True Spirit is a 2023 Australian biographical drama film directed by Sarah Spillane and written by Spillane, Cathy Randall, and Rebecca Banner. The film is based on the 2010 memoir of the same name by Jessica Watson, played by Teagan Croft. She is an Australian sailor who was awarded the Order of Australia Medal and is on the Australian Sailing Hall of Fame after attempting a solo global circumnavigation at the age of 16. The film was made available for streaming on Netflix on 3 February 2023.
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Plot
In 2009, 16-year-old Jessica Watson dreams of becoming the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe non-stop and unassisted, which means she must sail alone and not dock at any port along the way. The journey is estimated to take 200 days, and she must cross the equator and all Meridians of longitude. Her team consist of her parents, three siblings, and her coach Ben Bryant: a disgraced, former competitive sailor. When on her boat, Ella's Pink Lady, Jessica communicates with the team via satellite phone.
On a test run, Jessica's boat is hit by a 63,000 tonne cargo ship that strayed off course. She didn't notice the oncoming ship because she forgot to turn on her alert system before going to bed. The accident raises skepticism among the media as to whether Jessica can safely achieve her goal. Her parents are also worried, but continue to support her ambitions.
