16 year old adventurer Jessica Watson today sailed into Sydney harbour to deafening silence, as over 125,000 people stayed away, preferring to watch it broadcast live on television or do something worthwhile instead.
For days the media have been promoting the event as a national celebration, with expections of crowd numbers growing daily.
On Monday Channel Seven reported that they expected 5,000 people to attend her arrival in the harbour. By Friday the media frenzy had blown out and and Channel Nine upped the ante by estimating a 100,000 people would appear, dressed as Jessica and wearing boat shaped hats of various colours and materials.
The reality was very different this morning however when it became clear that numbers would be well under 4,000 people, judging by the responses on the official You’re Invited to Jessica’s Homecoming Party Facebook page.
A head count by police determined that 3,856 of those present were reporters and camera crew for various television stations.
“This is still a fantastic result,” said Eddie McGuire from Channel Nine. “Jessica is a true Aussie hero, a real ripper battler with that unique ANZAC spirit that makes Aussies proud to be Aussies and not Somalians. And yes, when I use the word ‘hero’ to describe her adventure and spirit I mean it in the same sense as people who risk their lives without thought of profit, gain or sponsorship, such as firefighters, policemen, soldiers and marines, doctors and the people who come up with the crap we show on Channel Nine.”
Many of the people who stayed away from the event disagreed however.
“Who cares what some over-privileged kid achieved with the help of 40 sponsors and a multimillion dollar boat? Give me 7 months off work with pay and a boat and I’ll sail around the world too,” said Merkel Jones of Cronulla.
Jessica is said to be pleased with the quiet reception, and planned to appear on every television channel, magazine, newspaper and radio show on a daily basis for the next 6 months.
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