Solo Sail around the World | 环球独航

Australian Teenager Finishes Solo Sail around the World

澳洲少女完成环球独航

Accompanied by a flotilla of supporters' boats, Jessica Watson docked at the Sydney Opera House at the end of a controversial seven-month journey just three days short of her 17th birthday. Watson is the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop, and unassisted around the world. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd proclaimed her "Australia's newest hero," while Watson said she was just an "ordinary girl who believed in her dream."

Watson sailed around the southern part of the Earth, a distance of around 23,000 nautical miles, past the tips of South America and Africa, before making her way along Australia's southern coast and around the island state of Tasmania. She said it had been a tough journey and spoke of storms and having to ask cargo ships to steer clear of her yacht. Watson said she had been terrified of sailing when she first tried it, but then she went on to say, "Stepping off it seemed like the strangest thing to do because obviously I have spent the last seven months doing everything possible to stay on board."

However, her voyage is not expected to qualify officially as a record because of issues with her route and age. Her backers, including her family, have also received harsh criticism. Watson's decision to carry on despite this criticism attracted high-profile sponsors and made her a celebrity. Her website and an online blog written from the yacht have attracted a substantial following. Watson said she is planning to write a book about her voyage.

1.  What is NOT true about Watson?

(A) She sailed around the world by herself.

(B) She accomplished her goal when she was 16 years old.

(C) It took Watson 17 months to finish her trip.

(D) The Prime Minster of Australia called her an inspiration to all.

2.  Why was getting off the boat strange for Watson?

(A) She had never visited the Sydney Opera House.

(B) She had spent the last seven months doing everything in her power to stay on the boat.

(C) She didn't really get along with her family.

(D) It was a very short journey, so she wasn't ready to get off the boat.

3.  Compared to before the journey, Watson is now _____.

(A) a record holder (B) a computer expert

(C) a famous author (D) a household name in Australia

　洁西卡‧华森在支持者的船队护送下，将船停靠在雪梨歌剧院旁，在她 17 岁生日的前 3 天结束了一趟长达 7 个月且颇具争议的旅程。华森是独自环绕地球航行、中途未停靠且没有接受任何外援的最年轻航海家。澳洲总理陆克文公开赞扬她是『澳洲最新的英雄』，但华森却说她只是『相信自己梦想的普通女孩』。

　　华森沿着南半球航行，航程约两万 3 千海里，她越过南美洲与非洲尖端后，顺着澳洲南部海岸航行，接着绕过塔斯马尼亚岛。华森表示这是趟艰困的旅程，还谈到暴风雨及请求货船避开她游艇的事。她说她第一次尝试航行时非常害怕，但又接着说：『下船似乎成为最奇怪的事，因为显而易见，我过去 7 个月一直竭尽所能待在船上。』

　　不过华森的航行因为其路线及年龄的争议，所以外界预期无法被官方承认有资格列入纪录。她的支持者，包括她的家人，也受到一些严厉的批判。尽管有这些批评声浪，华森还是决定从事这次航行，因此吸引倍受瞩目的赞助者上门，也使她变成了名人。她的网站和她在帆船上撰写的部落格文章也吸引了大批粉丝。华森说她计划要写一本关于这次航行的书。

答案：1. (C)2. (B)3. (D)

For Your Information

驾船环游世界网站 sail-world.com 的主编科特说，洁西卡‧华森航行的线路是抄近路，因为她没有驶船进入北半球最远的海域。事实上，她需要再多航行 1,500 公里，才足够完成环球航行的总距离。

科特还说，世界速度帆船比赛理事会（WSSRC）不会承认华森的纪录，因为她的年龄低于最低年龄限制的 18 岁，所以纪录保持者仍是 1999 年，以 18 岁之龄完成同一壮举的杰西‧马丁（Jesse Martin），当年他航行了 327 天。