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Australian teenager Jessica Watson has steered her bright pink yacht out of Sydney Harbor to start her bid to become the youngest person to sail solo and unassisted around the world. The 16-year-old's 23,600-mile journey by will take her through some of the world's most treacherous waters. The attempt has provoked a debate in the country about whether someone so young should be allowed to try such a dangerous feat. Watson and her family insist she is an experienced and capable sailor who has studied navigation, electronics and maritime safety procedures. She will sail solo and unassisted but will be in constant contact with her support team via radio, email and a blog. "I know you are all anxious to hear from Jess, but she's a little preoccupied on her first day, so she asked me to post a quick note to let everyone know that the departure went well this morning," Julie Watson, her mother, wrote on the blog. "I would like to sincerely thank all those wonderful people who came out on the harbour this morning and down to the marina to wish Jess well." Watson sailed her 34ft yacht out of Sydney under grey skies and slightly choppy conditions. She smiled and waved to scores of well-wishers on land and in boats that had gathered on the harbour. Julia Gillard, the deputy prime minister said: "I think a lot of Australians are nervous for Jessica. I'm nervous for her. "But my words at this stage, given that she's determined to go, would be to wish her the best of luck and to urge her to keep safe." The first leg of Watson's journey will take her past northern New Zealand, then Fiji and Samoa. In a trip expected to last about eight months, she plans to pass around the southern tips of Africa and South America.