Australian solo sailor Jessica Watson has announced she is expecting her first child with her new partner, believed to be fellow sailor Dave Moen, according to The Daily Mail.
Watson became the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world in 2009 at the age of just 16. She survived seven knockdowns and was at sea for 210 days, returning to Sydney just before she turned 17.
She was crowned Young Australian of the Year in 2011, awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia and has been included in the Australian Sailing Hall of Fame.
Now age 33, Watson is “very excited” to begin the new chapter of her life, sharing photos of her baby bump.
“We’re very excited to be expecting a little crew member at the end of the year,” Watson wrote on social media.
“Grateful, and acutely aware of how important it is to celebrate such a wondrous thing.”
The announcement comes five years after Watson lost her former partner, Cameron Dale, who died at the age of 29 from a stroke, the result of undiagnosed high blood pressure.
Watson confirmed the tragic news on social media at the time, saying: “Cam passed away peacefully nearly six weeks after a catastrophic stroke.
“We’ll be forever grateful for the dedicated care he received at the Gold Coast University Hospital.”
Watson’s pregnancy announcement was met with an outpouring of well wishes, including one from from Australian actress Teagan Croft who played Watson in a Netflix film adaptation of her journey.
“Oh my goodness!! Fresh deckhand!!!! So excited for you huge congratulations,” Croft wrote.
Images: Instagram
