Australian sailing trailblazer Jessica Watson has announced she is expecting her first child with her new partner, five years after the death of her former partner Cameron Dale.
Watson, who made history by sailing solo around the world at just 16, shared the news on Instagram on Sunday evening.
Alongside a photograph of herself standing on deck with her growing bump, Watson wrote: “We’re very excited to be expecting a little crew member at the end of the year.”
“Grateful, and acutely aware of how important it is to celebrate such a wondrous thing,” she added.
A second image showed the 33-year-old smiling beside her new partner Dave, who is understood to be fellow sailor Dave Moen.
The announcement quickly drew dozens of warm messages from friends and supporters.
“Bubs is so lucky to have you legends,” one friend commented.
Fox Sports journalist Sam Squiers also congratulated the couple, writing: “This is fantastic news! Congrats Jess!”
Pioneering round-the-world sailor Jessica Watson announced her pregnancy on Sunday
She also shared a photograph of herself and new partner Dave smiling aboard a yacht
Australian racing driver Molly Taylor, model Lisa Seiffert and singer-songwriter Ren Barlow were among those who echoed the celebrations.
Watson experienced devastating loss in 2021 when Cameron Dale, her partner of 10 years, suffered a stroke and died aged just 29.
Dale had been living with undiagnosed high blood pressure. In the aftermath, Watson publicly encouraged young people to have their blood pressure checked.
The couple first met during the 2011 campaign for the Sydney to Hobart yacht race and began dating soon afterwards.
They initially kept their relationship private, before Watson confirmed they were together in August 2012.
Their connection grew from a shared passion for sailing, with the pair spending many weekends together on the water.
“It’s a nice thing for us to share and to have in common,” Watson told Mamamia in November 2019 while discussing sailing with Cameron.
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Watson, who is originally from Queensland, lived with Dale in Melbourne. In 2018, she said she had no plans to marry the property developer.
Watson’s former partner of 10 years, Cameron Dale, died tragically from a stroke in 2021 at the age of 29
Watson was named Young Australian of the Year after completing her solo voyage around the world
‘Watching my lovely sister get married was more than enough for me just now,’ she said at the time.
The intensely private couple also enjoyed a trip to New York City in March 2019, with Jessica sharing photos from their holiday together on Instagram.
‘Who knew @cameron.dale1 is annoyingly good at #iceskating,’ she captioned a smiling snapshot of them ice skating in Central Park.
Jessica had also announced Cameron’s tragic death in an emotionally charged post on Instagram.
‘On Monday, 30 August 2021 we lost our Cam – my long-term partner in every aspect of life and planned future,’ she began.
‘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.
‘Cam and I have been inseparable since 2011, our shared world centred on messing about on boats.
‘Describing what Cam means to me is impossible – everyone who knows us understands how much we simply loved each other.’
Watson and Dale in New York, where she said he was ‘annoyingly’ good at ice skating
Watson pictured arriving in Sydney following her world record attempt to become the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop, and unassisted around the world
She went on to make a touching tribute to the man she said had shaped her into the person she became.
‘Even while experiencing indescribable grief, I feel so grateful for the family, friends, and communities Cam has given me and the person I’ve become with him,’ she wrote.
‘I take enormous strength from having been so devotedly loved. The years of treasured memories offer enormous comfort.’