Solo sailor heading past New Zealand

Australian Jessica Watson, who is attempting to become the youngest person to sail solo around the globe, is today passing north of New Zealand on her way to the Pacific Islands.

The 16-year-old was halfway between Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island yesterday evening and said conditions were good.

"Well, perfect is about the only word for it out here today, we're doing 6.5 knots," she wrote on her blog at 8pm yesterday.

Watson's 38,000km voyage began on Sunday and her blog entries have so far described an easy run of things, avoiding the occasional ship and encountering dolphins and jellyfish.

- NZPA