Jessica Watson becomes the youngest person to solo circumnavigate the globe

Jessica Watson has just become the youngest person ever to sail non-stop, solo around the world.

Tens of thousands of well-wishers and fans including a host of VIPs, lined Sydney Harbour this morning to greet the 16-year-old who has spent the last seven months at sea.

Jessica has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers and racked up extraordinary statistics during her time at sea on her yacht Ella’s Pink Lady.

The final stretch of her journey was marked by gale force winds and waves up to seven meters off the News South Wales coast. It’s not the first time she has faced turbulent conditions during her 23,000 nautical mile odyssey.  She battled 40-foot (12-metre) waves and six knockdowns during her journey, which took her northeast through the South Pacific and across the equator, south to Cape Horn at the tip of South America, across the Atlantic Ocean to South Africa, through the Indian Ocean and around Southern Australia.

Jessica’s journey started from Sydney on October 18 last year and today marks day 210. Jessica will be greeted by her parents, relatives, friends, sponsors and her shore team, along with a host of media and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and NSW Premier Kristina Keneally.

Jessica’s arrival is expected to rival the Sydney Harbour’s busiest days - the Boxing Day start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, New Year's Eve and Australia Day.