- Jessica Watson will participate in the Sydney to Hobart 2023
- Watson’s partner Cam suffered a ‘catastrophic’ stroke
- She races to honor his memory and raise awareness
Australian sailor Jessica Watson will return to compete in the 2023 Sydney to Hobart yacht race in honor of her late boyfriend after he died suddenly following a stroke aged just 29.
Watson faced plenty of challenges when she sailed solo around the world at the age of 16, but none of them could compare to the intense grief she felt after Cameron Dale died in 2021.
The pair met in 2011 when Watson skippered the yacht Another Challenge in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race and Dale was part of the crew.
They were about to start filming the movie “True Spirit” about Watson’s life when Cam suffered a minor stroke.
He subsequently suffered a catastrophic stroke while being treated at Gold Coast University Hospital, where he died on August 30, 2021.
Jessica Watson returns to race from Sydney to Hobart in 2023 to honor her friend and raise awareness about high blood pressure
Watson’s late partner Cam Dale (pictured together) suffered a fatal stroke in August 2021 at the age of 29
Watson says Cam will be there in spirit as she sails aboard the yacht Azzuro in this year’s famous race to Tasmania.
“He’s always there,” Watson said News Corp.
‘I feel like Cam is saying in my ear, “It’s a crazy idea, but try it.”
“It’s so important to stay connected (to sailing). It helps me get so much better.
“He’s part of all my sails.”
The cause of Cam’s stroke was high blood pressure, something he didn’t know he was suffering from until tragedy struck him.
Part of the reason Watson has returned is to raise awareness about the condition.
Through her grief, Watson relied on sailing to get through it, using it as a way to reconnect with Cam after his death.
Cam’s stroke was caused by high blood pressure, something he didn’t know he had
Watson says sailing is a great way for her to reconnect with her late partner
“I just love sailing more than ever,” she said.
‘Cam’s death made me start sailing. I wish everyone would do it.
“There’s nothing better than being on the water, and the sailing community is incredible.”
Earlier this year, Watson shared a touching tribute to the late love of her life.
She posted a candid photo taken in 2019 of her kissing him on the cheek as the pair rode the New York subway.
‘Did you know that hypertension (high blood pressure in plain language) is the most important risk factor for stroke?’ she wrote in her caption.
“Australia’s largest blood pressure check runs throughout the month of May and today is World Hypertension Day, and I promise I will check my blood pressure. It’s actually not something I’ve asked my doctor recently. I of all people should know better!
‘Please do the same and remind (or rather harass, nagging, insisting!) your friends – no matter how young and healthy they are.’
