of Teenage Independence

S ixteen is often the age where you start dreaming of striking out on your own, of trying something just a little bit dangerous—though you still want to know that your parents have your back if you fall. That’s the appeal of True Spirit, a movie based on the real-life adventures of Jessica Watson , who at age 16 became the youngest person to sail around the world solo. Directed by Australian filmmaker Sarah Spillane, the picture is appealingly breezy, though it does have its share of tense moments involving killer waves and charcoal-toned stormy skies. Mostly, it’s an anthem of teenage independence and daring, the story of one young woman who set her sights on a dream while still a child and willed it into reality just a few years later. Not every teenager could pull it off: this is a story about believing in possibilities rather than being constrained by limits, and about respecting nature while also reveling in its wild, unpredictable glory.

Jessica—played as a young child by Alyla Browne and as a teenager by the capable actress Teagan Croft—has always lived by or on the water, and has always loved sailing. She may struggle with dyslexia, but she understands the sea and its power. She’s particularly enthralled by the story of teenage sailor Jesse Martin, who in 1999 became the youngest sailor to cross the globe solo. He was 18; she wants to break his record. She saves her pennies for a boat, the Pink Lady.

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'True Spirit' Trailer Shows Jessica Watson's Remarkable Journey Around the World

The upcoming movie stars Teagan Croft, Cliff Curtis, Anna Paquin, and Josh Lawson.

An incredible journey is on the horizon for a teenager in the new trailer for Netflix’s upcoming film True Spirit . Based on the true story lived by and penned into book form by Jessica Watson , the feature depicts the incredible undertaking of a 16-year-old who set out to make history as the youngest person to sail around the world completely on her own. The trek would see the young woman’s attempt at clocking in 23,000 nautical miles as she sailed around the world in 8 months. While we’ve seen some of the action play out in the form of recently released stills , this is the first official teaser to drop for the upcoming film.

The trailer reveals Teagan Croft ’s ( Titan ) take on Watson, as she steps onto the tiny sailboat and pushes off into the deepest and darkest depths of the ocean. Dangers are an everyday event for the young woman as we see giant waves all but take over the small boat as she makes her way around the globe. But, it isn’t all gray skies and crushing waters as bits of the trailer reveal sunny days and nights filled with stars as the teen pushes forward in her journey. While she may be alone on her boat, she’s surrounded by love and support from her family and friends back home including her sailing coach Ben Bryant ( Cliff Curtis ), and her parents Julie ( Anna Paquin ) and Roger Watson ( Josh Lawson ). With the odds stacked against her, Jessica takes on the rocking waters in hopes of proving her skills to the world and herself.

The real-life story behind True Spirit saw the young Australian sailor leave the shoreline in 2009, setting off on her exhausting and life-changing 210-day trip. By 2010, she had penned her book True Spirit , which told the tale of her experiences while at sea in her tiny, yet formidable, pink sailboat.

RELATED: Netflix Needs to Focus on its Current Shows Instead of Making New Ones

Filling out the feature’s cast alongside Croft, Curtis, Paquin, and Lawson, are Bridget Webb , Vivien Turner , Todd Lasance , and Stacy Clausen . Sarah Spillane ( Around the Block ) served the film as its director as well as penned it alongside Rebecca Banner and Cathy Randall . Debra Martin Chase , Susan Cartsonis , and Andrew Fraser joined as producers.

Get ready to take the trip of a lifetime when True Spirit lands on Netflix on February 3. You can get a taste of the rough waters by checking out the trailer below.

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True Spirit (2023)

Why did jessica watson want to sail around the world.

According to the True Spirit true story, Jessica's desire to sail solo around the world began when she was 12 when her mother read Jesse Martin's book Lionheart: A Journey of the Human Spirit to her and her siblings as a bedtime story. Jesse Martin was a German-Australian sailor who in 1999 became the youngest person to sail solo, nonstop, and unassisted around the globe. Jessica had spent much of her life on the water and had taken sailing lessons with her brother and sisters. She had spent five years living on a 16-meter cabin cruiser with her family. They also lived on a retrofitted double-decker bus for a period of time. She was quoted in The Los Angeles Times discussing the reason for her journey, "I wanted to challenge myself and achieve something to be proud of. And yes, I wanted to inspire people. I hated being judged by my appearance and other people's expectations of what a 'little girl' was capable of. It's no longer just my dream or voyage. Every milestone out here isn't just my achievement, but an achievement for everyone who has put so much time and effort into helping getting me here." As is noted in her book, her father, Roger Watson, was against her going, and while her mother, Julie, was supportive, she was not living a missed dream vicariously through Jessica. It was clear to her coach and mentor Bruce Arms (represented to some degree by the Ben Bryant character in the movie played by Cliff Curtis) that the decision was very much her own. An image of the real Jessica Watson (left) is shown on one of the original covers of the True Spirit book. Australian actress Teagan Croft (left) appears on the new cover of the book.

How did Jessica Watson prepare for her around-the-world journey?

While conducting our True Spirit fact-check, we learned that like in the movie, she was heavily involved in the preparation for her trip, including overseeing various modifications to her boat, Ella's Pink Lady . The sailing vessel was refitted with a new galley, reconditioned water and diesel tanks, and underwent an entire reconstruction of the electrical system. By that point, Jessica had roughly 6,000 ocean and 6,000 coastal miles of sailing experience. She had also taken numerous courses, including several maritime safety and first-aid courses. She completed a radar course, diesel engine course, radio operator course, and a yachtmaster ocean theory course.

How big was Jessica Watson's boat?

Her sailing vessel, named Ella's Pink Lady , was 10.23 meters long (33.6 feet). Built in 1993, the pink boat was a Sparkman & Stephens model S&S 34. French skincare brand Ella Baché sponsored the boat, hence the naming. Jessica Watson did not own the boat. It was lent to her by Australian adventurer Don McIntrye. Jessica Watson's boat Ella's Pink Lady is pictured in real life (left) and as it's depicted in the movie (right). Photos: Facebook Jessica Watson / Netflix

Did Jessica's boat collide with a Chinese cargo ship a month prior to her leaving on her around-the-world voyage?

Yes. In answering the question, "How accurate is True Spirit ?" we confirmed that about a month before Jessica Watson left, she was en route from Brisbane to Sydney when her boat, Ella's Pink Lady , collided with the Silver Yang , a 63,000-ton Chinese bulk carrier. She had reportedly been taking a five-minute nap at the time of the collision and had failed to spot the Silver Yang on her radar prior to lying down. She also had forgotten to turn on her proximity alarms. "'No, no,' I go, 'It's alright, really, I'm okay, but lost half my mast, yeah,'" she stated after the accident. She managed to get the boat to port using the motor. Jessica said that the collision scene in the movie is "really accurate" ( Entertainment Weekly ). A final report concluded that both boats were at fault, with the Silver Yang's watchkeeper failing to maintain an adequate lookout and spot her in time to avoid her. It's true that the accident ignited even more controversy around whether a 16-year-old girl should be attempting a solo circumnavigation. - 60 Minutes Australia

Did Jessica receive a lot of pushback arguing that she was too young to sail solo around the world?

Yes. Like in the Jessica Watson movie, the prospect of a 16-year-old girl sailing solo, nonstop, and unassisted around the world indeed generated a considerable amount of controversy. Critics argued that she was too young and didn't have enough experience. The Australian Childhood Foundation raised concerns over whether a 16-year-old had the ability to fully understand the risks. Jessica would not be allowed assistance from anyone during her journey, nor would she be allowed to moor to another boat or to any port. However, advice via radio communication was permitted.

Is Cliff Curtis' character, Ben Bryant, based on a real person?

No. Ben Bryant is a fictional character that was created to represent a number of the different men who helped make Jessica Watson's journey possible. In a January 2023 Instagram post, Jessica wrote, "The fictional character Ben is one of my favourite things about the movie. Ben represents a whole team of people. While there are many who so deserve their own character @cliffcurtis_ has beautifully captured the spirit of these men who were so determined to see a young girl take on the world and the way they are some of my best mates. Forever grateful to everyone who played a part in making the voyage possible!" One of the men the Ben Bryant character represents is Jessica's mentor and project manager, fellow sailor Bruce Arms. In the book, Jessica describes Bruce as being "crucial in getting me ready." Another experienced sailor who helped Jessica was Don McIntyre. He had sailed solo around the world in 1990, and he and his wife Margie bought the boat Jessica used for her around-the-world trip. Other men who contributed were Scott Young and Andrew Fraser, who acted as Jessica's managers and helped her attract sponsors.

Did Jessica Watson forget her hairbrush?

No, at least not on her round-the-world trip. "That happened on a sea trial," she clarifies. She did use a fork, having gotten the idea from sailor Jesse Martin, who forgot his brush when he circumnavigated the globe. The movie finds Jessica (Teagan Croft) taping two forks together and using that as a brush.

What route did Jessica Watson take when she sailed around the world?

Alone with her boat and the open ocean, the True Spirit true story confirms that 16-year-old Jessica Watson completed a global circumnavigation that was almost entirely within the southern hemisphere. She set out from Sydney across the Pacific Ocean to the northeast, briefly crossing the equator into the northern hemisphere. She then crossed back over the equator and sailed southeastward far into the freezing southern waters to round South America's infamous Cape Horn, where the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans meet. From there, she sailed northeastward through the higher latitudes and round the horn of Africa before reentering the unforgiving Southern Ocean as she made her way back into Australian waters, traveling a total of 24,285 nautical miles. The Jessica Watson map below traces her voyage.

Did Jessica Watson's boat steer itself most of the time?

Yes. Jessica Watson's Pink Lady boat was equipped with a self-steering wind vane system. Jessica called the system "Parker" after the chauffer of the pink Rolls-Royce in the British television series Thunderbirds .

Is the reporter in True Spirit based on a real person?

No, at least not directly. Todd Lasance's character, reporter Craig Atherton, is not directly based on a real-life individual. Instead, he represents all of the members of the media who were naysayers and criticized Jessica's plans. "There were some that were pretty damn similar to him," she said with a chuckle. "I was protected slightly from some of the intensity of it at the time because I was just so single-mindedly focused on this thing, which you need to be to do something like that. It was my team and my poor family who caught the worst of that, but it was intense." -Entertainment Weekly

Did Jessica perform the tradition of dunking herself in salt water when she crossed the equator for the first time?

Yes. In fact, she filmed the moment and shared the equator video with her followers. It could be found via Jessica Watson's blog. "Oh, it's my first time across the equator," she stated, "so uh, it's traditional to have a dunk in salt water as you go across." She then proceeded to pour a bucket of salt water over her head, similar to what she does in the movie. Jessica Watson celebrates crossing the equator for the first time by performing the tradition of drenching herself in salt water.

Is Jessica Watson dyslexic?

Yes. "For a long time I struggled with reading and spelling," she wrote in her book, adding that she still has problems with spelling. She said that her mom and teachers realized early on that she was dyslexic. The language disorder is typically defined as a "difficulty recognizing and learning the connection between sounds and words." Jessica says that her mother always encouraged her affinity for books and read to her regularly.

What animals did Jessica Watson see on her journey?

A True Spirit fact-check reveals that Jessica reported seeing a variety of marine life, including dolphins, fish, and a blue whale. She saw various birds, including albatross that circled around her boat. In her blog, she also described a frightening moment at night when a large sea creature that she could not identify repeatedly jumped out of the water around her boat.

What did Jessica Watson do while she was on the boat?

"I always had something to do," she told 60 Minutes Australia . "I don't know what I did, but I always found something to do. There was always, you know, a boat to look after, bits and pieces of maintenance to do, and, you know, people to talk to, blogs to write, just sitting there soaking it in, reading. I read a lot, did a little bit of schoolwork." Teenage sailor Jessica Watson (left) shared this image of herself to social media during her around-the-world journey. Actress Teagan Croft (right) is pictured as Watson in the Netflix movie.

Does Jessica Watson have any siblings?

Yes. As seen in the Netflix Jessica Watson movie, she has an older sister named Emily and a younger brother and sister, Tom and Hannah. Like her parents, her siblings were able to communicate with her via her satellite phone and email as she sailed.

Did Jessica Watson get knocked out by a frying pan during a storm?

No. In the first significant storm she encounters in the Netflix True Spirit movie, Jessica is knocked out when an unsecured frying pan hits her in the head. According to Jessica, the scene never happened in real life. "I feel bad calling out some of the things that weren't quite true, but no, no frying pan," she told Entertainment Weekly . "Although there was legitimate danger with stuff flying around inside the boat in a storm — household everyday objects become deadly. Keeping your cabin tidy is something I should have been better at."

Did Jessica Watson's parents fly over in a small plane?

Yes. Though it's not shown in the film, Jessica Watson's parents flew over her boat twice during her journey. The first time was in a twin-engine plane shortly after she rounded Cape Horn (pictured below) in January 2010. The flight was paid for by the media. Due to poor weather conditions, it took three tries until her parents were able to reach her location. "Hi, mum, how are you? How do I look from up there?" she asked her mom during the flyover. "You look so small on that huge ocean," her mother replied. They both shed tears during their conversation. Her parents flew over her again in April to celebrate her entering Australian waters. On her blog, Jessica shared these images on January 14, 2010 of when she rounded Cape Horn (pictured), which is located on Hornos Island in the Hermite Islands group at the foot of South America.

Did Jessica Watson have to perform repairs during her journey?

Yes. In researching the question, "Is True Spirit accurate?" we learned that Watson indeed encountered several complications on her journey, including various repairs that she had to make to her boat. The repairs were chronicled on Jessica Watson's blog, including repairs to the mainsail, battery monitor, stove, toilet (twice), kettle, and the replacement of the wind generator blades. She eventually replaced the wind generator with a spare, and she replaced the engine's fuel pump after being plagued by engine trouble toward the end of her journey. "The little Yanmar engine is going again! A little delicately, but it is running with a water transfer pump rigged up in place of the fuel pump which had stopped working," she explained in her blog. "It's pretty dodgy with all the mismatching hoses but should do the job." As for the leak that arises in the movie, Watson says that it didn't happen in real life. "There's quite a leak in the movie that it looks like I'm fixing with blu-tack. In reality, there was nothing major, which again, was a real testament to the preparation behind it and a lot of things going right; a lot of conservative decisions." Jessica shared this photo on social media in April 2010 with the caption, "Fitting the blade to the new wind generator." Photo: Facebook

How many days was Jessica Watson alone at sea?

Jessica's solo, nonstop, unassisted around-the-world journey took 210 days (approximately seven months) and she logged 24,285 nautical miles, though her officially recognized sailing distance was considerably less. She departed Sydney Harbour on October 18, 2009 and returned on May 15, 2010.

Did Jessica encounter the monster waves shown in the movie?

Yes. She survived a total of seven knockdowns on her voyage, which is when a boat is knocked over on its side to roughly 90 degrees or less by wind or waves. In terms of sailing, it is characterized by the boat capsizing to the point that the mast touches the water. Some of the knockdowns were severe, including one in which Ella's Pink Lady was thrown upside down into the trough of a wave. Jessica clung to the handholds as things flew around the cabin and her feet inched up the wall and onto the roof, with the mast pushed 180 degrees into the water. This was one of four knockdowns that occurred during a late-January storm in the South Atlantic Ocean, which had produced 65-knot winds or greater. The True Spirit movie true story confirms that in the latter portion of her journey, Jessica encountered three monster low-pressure systems that formed in succession off Antarctica and surged through the Southern Ocean, producing 50-knot winds and gigantic waves up to 12 meters (39 feet) high.

Was Jessica Watson's boat underwater?

In an intense moment in the Netflix movie, Jessica's boat is submerged upside down and is at least 15 feet underwater. Several minutes seem to pass before her boat resurfaces. The real Jessica Watson said that this moment in the film was dramatized. "But of course, there's movie magic involved as well," she said. "There are some details that certainly don't follow the reality, and sailors will, no doubt, pick them up. The big storm scene where the boat's underwater for quite some time, in reality, wasn't that dramatic. But in that moment, it certainly felt like it. So maybe it's sort of true to the feeling behind it." -Practical Boat Owner She told Entertainment Weekly , "The 15 ft. underwater is real because my emergency beacon did self-activate as the boat sank. That happened. But the time I was upside down for, it certainly felt like a long time. I haven't really got a concept of how long it was in reality, but we are talking seconds compared to what we see in the movie, which stretches on forever in minutes and minutes and minutes. That's a little bit of an exaggeration there, but it was real to the experience of it feeling like forever."

How old was the real Jessica Watson when she completed her solo sailing trip around the world?

Like in the Netflix movie, Jessica was 16 when she sailed into Sydney Harbour on May 15, 2010 to complete her solo, nonstop, unassisted journey around the world. She stepped off the Pink Lady boat and into the arms of her relieved parents just three days before her 17th birthday. Jessica Watson steps off her boat and into the arms of her relieved parents after completing her circumnavigation.

How did Jessica Watson handle being alone at sea for so long?

Jessica says that she handled it "really well." "I'm not sure if that means that I'm really simple or not, but I really did enjoy being by myself," she told 60 Minutes Australia . "I obviously really missed everyone, you know, from the day, the minute I started out of Sydney Harbour, you know, it was something's missing and I missed everyone so badly, but I did, I really enjoyed it. You know, once I got used to it, I enjoyed, you know, the sort of freedom, the independence of being by yourself." Though we don't see it in the Jessica Watson movie, she cried after she departed and the boat with her mom and dad on it had turned back (in the film, they bid her farewell from the dock). In her book, she mentions crying when she found out her brother got his first job because she couldn't be there to congratulate him. She also describes breaking down and crying prior to passing Cape Horn when she felt like she wasn't making any headway toward the cape. Her parents were scheduled to fly over and she felt guilty that she was delaying everyone. She later describes being in a "black hole" of depression for three days when she was several hundred miles from Australia, blaming her mood on the rainy weather but then saying that justification was "complete nonsense." Jessica Watson (left) is pictured as she rounds Cape Horn in poor weather conditions. As she did in the movie (right), she was able to talk to her parents via sat-phone, including when they flew over her location. Photo: Facebook

Did Jessica expect nearly a hundred thousand people to show up to welcome her home?

No, her surprise in the movie is true to real life. "I expected a few people here to meet me," she told 60 Minutes Australia , "but what we got coming into Harbour was just completely overwhelming." Roughly one hundred thousand people packed Sydney Harbour to welcome her home, including Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who called her the "newest Australian hero," to which she really did disagree. "I don't consider myself a hero, I'm an ordinary girl," she told the crowd. "You don't have to be someone special to achieve something amazing, you've just got to have a dream, believe in it, and work hard."

Did Jessica Watson chronicle her journey in a blog?

Yes. The True Spirit true story confirms that Jessica Watson's blog featured near-daily posts that she made about her journey. She also shared many pics and several videos with her growing number of supporters. Each one of her posts received hundreds of comments, mostly wishing her well. Though she has a new website at JessicaWatson.com.au , her original blog from her journey can still be read at YougestRound.Blogspot.com . It's a must-read if you want a better idea of what her real-life trip was like. On her blog, Jessica shared this picture that she took from atop the mast of the Pink Lady in January 2010.

Did Jessica Watson's journey add up to an officially recognized circumnavigation?

No. Technically, her primarily southern journey did not go far enough north of the equator to satisfy the World Speed Sailing Record Council (WSSRC) to be a true around-the-world trip. The WSSRC, which is the official record body, recognizes a full circumnavigation of the globe as having traveled an orthodromic distance (great circle) of at least 21,600 nautical miles, the circumference of the Earth. According to Sail-World.com , Jessica's voyage came up at least 2,000 nautical miles short and therefore would not go into the WSSRC's record books as a full global circumnavigation. It's true that her own log had her traveling 24,285 nautical miles, but official sailing distances do not include the amount her vessel tacked and detoured for weather. The 1999 officially-recognized circumnavigation of one of her idols, German-Australian sailor Jesse Martin, went significantly farther north of the equator. "I could give you a million technical arguments, you know, my trip is no different to so many other people who have circumnavigated and you know become very famous for doing it," said Jessica, "but it's like I said, it doesn't worry me. There's always going to be someone out there who says something, and possibly because they just don't want to believe that it's possible for a 16-year-old to sail around the world." In her book True Spirit , she stated, "If I haven't been sailing around the world, then it beats me what I've been doing out here all this time!" Her manager, Andrew Fraser, defended her journey by pointing out that the WSSRC does not recognize records achieved by sailors who are not yet eighteen, so their input doesn't matter. He argued that it was never stated she would be going for a world record, simply that she would become the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe solo, nonstop, and unassisted ( Brisbane Times ). In the book, Jessica says that she wrote several letters to the WSSRC asking the organization what she had to do to secure the record. They responded by stating that she would not be able to since age records were no longer recognized. The "youngest" category was removed in an effort to prevent ambitious parents from sending ever-younger kids out to sea. Still, she felt that she had done everything necessary for the record, including starting and returning from the same point and crossing the equator and all meridians of longitude. She pointed out that she sailed "a little longer" than Kay Cottee's solo, unassisted, and nonstop circumnavigation, which was recognized by the WSSRC.

Where can I see Jessica Watson's boat, Ella's Pink Lady ?

The nearly 34-foot yacht was purchased jointly in 2011 by the Queensland and Commonwealth governments for $300,000. It is currently on display at the Queensland Maritime Museum. Jessica Watson is pictured with the boat Ella's Pink Lady at the Queensland Maritime Museum, where it has been on display since 2011. Photo: Queensland Maritime Museum Facebook

Where is Jessica Watson today?

After successfully completing her around-the-world journey, Jessica wrote about it in her 2010 book True Spirit , which became the basis for the 2023 Netflix movie. The TV documentary 210 Days , narrated by Richard Branson, was also released in 2010. It featured footage of Jessica before, during, and after her solo trip. In 2011, she was named Young Australian of the Year, and in 2012, she was awarded the Order of Australia Medal. Jessica became involved in various projects, including becoming the youngest skipper in Australia's famous Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Her team, which was the youngest ever to compete, took second in their division. Humanitarian work included becoming a Youth Representative for the United Nations World Food Programme, a role that took her to far-away Laos and refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan. According to her website, Jessica graduated from university, completed an MBA, and was a founding member of the marine start-up Deckee, which advertises itself as an "all-in-one boating app" that combines official information with crowdsourced reports, focusing on marine weather, safety alerts, activity logging, location sharing, official regulations, and local knowledge. In 2014, she gave a TEDx Talk in Brisbane in which she discussed her experience sailing around the world. She wrote a second book that was published in 2018, a sailing-themed middle-grade novel titled Indigo Blue . She's been a sought-after corporate speaker and has worked as a management consultant as part of Deloitte's Human Capital consulting team. In 2021, she was a consultant on the True Spirit Netflix movie about her 2010 circumnavigation. The real Jessica Watson (left) was a consultant on the True Spirit Netflix movie. She's pictured with actress Teagan Croft (right) who portrays her in the film. Photo: Instagram @jessicawatson_93

Is Jessica Watson married?

In 2021, tragedy struck when Jessica Watson's boyfriend of ten years, Cameron Dale, 29, died six weeks after suffering a catastrophic stroke. The pair had met at Hamilton Island's Race Week in 2011, the year after Jessica's solo circumnavigation. Like Jessica, he was a passionate sailor and had spent days trying to meet her. At the time of Cameron Dale's death, Jessica had been acting as a consultant on the True Spirit movie and continued to do so after his passing. However, she points out that she was not heavily involved in the shooting of the movie, "Because obviously, I was with Cam in an ICU (Intensive Care Unit)." On Instagram, she wrote, "On Monday, 30 August 2021 we lost our Cam – my long-term partner in every aspect of life and planned future. ... Cam and I have been inseparable since 2011, our shared world centered on messing about on boats. Describing what Cam means to me is impossible – everyone who knows us understands how much we simply loved each other. ... Being Cam's 'Jess' is the role I'm most proud of." Just over a year later, The Weekend Australian Magazine wrote an article about her loss. In it, she stated, "I've been called courageous for my sailing exploits – but the courage it's taken to get through this is incomparable." Tragically, Jessica Watson's boyfriend of ten years, Cameron Dale, passed away in 2021 after suffering a severe stroke. Photo: Facebook Jessica Watson

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‘True Spirit’ Review: Around the World in 210 Days

Nothing rocks the boat for long in this can-do drama based on the true story of Jessica Watson, an Australian teenager who sailed the globe.

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An adult man wearing a cap and sunglasses stands beside a young woman in a loosefitting sweatshirt on the deck of a sailboat.

By Nicolas Rapold

The soft-rock bard Christopher Cross once sang, “Sailing takes me away.” For one gutsy Aussie, Jessica Watson, “away” meant circling the globe at age 16. “True Spirit” streamlines and sanitizes her impressive real-life feat , which began in October 2009, into pure inspo fuel, recounting Watson’s maritime journey without ever turning grim for long.

A sunny Teagan Croft (“Titans”) plays Watson, backed by Cliff Curtis as the coach and Anna Paquin as the iron-willed mom in a loving family, alongside a softie dad (Josh Lawson) and three cute siblings. Watson’s trial run ends in a collision, triggering a media frenzy, but she sets out eastward as planned on a pink sailboat covered in decals.

The cleanly shot movie cruises through storm-tossed seas and dead air alike, buoyed by a soundtrack of teen anthems, as well as flashbacks to Watson as a tween. Her solitude isn’t absolute, thanks to phone and internet access (she vlogs), and she celebrates Christmas virtually with the family, who packed gifts for her. (On the actual journey, her parents also did flyovers in a small plane.)

It all goes by fast — is that the Indian Ocean already? — and nothing rocks the boat for long, though a final-boss storm plays as a cliffhanger (albeit a brisk one). The message of manifesting your goals reigns supreme, which is great, but it’s worth mentioning that Watson’s willpower benefits from the privileges of financial security, family support and a curmudgeonly-turned-selfless coach. Without all that backing, seven months alone on a sailboat might be a non-starter (though many of us, myself included, would be in no rush).

True Spirit Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 49 minutes. Watch on Netflix.

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Netflix movie about record-breaking sailor celebrates director's cut.

Netflix's upcoming True Spirit movie, starring Teagan Croft and based on a true story, celebrates its picture lock with a behind-the-scenes photo.

Netflix 's upcoming film True Spirit has celebrated a picture lock on the director's cut. Based on the real-life adventures of Jessica Watson, as detailed in her sailing memoir of the same name. The movie chronicles Watson's 210-day journey to becoming the youngest person to sail solo and non-stop around the world at 16 years old. Titans star Teagan Croft plays Watson in the family flick, which filmed across Australia in 2021 and also stars Anna Paquin. Powerhouse Sarah Spillane ( Around the Block ), who serves as both director and a co-writer alongside Cathy Randall, has been teasing fans about the project on social media.

True Spirit 's production company Resonate Entertainment shared one of Spillane's snaps with an artsy filter this week. Boasting a picture lock on the film's director's cut, the photo peeped editors on a Zoom call and showed a glimpse at a sailing scene from the movie. The post was captioned with a heartfelt message of thanks, saying, "We have so much gratitude for [Spillane]and all of the talents around the globe who came together to make this film happen." Check out the photo below.

Related: Netflix: Every Movie & TV Show Releasing in January 2022

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This is certainly not the first glimpse of the project that Resonate has shared. Both the production company and Spillane herself have been posting tidbits from the international shoot of Netflix's True Spirit to their respective pages. Fans have been treated to various pictures of Watson's taffy-bottomed sailboat "Ella's Pink Lady," in which she completed her arduous journey in from Sydney, Australia in 2009. Many remain eager to see Croft take the wheel as Watson in the finished film.

Locking the director's cut is a sign that True Spirit is close to being completed. Film lovers appreciate Spillane and the producers at Resonate for being so transparent about the process. Of course, audiences will have to wait until the final version sails onto Netflix to fully bask in Watson's amazing story, which served as a true inspiration at the time of its occurrence, and likely will again to a whole new generation of viewers when True Spirit hits screens.

Next: Netflix’s Top 10 Movies & TV Shows This Week

Source: Resonate Entertainment

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The true story behind Titans star Teagan Croft's new Netflix movie

True Spirit is mostly very true!

preview for True Spirit | Official Trailer | (Netflix)

That being said, there are some films of true stories that hew very close to reality, and True Spirit is one of them. Jessica Watson, played by Titans ' star Teagan Croft , did face many of the same hurdles and triumphs as she does in the film all aboard her trusty boat Ella’s Pink Lady.

As in the film, Watson was born in 1993 and spent most of her childhood in or around boats with her family, including her mother Julie (played by Anna Paquin ) her father Roger (Josh Lawson) and her siblings Emily (Bridget Webb), Tom (Stacy Clausen), and Hannah (Vivien Turner).

josh lawson , anna paquin and teagan croft , true spirit

She was inspired to sail around the globe solo, without assistance or interruption, by the story of another young sailor: Jesse Martin. When she was 12, Jessica's mother read her Martin's book Lionheart: A Journey of the Human Spirit.

As in the film, Jessica was hands-on involved in the preparation for her trip. Where the movie departs most dramatically from fact is in the creation of Jessica's sailing coach, Ben Bryant, played by Fear the Walking Dead and Avatar star Cliff Curtis.

He was inspired by a whole host of people who helped Jessica realise her dream. In a recent Instagram post, Jessica wrote: "The fictional character Ben is one of my favourite things about the movie. Ben represents a whole team of people.

"While there are many who so deserve their own character [Cliff Curtis] has beautifully captured the spirit of these men who were so determined to see a young girl take on the world and the way they are some of my best mates. Forever grateful to everyone who played a part in making the voyage possible!"

As far as the actual record goes, Jessica did not attain it. Despite sailing around the globe in 210 days on a 33-foot vessel, the World Speed Sailing Record Council categorises a full circumnavigation of the globe as being an orthodromic distance (great circle) of at least 21,600 nautical miles, of which she was short about 2,000 nautical miles (and at only 16 years old!).

Still, Jessica's feat was obviously impressive. And like the film depicts, there were really hundreds of thousands of people there to greet her when she landed back in Sydney 210 days after she set out.

In the film, Jessica is shown as being overwhelmed by surprise at the number of people who showed up to see her in. In real life, she told 60 Minutes Australia : "I expected a few people here to meet me, but what we got coming into harbour was just completely overwhelming."

It's unsurprising that people were impressed by her stamina. In the film, Jessica is shown sailing through unimaginably high waves and rough weather, which was all true.

teagan croft as jessica watson in true spirit

In real life, she made it through seven of what are called knockdowns, which is when a boat is knocked on its side to 90 degrees or worse by wind or waves. In addition, she survived her boat being capsized and three monster low-pressure systems.

If you want to watch her journey without the sensationalism (albeit minor, in this case) of fiction, there is also a documentary called 210 Days , narrated by Sir Richard Branson. Watson also wrote a book about her journey called True Spirit: The Aussie girl who took on the world .

True Spirit is now available to watch on Netflix.

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Gabriella Geisinger is a freelance journalist and film critic, and was previously Deputy Movies Editor at Digital Spy. She loves Star Wars , coming-of-age stories, thrillers , and true crime. A born and raised New Yorker, she also loves coffee and the colour black, obviously.

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True Spirit Review and Ending Explained – An Inspirational True Story Brought to Life

There’s a specific film genre that consists of true stories of young, determined girls accomplishing impressive feats despite everyone warning them that it’s not possible. True Spirit is the latest offering of this type, and it’s certainly a strong entry in the genre. Jessica Watson is the perfect candidate for being portrayed onscreen; as the youngest person to ever sail solo, non-stop around the world, her achievement was basically begging to be made into a film.

True spirit review and plot summary, is true spirit good, true spirit ending explained.

Sarah Spillane directs and co-writes the Australian biopic based on Jessica Watson’s book, True Spirit: The Aussie Girl Who Took On the World . The film opens as Jess (Teagan Croft) reflects on her relationship with the ocean and her love for sailing.

Then, we see Jess on her boat, Pink, where she looks as at home as most teen girls are in their bedrooms. She’s on her test voyage for her upcoming plans, but disaster strikes suddenly when a cargo ship runs into her small sailboat. She’s rocked (literally) by the disaster, and Pink needs substantial repairs, but she sticks to her guns that she needs to set out on her sail around the world in just a few weeks.

Her parents and three siblings are supportive, as well as her sailing coach Ben (Cliff Curtis), but the rest of the world seems to be waiting to see her fail. Some simply state that the 16-year-old girl is incapable of sailing a ship by herself all the way around the world, but there are also child welfare groups that question whether her parents should be allowing her to do the challenge. But despite the worries of Roger (Josh Lawson) and Julie (Anna Paquin), they support her desire to be the youngest person to complete the journey.

As Jess prepares, the audience is shown flashbacks to her as a young girl deciding that she wants to do the voyage and learning to sail. This helps contextualize her love of sailing in the present without needing as much exposition.

The film explores how the press circled her, her family, and her coach like vultures, with one reporter in particular – Craig Atherton (Todd Lasance) – eager to press them on the risks of the journey. Despite the odds, Jess finishes her preparations and bids a tearful goodbye to her family and Ben and sets off.

The rest of the film is taken up by Jess’s time on the water while also cutting back to her family anxiously awaiting her phone calls with her progress. Jess films video logs while on the boat, which are a clever way to give her a good reason to talk to the camera and share her thoughts and feelings.

Croft’s performance as Jess is all the more impressive because of the large number of scenes that she is in by herself, on the boat. Curtis and Paquin also give solid performances as Jess’s coach and mother, respectively, who take different approaches in their worries about her safety.

True Spirit, though based on a compelling story, doesn’t fully live up to its potential. The CGI is shoddy in places and the overall tone and film-making are somewhat Disney Channel-esque. It definitely seems meant to appeal to younger audiences, despite the somewhat intimidating storm sequences.

However, for family audiences, it’s an engaging and inspirational film. Not only does it show Jess Watson prevailing above all those who doubted her to achieve her goals, but it also touches on her additional challenge of being dyslexic. It’s the sort of film that encourages young women, in particular, to go after their dreams – and those are always worth seeing.

With a film based on the story of a true person, it’s possible that audience members may already know the ending before the film even starts. Considering that Jessica Watson is known for being the youngest person to complete circumnavigating the globe, the ending of the film is clear, and yet director Sarah Spillane manages to build tension as Jess comes to the end of her voyage.

Does Jess survive the storm?

Jess only has one cape left on her voyage when she sees that a bad storm is coming, worse than any of the others that she has faced. While on a phone call, her family urges her to seek shelter in the nearest port, but that would mean giving up the record that is just within her grasp. But Jess thinks of all the people across the world waiting to see if she completes her mission and decides to weather the storm.

She realizes that her best chances are of moving in the same direction as the storm. Her worried parents and ever-supportive siblings support the idea, and Jess uses every instruction she received earlier in her training to ensure her safety. Earlier in the film, she was rebuked by her instructor Ben for not having her collision alarms on and not strapping into the boat for safety, so she ensures to do both.

The ocean is rough and violent, rocking the small boat Pink around. At one point, a large wave capsizes the boat and it seems that all might be over for Jess. Her family even receives the alert that the boat is underwater. However Pink arises again and Jess survives.

Does Jess complete her voyage?

The following day, Jess is able to get in touch with her family and let them know that she survived. She stands and marvels at the sea and the fact that she survived. The rest of her voyage back home to Sydney, Australia goes smoothly. Her mood is also considerably lifted knowing that her loneliness is almost at an end and she will soon be reunited with her siblings and she is on track to beat the previous record.

What kind of reception does Jess receive back home?

When Jess arrives back at the harbor, 80,000 people are waiting to cheer her on as she comes into port. Journalists and spectators celebrate while she has a tearful reunion with her parents and siblings.

The Prime Minister introduces her at a press conference, calling her a hero, but she refutes it, stating that she’s just a girl who believed in her dreams. The film then concludes by showing footage of the real Jessica Watson’s homecoming and video logs from her time on the ship.

It’s an amazing reminder that as impressive as the events of the film seem, they are based on an actual teenage girl’s achievement.

What did you think of True Spirit? Comment below.

RELATED: Where was True Spirit filmed?

Article by Nicole Ackman

Nicole joined Ready Steady Cut in June 2022 as a Film Critic, publishing over 60 articles for the site. Nicole is a writer and historian based in Raleigh, North Carolina, with vast experience in entertainment journalism and museums. Her knowledge of films has been noticed, and she was approved as a certified critic with Rotten Tomatoes in 2022.

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'True Spirit': How Jessica Watson missed out on being the youngest person to sail solo around the world

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA: Netflix has a knack for telling stories that create a lot of impact on the minds of viewers and one such project is the upcoming movie ‘ True Spirit ’. Projects based on real-life events are always nerve-wracking because they give a perspective about an incident that people might not have heard of and the aforementioned title is one of those rare titles. Based on the true story of Jessica Watson, the movie primarily focuses on a young girl who decided to defy the odds and break stereotypes by becoming the younger person to sail solo, non-stop, and unassisted around the world.

At first, people believed that she shouldn’t do that because she is too young and it might prove to be fatal for her. With the help of her supportive family and coach, Watson never backed down and started preparing for the journey. On October 18, 2009, Watson sailed out of Sydney Harbour in her boar named ‘Elsa’s Pink Lady’. The sailor passed near New Zealand, Fiji, Kiribati, Cape Horn (Chile), Cape of Good Hope (South Africa), Cape Leeuwin (Australia), and South East Cape (Tasmania) during her journey.

'True Spirit' Review: A magnificent tale of perseverance and a towering achievement

'True Spirit' Ending Explained: Did Jessica Watson survive the biggest storm of her life?

Teen sailor Jessica Watson arrives back home in Sydney following her world record attempt to become the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world, in Sydney Harbour on May 15, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. The 16-year old set out in October last year to break the record held by fellow Australian Jesse Martin, but there remains doubt from the World Speed Sailing Record Council (the official record body) as to whether she sailed far enough north of the equator to claim the world record.

The young sailor endured a total of 7 knockdowns and several storms to reach the Sydney Harbour. When she returned home, everyone was celebrating and congratulating her for creating a world record, but a website that tracks everything about the sailing universe claimed that she didn’t achieve the record. But what was the reason behind this claim? Let’s take a look.

‘True Spirit’: Why was Jessica Watson never named the world record holder?

As soon as she landed offshore, people started talking about the world record, but it was claimed that she missed the world record because she did not cover the distance required to meet strict criteria set by the official sailing body in relation to the circumnavigation of the world.

According to the World Speed Sailing Record Council, there is a rule for around-the-world sailing records. The rule states that “the length must be at least 21,600 nautical miles calculated along the shortest possible track from the starting port and back that does not cross land and does not go below 63 degrees. The equator must be crossed during the journey.

Jessica Watson attends the Sport Australia Hall of Fame at Crown Casino on October 20, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia.

As per the logs maintained by Watson, she traveled around 23,000 nautical miles during her sail. However, according to the great circle calculations by several Australian navigators, she has traveled 18,265 nm orthodromic distance (or 19,631 rhumb line distance). This means she was 2,335 nautical miles short of sailing the entire globe.

There was a lot of drama regarding the record and Watson’s manager Andrew Fraser slammed the critics for scrutinizing a young girl’s achievement. He also noted that Watson and her team never said that they were trying to attempt the world record. Fraser said, “We’ve never used to word ‘world record. We’ve said that she would be the youngest person to (solo circumnavigate the globe unassisted), so people can make their own judgments.”

What did Jessica Watson say about the criticisms?

As soon as the chatter regarding her sail gathered steam, Watson didn’t shy away from silencing her critics with a scathing reply. Watson never really replies to such things, but she did this time and addressed the situation on her blog. In her blog (via Sydney Morning Herald ), Watson noted that she is disappointed that her attempt to become the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop, and unassisted around the around won’t be recognized because the World Sailing Speed Record Council doesn’t recognize the records set by people who are under-18.

16-year old teen solo sailor Jessica Watson sets sail on her yacht Ella's Pink Lady in Sydney Harbour on October 18, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. Watson is attempting to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world non-stop and unassisted, an estimated 23,000 nautical miles expected to take her around 230 days at sea.

“I don't normally bother addressing critics because someone's always going to be saying something, no matter what I say or do. But I thought I'd have my 2 bobs worth on these claims that I haven't officially sailed around the world. Call me immature but I've actually been having a bit of a giggle over the whole thing. If I haven't been sailing around the world, then it beats me what I've been doing out here all this time! Yes, it's a shame that my voyage won't be recognized by a few organizations because I'm under 18, but it really doesn't worry me,” Watson wrote.

Her inspiring journey is the main storyline of the Netflix movie ‘True Spirit’, which is available for streaming on Netflix.

Is ‘True Spirit’ Based On A True Story? All About The Netflix Film And The Events That Inspired It

Jessica said it was “scarily accurate” to what she experienced on her journey.

At just 16 years old, Jessica set out on her sailboat with the goal of sailing around the globe , non-stop and unassisted. Naturally, things aren’t seamless on her journey, and Jessica runs into some terrifyingly rough seas, along with some other challenges.

It’s understandable to have questions while watching this, including whether this story is real , and if so, how much of it is true . Here’s what the Netflix movie gets right , what the streamer added, and an update on where Jessica is today.

Yes, True Spirit is based on a true story.

The real Jessica Watson really did set sail around the world at age 16 back in 2010, and the film aims to capture and recreate her remarkable journey for viewers.

According to her website , Jessica sailed around some of the world’s most remote oceans, surviving seven knockdowns (when a boat tips over into the water), and 210 days alone at sea to become the youngest person to sail alone, nonstop around the world.

Jessica started a blog and wrote a book after her journey in 2010 called True Spirit , which the movie is based on. She also filmed a documentary while she was at sea, which was later narrated by Richard Branson.

Jessica really did travel the globe in her sailboat.

It sounds far-fetched, but all the major events in the film actually happened. So, understandably, when Jessica arrived back home, she got a lot of attention for her feat.

Jessica was inspired by the book Lionheart by Jesse Martin , who sailed the world solo, according to the Australian Museum . She spent years preparing for her journey, logging 6,000 coastal miles and 6,000 ocean miles, per the Australian Museum.

“I’m just an ordinary girl who believed in her dream,” Jessica said in a speech . “You don’t have to be someone special, or anything special, to achieve something amazing. You just have to have a dream, believe in it, and work hard.”

Jessica Watson is still alive today.

Jessica finished her journey around the world in May 2010, arriving home just shy of her 17 th birthday. She was later named Youth Representative for the United Nations World Food Program, and is a founding member of the marine start-up Deckee.com . She also has an MBA and has written a second book, a novel called Indigo Blue .

These days, Jessica works as a corporate speaker and management consultant in Deloitte’s Human Capital consulting team, according to her website. She’s currently 29 years old.

Jessica is played by actress Teagan Croft.

Teagan Croft, an 18-year-old actress from Australia, takes on the role of Jessica in the film. And the two actually seem pretty close, which makes sense consider the fact Jessica was involved in the making of the film.

Teagan posted an Instagram with Jessica, captioning it: "All my love to Jess, Sarah, and the hundreds of people who made this film possible... and my gorgeous little actor boat."

Jessica says the movie very closely captures her experience.

Jessica appeared in a recent podcast, I've Got News For You, where she did an interview about the film and said the movie was pretty accurate. There’s some “movie magic,” but True Spirit is “scarily accurate” to what she experienced on her journey, she said.

In another Instagram , Jessica posted a video clip from the trailer and explains that "some of @teagancroft’s lines ring so true to me today - it’s a little unnerving in a lovely way."

Not everything is 100 percent accurate.

The movie features a character named Ben Bryant, who is Jessica’s mentor in the movie . The fictional Ben helps young Jessica in the lead-up to her trip and as she sails around the world. But “Ben” is actually based on a group of people who helped Jessica, she shared on Instagram .

What does the film add to her story?

The movie helps bring Jessica’s story to life, and she seems happy to be affiliated with it. Jessica has repeatedly posted about True Spirit on Instagram, applauding the acting and filmmaking.

Catch the new film streaming on Netflix now.

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Where is Jess Watson’s Boat Pink Lady Now?

The most valuable possession of a sailor is their boat, and the same applies to Jessica”Jess” Watson . At 16, the young Australian sailor became the youngest to complete a solo non-stop circumnavigation of the world. Apart from her family and mentors, the one who played the most crucial role in her journey was her boat, Ella’s Pink Lady. The challenging experiences Jessica and her pink-hulled vessel faced during their 210-day-long voltage have been intricately explored in Netflix’s ‘ True Spirit ,’ a touching adventure drama biopic on the sailor’s experiences. If you enjoyed Jessica’s story and wish to learn more about her boat and its current whereabouts, here’s what we found!

Which Boat Did Jessica Watson Have?

A 10.23 meter-long model S&S 34 sailboat manufactured by the American company Sparkman & Stephens, Ella’s Pink Lady was the vessel Jessica Watson used for her global voyage in 2009. Interestingly, it was the same design used by renowned sailors, including her childhood idol, Jesse Martin. Jessica’s mentors, Don McIntyre and Bruce Arms helped her obtain the model and had it refitted with new equipment under their supervision. New additions included a complete rebuild of its electrical system, a new galley, and reconditioned diesel and water tanks.

Not just that, the boat had a well-equipped satellite communication system and a watermaker that allowed the sailor to produce potable water. Given the boat’s pink-colored hull and one of Jessica’s sponsors being the French skincare brand Ella Baché, she named it Ella’s Pink Lady. Moreover, the sailing vessel had a self-steering wind vane system. To make it feel more personalized, Jessica named the system “Parker,” after the eponymous character from the TV show, ‘Thunderbirds.’

Parker drives a pink Rolls-Royce in the series, and the young sailor found this commonality with her boat interesting. Unfortunately, during a test run in September 2009, Ella’s Pink lady collided with a 63,000-tonne bulk carrier, causing it to get dismasted. Luckily, Jessica escaped unscathed, but the boat required heavy repairs. It was then sent to the Gold Coast City Marina, where several damages were undone with aid from sponsors.

This included damage to the hull, deck, and chain plate, re-painting the damaged areas, replacing and repairing the damaged stanchions, lifelines, and bow roller, and replacing damaged navigation lights. In addition, the sponsor logos were refitted to the starboard side. Finally, the new mast and replacement rigging were fitted, and the boat was made as good as new for Jessica to commence her journey. After she set sail on October 10, 2009, she faced numerous difficulties, including rough weather, dangerous storms, and seven knockdowns.

But because Ella’s Pink Lady was a sturdy and reliable boat, Jessica completed her journey by May 15, 2010, without any significant damages. Since she was herself trained in boat maintenance and repair, she noted in her blog all the repairs she had carried out in those 210 days. Not just did Jessica repair the battery monitor, the stove, kettle, toilet, and mainsail, but she also replaced the wind generator blades and the engine’s fuel pump of the engine. Yet, despite all these repairs and difficulties, Ella’s Pink Lady stood by its owner like a worthy companion for 23,000 nautical miles.

Jessica Watson’s Boat Now Resides at the Queensland Maritime Museum

Following Jessica Watson’s glorious return to Sydney in May 2010, Ella’s Pink Lady became a sort of national treasure, with several concerns about its future. After much deliberation, the state and federal governments came together in April 2011 and jointly purchased the yacht for $300,000. It was then stationed at the Queensland Maritime Museum in Brisbane, while volunteers also built a replica of its cabin for visitors. Since then, the yacht has been a permanent part of the museum’s exhibits, with visitors flocking each year to admire and honor Jessica’s journey.

Unfortunately, news emerged in 2020 that Elle’s Pink Lady was in poor condition due to a lack of maintenance. Museum officials also stated that it had become devalued, and despite its historical relevance, there were no prospective buyers ready to pay a premium. Regardless, Jessica’s yacht still remains for visitors to see at the museum and will always be a pivotal part of her and Australia’s maritime history.

Read More: Roger and Julie Watson: Where are Jessica Watson’s Parents Now?

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Stream It Or Skip It: ‘True Spirit’ on Netflix, A Movie Based On The True Story of a Teen’s Global Sailing Voyage

Where to stream:.

True Spirit
Stream It Or Skip It

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Stream it or skip it: ‘on the line’ on netflix, with mel gibson racing to save his family (again), stream it or skip it: ‘on fire’ on peacock, a wildfire action-drama from ‘twilight’ star peter facinelli, stream it or skip it: ‘ramy youssef: more feelings’ on hbo finds a comedian no longer willing to apologize for his faith.

True Spirit (now on Netflix) is the rare BOATS ( Based On A True Story ) movie with actual boats in it! This mini-biopic of sorts stars Teagan Croft of DC TV series Titans as real-life Australian sailor Jessica Watson, who, at 16, was the youngest person ever to complete a solo around-the-world sailing trip. Anna Paquin and Josh Lawson play her concerned parents, and Cliff Curtis is her gruff, seasoned-seafarer coach, who helps her through the storms and doldrums and other hazards of all the oceans of the Earth. Are you ready to be inspired by the overwhelming BOATSiness of this drama? You better be.

TRUE SPIRIT : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: SEPT., 2009, AUSTRALIA’S SUNSHINE COAST: Jessica (Croft) is awakened by an awful, awful noise, the sound of her sailboat getting the living crap scraped out of it by a passing ocean liner. Thank Poseidon she was only 20 miles from shore, on a trial run for the real thing, the circumnavigating-the-entire-damn-planet thing. She and her boat with the snapped mast are rescued by Ben Bryant (Curtis), the ol’ sea cap’n who’s her primary aide on this monumental endeavor. Jessica’s intentions are the subject of public scrutiny, with media microphone-waggers, when they’re not oozing slime from their pores, criticizing her parents for allowing her to endanger herself, and bringing up Ben’s tragic past at every opportunity (one of his crew members once died during a sailing race).

But Jessica, well, she’s determined. Single-minded. Searingly focused. All that. Circling the globe is her dream, declared during a dinner-table flashback when she was still a tween (played by Alyla Browne). She struggles with dyslexia, but is that gonna stop her? Nope. Now, she has to fight through the controversy and get her boat, dubbed Pink, fixed for the real magilla, so cue up Colbie Caillat’s ‘Brighter Than the Sun,’ because it’s montage time! Everyone in her home is rooting for her – her three siblings, her concerned mother Julie (Paquin) and her even more concerned father Roger (Lawson), the latter of whom underestimated her conviction. This ain’t no phase, jack. She’s gonna make waves , literally and figuratively.

And so, on 18 Oct. 2009, Ben gives her his lucky pocketknife, Julie tells her “don’t forget to dance in the rain,” her big sister sets up a blog for her, her little sister gives her a stuffed koala and she sets sail – cue Sheppard’s ‘Say Geronimo,’ because remember, Geronimo is something you say when you take a big-ass leap. It’ll be a 200-day journey. She communicates with Ben and her family via satellite phone. She keeps an online video diary. The media keeps tabs on her, ready to celebrate her or give her an I-told-you-so. A CGI whale breaches over yonder as she does stuff with this rope and that rope. So many ropes! She reaches the equator. She bonks her head during a rough storm. She decorates the cabin with tinsel and calls the fam on Christmas. There’s the triumph of rounding Cape Horn, the depressing dregs of the windless equatorial waters. Turns out, 200 days alone on the oceans is plenty of time to stir up metaphors about life and such.

What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: All is Lost , except Robert Redford is a touch older than our protagonist here. That and Adrift , the 2018 Shailene Woodley vehicle.

Performance Worth Watching: The boilerplate screenplay only gives Croft rudimentary material to work with, but she focuses on maintaining Jessica’s humility in the face of a remarkable achievement, and that’s a smart move.

Memorable Dialogue: Jessica calls home, bleeding after a storm tosses her around:

Julie: You need a doctor! Jessica: I didn’t pack one of those.

Sex and Skin: None.

Our Take: True Spirit is as generic as its title, feel-good fodder that’s family-friendly but never wholly compelling. It touches all the usual narrative bases – small triumphs and large travails, a falling-out with her gruff mentor, easy antagonists in media skeptics, a moment of extreme peril during which her family fears the worst, etc. And if that feels like artificial, manufactured drama, the unconvincing green-screen FX work only compounds the issue.

‘True Spirit’ True Story: How 16-Year-Old Sailor Jessica Watson Inspired the Netflix Movie

Problem is, the film uses vague and simplistic emotional language to tell this story, and banks on its inspirational real-life elements to carry most of the weight. Compare it to All is Lost , which is more of a hardcore survival story, but hones in on the minutiae that keeps its protagonist from filling his lungs with salt water. There’s no observational detail or nuance to Jessica’s problem-solving – when a storm hits, we’re privy to one specificity necessary for her survival, when it surely takes dozens, and we cut between her being jostled roughly in her cabin and Ben and co. back home, gnawing their fingernails while tracking her on a laptop.

Certainly, on its face, Jessica’s story is inspiring, a remarkable achievement. But nothing unexpected occurs in the film, in terms of internal or external drama; you’d think traversing the planet would fundamentally change a person, but the movie isn’t interested in that. She does it because it’s there and you gotta dream big and people cheer her on, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But there has to be more to it. HAS to be.

Our Call: SKIP IT. One person’s innocuous viewing is another’s flimsy drama. SKIP IT.

John Serba is a freelance writer and film critic based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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COMMENTS

The true story of True Spirit: How Jessica Watson sailed around the
True Spirit, Netflix's latest book-to-movie adaptation, is an inspiring tale about Jessica Watson, a teen who endeavors to become the youngest person to sail alone, nonstop, and unassisted around ...
True Spirit (2023)
True Spirit: Directed by Sarah Spillane. With Alyla Browne, Teagan Croft, Cliff Curtis, Josh Lawson. The story of Australian teenager, Jessica Watson, the youngest person ever to sail solo, non-stop around the world.
'True Spirit': The Truth Behind Jessica Watson's Sailing Journey
The movie also features Cliff Curtis, ... 2009, she (literally) set sail on her boat, Ella's Pink Lady, a 34-foot Sparkman & Stephens yacht. In the process, she faced monstrous waves, storms, and ...
Is True Spirit Based on a True Story? Jessica Watson Explains
In 2009, 16-year-old Australian sailor Jessica Watson made headlines for attempting to become the youngest person to complete a solo trip around the world — but not without overcoming a wave of obstacles in and out of the water, including intense media scrutiny. The press initially questioned both her abilities and her parents' judgment to ...
Jessica Watson: the true story of True Spirit star's voyage
Jessica Watson in the spotlight. In the film version of True Spirit viewers are introduced to the teenage Jessica Watson aboard her S&S 34 Ella's Pink Lady on a trial solo sail, when a violent ...
the real sailor behind the True Spirit film
Jessica's unofficial title was usurped in January 2012 by Dutch teenager Laura Dekker, who at 16 years and four months, was nearly eight months younger. Jessica Watson, 16, at the finishing line of her unassisted solo voyage around the world in her yacht Ella's Pink Lady at Sydney Harbour May 15, 2010. Credit: REUTERS/Daniel Munoz/Alamy.
True Spirit
When Jessica Watson sets out to be the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world, she must overcome her greatest fear as she nav...
True Spirit (film)
True Spirit is a 2023 Australian biographical drama film directed by Sarah Spillane and written by Spillane, Cathy Randall, and Rebecca Banner. The film is based on the 2010 memoir of the same name by Jessica Watson, played by Teagan Croft.She is an Australian sailor who was awarded the Order of Australia Medal and is on the Australian Sailing Hall of Fame after attempting a solo global ...
Sailing Adventure True Spirit Is an Ode to Teen Independence
The new movie tells the story of Jessica Watson, who at age 16 became the youngest person to sail around the world solo ... She saves her pennies for a boat, the Pink Lady. Croft, as Watson ...
True Spirit Trailer Shows Jessica Watson's Remarkable Trip ...
By 2010, she had penned her book True Spirit, which told the tale of her experiences while at sea in her tiny, yet formidable, pink sailboat. Image via Netflix RELATED: Netflix Needs to Focus on ...
'True Spirit' trailer highlights true story of teenage solo sailor
The trailer for the film True Spirit starring Australian actress Teagan Croft (Titans) as Watson was released this week. In it, the teenager is shown aboard her pink sailboat, navigating the ever ...
True Spirit vs. the True Story of Teen Sailor Jessica Watson
We pit the True Spirit movie vs. the true story of Jessica Watson, the 16-year-old who sailed solo, unassisted, and nonstop around the world in the boat Ella's Pink Lady. ... was 10.23 meters long (33.6 feet). Built in 1993, the pink boat was a Sparkman & Stephens model S&S 34. French skincare brand Ella Baché sponsored the boat, hence the ...
'True Spirit' Review: Around the World in 210 Days
The soft-rock bard Christopher Cross once sang, "Sailing takes me away.". For one gutsy Aussie, Jessica Watson, "away" meant circling the globe at age 16. "True Spirit" streamlines and ...
Is 'True Spirit' Based on a True Story?
The movie True Spirit is based on the 2010 book of the same name that Watson wrote about her ... and a crowd of thousands showed up to welcome her, and her signature sail boat, Ella's Pink Lady ...
Netflix Movie About Record-Breaking Sailor Celebrates Director's Cut
Fans have been treated to various pictures of Watson's taffy-bottomed sailboat "Ella's Pink Lady," in which she completed her arduous journey in from Sydney, Australia in 2009. Many remain eager to see Croft take the wheel as Watson in the finished film. Locking the director's cut is a sign that True Spirit is close to being completed. Film ...
True Spirit on Netflix
Netflix. She was inspired to sail around the globe solo, without assistance or interruption, by the story of another young sailor: Jesse Martin. When she was 12, Jessica's mother read her Martin's ...
True Spirit Review and Ending Explained
True Spirit Ending Explained. With a film based on the story of a true person, it's possible that audience members may already know the ending before the film even starts. Considering that Jessica Watson is known for being the youngest person to complete circumnavigating the globe, the ending of the film is clear, and yet director Sarah ...
'True Spirit': How Jessica Watson missed out on being the ...
16-year old teen solo sailor Jessica Watson sets sail on her yacht Ella's Pink Lady in Sydney Harbour on October 18, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. Watson is attempting to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world non-stop and unassisted, an estimated 23,000 nautical miles expected to take her around 230 days at sea.
Is Netflix's 'True Spirit' Based On A True Story?
A new Netflix movie, True Spirit, tells the incredible story of a young Australian teenager named Jessica Watson, who decided she wanted to become the youngest person to sail around the world. At ...
True Spirit Ending Explained: How Did Jessica Watson ...
February 4, 2023. True Spirit is the latest movie based on Australian sailor Jessica Watson that premiered on Netflix. Directed and written by Sarah Spillane alongside Rebecca Banner and Cathy Randall, the movie is about the determination and persistence of a young woman to live her lifelong dream. Teagan Croft takes up the role of Jessica, and ...
Jessica Watson
Jessica Watson OAM (born 18 May 1993) is an Australian sailor who was awarded the Order of Australia Medal after attempting a solo circumnavigation at the age of 16. Although her voyage did not meet the distance criterion of 21,600 nautical miles (40,000 km) for a circumnavigation, Watson was nevertheless named the 2011 Young Australian of the Year and awarded the Medal of the Order of ...
Where is Jess Watson's Boat Pink Lady Today? Update
A 10.23 meter-long model S&S 34 sailboat manufactured by the American company Sparkman & Stephens, Ella's Pink Lady was the vessel Jessica Watson used for her global voyage in 2009. Interestingly, it was the same design used by renowned sailors, including her childhood idol, Jesse Martin. Jessica's mentors, Don McIntyre and Bruce Arms ...
'True Spirit' Netflix Review: Stream It or Skip It?
True Spirit (now on Netflix) is the rare BOATS (Based On A True Story) movie with actual boats in it!This mini-biopic of sorts stars Teagan Croft of DC TV series Titans as real-life Australian ...

The true story of True Spirit : What really happened on Jessica Watson's solo sail around the world

Is Jessica Watson a real person?

Did she really attempt to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world?

Did she succeed?

Did all the characters in the movie exist?

Did her pre-voyage trial run really end in a massive collision?

Did she really leave her hairbrush at home?

Did she battle dyslexia during her journey?

Did she get knocked out during a storm?

Did her boat get stuck for a week without any wind?

Did a massive storm temporarily sink her boat?

Was her return to Sydney as epic as it appeared?

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Did Jessica receive a lot of pushback arguing that she was too young to sail solo around the world?

Is Cliff Curtis' character, Ben Bryant, based on a real person?

Did Jessica Watson forget her hairbrush?

What route did Jessica Watson take when she sailed around the world?

Did Jessica Watson's boat steer itself most of the time?

Is the reporter in True Spirit based on a real person?

Did Jessica perform the tradition of dunking herself in salt water when she crossed the equator for the first time?

Is Jessica Watson dyslexic?

What animals did Jessica Watson see on her journey?

What did Jessica Watson do while she was on the boat?

Does Jessica Watson have any siblings?

Did Jessica Watson get knocked out by a frying pan during a storm?

Did Jessica Watson's parents fly over in a small plane?

Did Jessica Watson have to perform repairs during her journey?

How many days was Jessica Watson alone at sea?

Did Jessica encounter the monster waves shown in the movie?

Was Jessica Watson's boat underwater?

How old was the real Jessica Watson when she completed her solo sailing trip around the world?

How did Jessica Watson handle being alone at sea for so long?

Did Jessica expect nearly a hundred thousand people to show up to welcome her home?

Did Jessica Watson chronicle her journey in a blog?

Did Jessica Watson's journey add up to an officially recognized circumnavigation?

Where can I see Jessica Watson's boat, Ella's Pink Lady ?

Where is Jessica Watson today?

Is Jessica Watson married?

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