Teen adventurer sets sail again 

Source: SundayJessica Watson

Teenage adventurer Jessica Watson has set off under grey skies in her quest to make history as the youngest person to sail solo around the world.

After a week of blustery and wet Sydney spring weather delayed her departure, the 16-year-old cast off on Sunday morning in her yacht Ella's Pink Lady.

Supporters, well-wishers and media thronged The Spit in Sydney's Middle Harbour as she cast off, cheering as she left the mooring for her global circumnavigation.

A flotilla of about 20 kayakers and the same amount of small boats accompanied Jessica as she sailed into Middle Harbour.

Jessica is setting off despite calls for her to abandon the voyage from the likes of the Queensland government and some of Australia's most experienced sailors.

Concerns were heightened when her yacht collided with a 63,000-tonne cargo vessel off North Stradbroke Island during an aborted journey to Sydney last month.

But the teen says she's not phased by critics.

She says she's even got some school work on board, in case she gets bored.

Jessica will head towards northern New Zealand, then to Fiji, Samoa, South America and South Africa, then sail the final leg of 4,000 nautical miles back to Australia.

Her route will be similar to that taken by Australian Kay Cottee, who became the first woman to sail solo, unassisted and non-stop around the world in 1988.