Would-Be Youngest Person To Sail Around the Globe Crashes on First Day

She had prepared for nearly a year, but 16-year-old Jessica Watson of Australia would not be the yougest person to sail around the world solo.  Rather, on her first night of the trip:

A spokesman for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said her yacht collided with a bulk carrier shortly before 2.30am, about 15 nautical miles due east of Point Lookout, on North Stradbroke Island.

“The bulk carrier is believed to be heading north up the east coast and has allegedly failed to stop.”

I think we all learned an important lesson today about shooting for the stars and how you can achieve anything so long as you dream small.  Do I dare to dream a toasted ham sandwich for lunch?  I do, and I think my dreams will come true.  Do I dream of having a billion dollars?  Do I dream of sailing around the world alone?  Or sailing to Mars?  Or meeting the guy who invented houses?  Or owning a car?  Starts to sound pretty ridiculous, doesn’t it?  Kids, if you believe, you can achieve anything within the scope of what your weaknesses and flaws will allow. 

“She has contacted her parents who in turn called AMSA. She advised that her boat had suffered quite a bit of damage to the vessel and the mast but she herself is OK.”

Maybe next time she will learn to dream not to sail around the world, and I think that if she believes in herself, she can achieve it.

Source: Daily Telegraph.