IN CONVERSATIONS

OCEAN ADVENTURER JESSICA WATSON

A household name at just 16 years old, Jess Watson captured the collective imagination when she became the youngest person to sail solo non-stop around the world. Her courage and determination made global headlines back in May 2010 when she rounded the Heads and sailed into Sydney Harbour, completing a life-altering voyage. These days, Jess spends more time behind a laptop than a helm, thanks to life in the corporate world, but the ocean continues to call to her. In 2024, she joined the Oroton Drumfire crew in the iconic Sydney to Hobart yacht race alongside other notable names including leading offshore sailor Stacey Jackson and Olympian Carolijn Brouwer. She also stepped into the role of ambassador for Oroton’s new Everyday Tote – a versatile tote crafted from recycled plastics that aims to raise awareness and funds for ocean health.

BY EMILY TAYLOR

JANUARY 2025

IN CONVERSATIONS

OCEAN ADVENTURER JESSICA WATSON

A household name at just 16 years old, Jess Watson captured the collective imagination when she became the youngest person to sail solo non-stop around the world. Her courage and determination made global headlines back in May 2010 when she rounded the Heads and sailed into Sydney Harbour, completing a life-altering voyage. These days, Jess spends more time behind a laptop than a helm, thanks to life in the corporate world, but the ocean continues to call to her. In 2024, she joined the Oroton Drumfire crew in the iconic Sydney to Hobart yacht race alongside other notable names including leading offshore sailor Stacey Jackson and Olympian Carolijn Brouwer. She also stepped into the role of ambassador for Oroton’s new Everyday Tote – a versatile tote crafted from recycled plastics that aims to raise awareness and funds for ocean health.

BY EMILY TAYLOR

JANUARY 2025

Oroton has just released the Everyday Bag, made of 99.9% recycled plastics. On your journeys, have you seen firsthand the damage that plastic bottles 
and single use plastics can do in the ocean environment?

“The way I sailed around the world was incredibly remote. In fact, I sailed right through Point Nemo, which is the most remote point on Earth, the furthest point anywhere from land. And even at this point, which is so incredibly remote, down in the South Pacific Ocean, there is still plastic debris. And that was just so confronting - that you can be at the most remote point on Earth and yet still seeing the signs of human pollution.”

You’re working with Oroton on launch of the Everyday Bag – what drew you to the project?

“You grow up loving Oroton and then you go into the corporate world and you’re surrounded by it. I was in the office this afternoon with the team talking about their next Oroton bags. It’s just so much a part of Australian life. Combine that with this incredible initiative to support ocean health and prevent plastic from ending up in the ocean…There’s nothing better than having a bag that's meaningful as well. In a world of choice, it's lovely to be to be doing something good with it.”

You’re joining the Oroton Drumfire crew for the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. What is it like to compete in such a famous competition?

“It’s a globally iconic race - there really isn't other races around the world that compare. The incredible spectacle of Sydney Harbor and leaving that together as a fleet, the intensity of the race - that real sprint - and then the incredibly warm welcome that you get in Hobart really makes it special. And it isn't easy - I suppose that's what makes it as well - it’s a real challenge and the level of competition is right up there.”

You sailed alone and unassisted around the world at 16. What compelled you to undertake such a huge challenge so early in your life?

“Initially, it was curiosity – what it would be like to be alone on the ocean, empty horizons in every direction, for days and months on end, and how that would feel. And then, as time went on, it became a desire to want to challenge the status quo; to prove to the world what a young person - a young girl - was capable of.”

You've spent more time at sea than most of us ever will. What is it about the ocean that inspires you?

“I find the ocean incredibly mesmerizing. To me, it's like a living piece of artwork - every ripple, every wave, is like this living, breathing, beautiful piece of artwork and, for me, that's never going to get old. It’s something you can get entirely lost in. Add to that a boat dancing through the waves and the water moving over the bow and out the stern – it’s just so beautiful you can watch for hours and hours.”

It sounds like is has a meditative effect for you…

“It’s the most extraordinary thing ever for mental health. You can't be near the water without it having that calming effect. Of course, seeing the ocean in absolute fury in a big storm is just as extraordinary. It's awe inspiring, but obviously very dangerous as well. But I consider myself very privileged to have seen the ocean in such an incredible state and experience it from the deck of a small boat.”

How important is it to work with your environment when you’re sailing?

“Life at sea is completely dictated by the weather, so one day can be incredibly different to another, depending on what the conditions are giving you, and you definitely learn that you need to go with and embrace the conditions that you've got. And, particularly, to rest when you can, because you need to be ready for a change at any moment. You're living totally in sync with the weather.”

There must be a lot of lessons you’ve learnt from the sea that can be adapted to everyday life…

“There are so many things you can learn from the ocean and I've made a real point of having to draw from my own story for strength through personal challenges. One of the things that I find incredibly useful in all sorts of different environments is the ability to not be overwhelmed with the enormity of the ocean ahead. The whole world is just too much on some days when you haven't slept a lot and you're cold and it’s grey and you're salty as anything. On those days, it's not to say you let go of the big picture, but you have to give yourself smaller milestones and permission to just deal with that moment and to have a mental discipline around that. It works very well for me at work day-to-day when I’m having a challenging one!”

Oroton has just released the Everyday Bag, made of 99.9% recycled plastics. On your journeys, have you seen firsthand the damage that plastic bottles 
and single use plastics can do in the ocean environment?

“The way I sailed around the world was incredibly remote. In fact, I sailed right through Point Nemo, which is the most remote point on Earth, the furthest point anywhere from land. And even at this point, which is so incredibly remote, down in the South Pacific Ocean, there is still plastic debris. And that was just so confronting - that you can be at the most remote point on Earth and yet still seeing the signs of human pollution.”

You’re working with Oroton on launch of the Everyday Bag – what drew you to the project?

“You grow up loving Oroton and then you go into the corporate world and you’re surrounded by it. I was in the office this afternoon with the team talking about their next Oroton bags. It’s just so much a part of Australian life. Combine that with this incredible initiative to support ocean health and prevent plastic from ending up in the ocean…There’s nothing better than having a bag that's meaningful as well. In a world of choice, it's lovely to be to be doing something good with it.”

You’re joining the Oroton Drumfire crew for the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. What is it like to compete in such a famous competition?

“It’s a globally iconic race - there really isn't other races around the world that compare. The incredible spectacle of Sydney Harbor and leaving that together as a fleet, the intensity of the race - that real sprint - and then the incredibly warm welcome that you get in Hobart really makes it special. And it isn't easy - I suppose that's what makes it as well - it’s a real challenge and the level of competition is right up there.”

You sailed alone and unassisted around the world at 16. What compelled you to undertake such a huge challenge so early in your life?

“Initially, it was curiosity – what it would be like to be alone on the ocean, empty horizons in every direction, for days and months on end, and how that would feel. And then, as time went on, it became a desire to want to challenge the status quo; to prove to the world what a young person - a young girl - was capable of.”

You've spent more time at sea than most of us ever will. What is it about the ocean that inspires you?

“I find the ocean incredibly mesmerizing. To me, it's like a living piece of artwork - every ripple, every wave, is like this living, breathing, beautiful piece of artwork and, for me, that's never going to get old. It’s something you can get entirely lost in. Add to that a boat dancing through the waves and the water moving over the bow and out the stern – it’s just so beautiful you can watch for hours and hours.”

It sounds like is has a meditative effect for you…

“It’s the most extraordinary thing ever for mental health. You can't be near the water without it having that calming effect. Of course, seeing the ocean in absolute fury in a big storm is just as extraordinary. It's awe inspiring, but obviously very dangerous as well. But I consider myself very privileged to have seen the ocean in such an incredible state and experience it from the deck of a small boat.”

How important is it to work with your environment when you’re sailing?

“Life at sea is completely dictated by the weather, so one day can be incredibly different to another, depending on what the conditions are giving you, and you definitely learn that you need to go with and embrace the conditions that you've got. And, particularly, to rest when you can, because you need to be ready for a change at any moment. You're living totally in sync with the weather.”

There must be a lot of lessons you’ve learnt from the sea that can be adapted to everyday life…

“There are so many things you can learn from the ocean and I've made a real point of having to draw from my own story for strength through personal challenges. One of the things that I find incredibly useful in all sorts of different environments is the ability to not be overwhelmed with the enormity of the ocean ahead. The whole world is just too much on some days when you haven't slept a lot and you're cold and it’s grey and you're salty as anything. On those days, it's not to say you let go of the big picture, but you have to give yourself smaller milestones and permission to just deal with that moment and to have a mental discipline around that. It works very well for me at work day-to-day when I’m having a challenging one!”