**A 16-year-old Australian girl has begun an attempt to become the youngest person to sail solo and unassisted around the world.**Jessica Watson left Sydney Harbour in a bright pink yacht on Sunday as she started a planned eight-month, 423,600- mile (38,000km) journey.
Officials had urged her to abandon the attempt after her boat crashed into a cargo ship on a training run.
She and her family have insisted she is experienced and capable.
She is trying to beat fellow Australian Jesse Martin, who set the current record in 1999, aged 18.
In September, Ms Watson’s yacht, Pink Lady, had its rigging and mast damaged when it collided with a 63,000-tonne cargo ship on a test run.
Queensland maritime officials concluded that she had probably dozed off before the collision.
In a similar controversy, authorities in Holland put 13-year-old Laura Dekker under state care for two months in August to stop her from setting off on a solo attempt.