Copyright breach may sink teenage sailor

Teenager Jessica Watson. Photo / Supplied

More stormy seas for solo round-the-world yachtie Jessica Watson today - but these troubles are not out on the water.

Australian teen Watson is just days away from completing her dream of arriving in Sydney harbour and becoming the youngest person ever to circumnavigate the globe.

But a fruit growing corporation has advised that they warned Watson her boat name, Ella's Pink Lady, breached international copyright.

Pink Lady Australia spokesman John Durham told AAP the company wrote to Watson's management in October last year advising them of its registered trademarks on the Pink Lady name and flowing heart symbol in more than 70 countries world-wide.

Ella's Pink Lady has a similar heart logo to the Pink Lady apple trademark.

"Given that this was a global sailing attempt and given that our registrations were global, we just wanted them to be aware of that," Mr Durham said.

"We just requested ... that no person associated with Jessica Watson's solo around the world sailing attempt to take any action or make any statements which could cause damage or bring into disrepute APAL's (Apple & Pear Australia Ltd) Pink Lady flowing heart trademark.

"We never imagined that she would (damage the trademark), the letter was just to make her management aware."

Now the company wants to make the teenage sailor a poster girl for apples.

Mr Durham said the organisation had extended its best wishes to the 16-year-old Queenslander.

"Personally I think she is a fantastic young lady and very much admire her courage, fortitude and pluck sailing around the world," he said.

He said Pink Lady Australia would talk to Jessica Watson's people about a potential deal.

"We would be looking to talk to (her management) about potential opportunities," he said.

"We've never discussed that with them, they may or may not have any interest in discussing it with us.

"But Jessica fits the profile of the target audience we have, particularly in Europe for Pink Lady apples.

"We try to appeal to young women, with a very sensuous campaign of promotions across Europe.

"Certainly Jessica would be a great fit for the Pink Lady Apple brand."

Mr Durham said Pink Lady apples would send the young sailor a hamper of its produce, after her six months at sea without fresh fruit.

"We certainly are considering some options of how we might welcome her home," he said.

Watson's manager Andrew Fraser told AAP his team would assess commercial and sponsorship endorsements on their merits and was wary of business interests trying to cash in on her homecoming's publicity.

"The important issue for us is protecting the Jessica Watson brand and we will ensure that brand is not exploited," he said.

"We're focused at the moment on ensuring Jessica gets back to Sydney safely.

"Beyond that we're happy to discuss any commercial opportunities that may arise.

"But people need to understand there's a proper forum and process to commence these discussions."

Mr Fraser said her management was not committing to any commercial deals until Jessica's return.

"Our focus is 100 per cent on getting her back safely and once she's on land and had time to rest, we've got a plethora of opportunities, but we haven't entertained or committed to anything until she gets back," he said.

"Her health and wellbeing are first and foremost."

He said the young sailor had favourable conditions on Thursday, nine days out from her return home.

"She's got some more wind today," he said.

"The wind has picked up again; it's over 30 knots."

Jessica Watson is expected to sail into Sydney Harbour on May 16 - two days shy of her 17th birthday.

This controversy surfaces just a day after a sailing magazine claimed Watson will not have travelled far enough to claim the record for the youngest person to have circumnavigated the globe.

It suggested her course was too far south to be considered a 'true' circumnaviation.

Watson's support crew has rubbished the allegation.

- AAP