Jessica Watson returns to Sydney to Hobart yacht race 2023 to honour love of her life Cam Dale
Jessica Watson fell in love with a young sailor in her first Sydney to Hobart. Now she’s returning to ensure others don’t have to experience the depth of pain she has after his death.
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It’s a way to feel connected with the man she loved beyond belief and to ensure others don’t ever have to experience the depths of “raging, black pain” and loss she has.
Returning to race the Sydney to Hobart yacht race in 2023 is also a way for Jessica Watson to honour the love of her life Cam Dale and to remember great times they had together at sea.
It was because of the Sydney to Hobart that she and Dale met and had 10 precious but far too short years together before his death at age 29.
Watson said racing the 2011 event together made them realise that their friendship wasn’t enough and to acknowledge they has something more, something very special between them.
They then sailed and lived together with Dale her rock until his death in late 2021 after six long weeks at a Gold Coast hospital.
Watson’s “love of my life” was taken from her by a catastrophic stroke.
Watson, who captured the imagination of a nation with her solo round the world odyssey when just 16, believes he will be there in spirit when she sets sail on the little 34 foot yacht Azzuro in the Sydney to Hobart, a race Dale loved.
“He’s always there,” said Watson, the brave young girl who dreamt big, ignored her critics and sailed round the world when just 16, inspiring a generation of young boys and girls to tackle life at full tilt.
“I feel like I have Cam in my ear saying, ‘it’s a crazy idea but give it a go’.
“It is so important to stay connected (to sailing). It helps make me so much better.
“He is part of all my sailing.’’
Watson’s return with a group of new and old friends is also about raising awareness of hypertension.
Dale suffered his fatal stroke due to undiagnosed hypertension and Watson, 30, never wants anyone else to go through the same loss because they have not had the blood pressure checked.
She has in the past described her pain after his death as raging, raw, jagged, unbearable, black and terrifying.
But she finds some solace in being on the water, and doing what she and Dale loved doing together after meeting during their 2011 campaign where they were part of the youngest crew in race history to finish the Sydney to Hobart with every member under 21.
“I just love sailing more than ever,’’ she said.
“Cam passing away made me lean into sailing. I wish everyone did it. There’s nothing better than being on thew water and the sailing community is incredible.’’
By her side in this race are owner skipper Jack Kliner, Xavier Doerr, Sam Duncan, Annie Eastgate and Steve Quiros.
“Azzuro has a bit of a cult following and is known around the sailing scene and I watched her do quite well in the Sydney to Hobart over the ears,’’ said Watson, who now lives and works in Melbourne.
“She then got sold to a Brisbane owner and I went to see it and just started a conversation with Jack the owner, so that's how it all happened.
“We are very excited. We can’t wait for the race to start.’
Watson said she hopes to help raise awareness and fund for the Stroke Foundation with more information and a way to donate here: www.fundraise4stroke.org.au/fundraisers/jessicawatson/true-spirit---in-memory-of-cameron-dale
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Originally published as Jessica Watson returns to Sydney to Hobart yacht race 2023 to honour love of her life Cam Dale
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