True Spirit Ending Explained: How Did Jessica Watson Escape the Deadly Storm?

True Spirit is the latest movie based on Australian sailor Jessica Watson that premiered on Netflix. Directed and written by Sarah Spillane alongside Rebecca Banner and Cathy Randall, the movie is about the determination and persistence of a young woman to live her lifelong dream.

Teagan Croft takes up the role of Jessica, and Cliff Curtis plays the coach Ben Bryant, Anna Paquin as Julie Watson, Josh Lawson as Roger Watson, Todd Lasance as Craig Atherton, Bridget Webb as Emily Watson, Vivien Turner as Hannah Watson, Stacy Clausen as Tom Watson and more.

Danny Ruhlmann does the cinematography, and Nick Wales gives the music. With a runtime of approximately 110 minutes, the movie was released on February 3, 2023.

The official Netflix description of the movie reads as follows:

A tenacious Australian teen chases her dreams — and faces her fears — as she sets out to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world.

True Spirit Ending Explained

Jessica was finally moving and sailing again after a long wait due to no wind and waves. But it was not smooth sailing from there as a new dangerous problem arose ahead of her journey. Only one last stop was left to complete and reach Sydney, which would complete her voyage. She discovers on her radar that bad weather is coming her way, a storm bigger and deadlier than the previous one from three sides.

Her family and Ben advised her to stop at a port and prioritise her well-being. During the storm, no help will be available, which could lead to her death. So they urged her to discontinue the journey, but it would also mean that she would be disqualified.

Jessica, on the other hand, was determined and did not want to give up at the last stop. She convinced her parents, Ben and the rest of the family that she had a solid plan and could go through the storm. Instead of resisting mother nature, she will travel together with the high-intensity winds similar to surfing.

True Spirit Ending Explained
Still from True Spirit

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What happened to Jessica during the storm?

The storm turned out to be much more dangerous than they had anticipated. She had strapped herself onto the bed as the small boat started to sail itself through the storms. The storms were present on three sides which eventually combined and turned into a large one. Frequently she was in contact with her family, but suddenly they lost connection. After the last phone call, her mother revealed to the family that Jessica’s boat sank 15 feet underwater.

The family started to panic and tried to contact her, but every effort went in vain. Jessica laid there scared as she was upside down into the ocean.

True Spirit still 2
Still from True Spirit

Did Jessica Survive?

Eventually, after waiting, the boat started to rise up and ultimately turned itself around and landed upright on the water. This is due to the small size of the boat, which helped it to float up. She immediately called her family and let them know about the news. Everyone from the city was waiting for her at the port as she arrives smiling on the small ship.

True Spirit still 3
Still from True Spirit

True Spirit is now streaming on Netflix.

Have you watched the new movie yet? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Also Read: Loved Watching True Spirit? Here are 8 Similiar Movies to Inspire You

Hrishita Das
Hrishita Das
Hrishita Das is an Anthropologist by training, but her true passion lies in delving into the human experience through prose. A cinephile and pop culture enthusiast, she has been a writer for a year.

11 COMMENTS

  1. Your awesome wee lassy it’s really good movie ???? the part when you was ups sides down a didn’t think you was going to get out of it glad you did hope your well x Graham fae Scotland

  2. Okay…you heard about women behind the wheels, now buckle up for women in tiny PINK boats? In the name of the lord and everything thats is holy ⛪️, (my bathtube is bigger than that boat????), anyway ok movie its netflix so im going in with low exceptions, and that guy news report in cheap suit is the obious bad guy in this one, HE AND ALL REPORTERS TELL LIES TROUGHT ALMOST THE WHOLE MOVIE, i want to give him a pair of shoes made of ROCKS and push him into the water at hthe docks,
    Im like 30 minutes out, if it was not for this is achild movie i would like to see stuff like: shark, pirates, meeting other sailors, if she going to be alone for the next 01:30 it could be a bit boring, i hope it show how nice the sea could be at nights and daytime, if netflix have aford to do one rainbow i would be glad, ????????????

    My score so far: 2.5 of 6

  3. Inspired! Wow! What a testament of strength, faith , belief in a dream , human doubt , victory over pain. Just amazed! Thanks for telling your story !

  4. I actually thoroughly enjoyed the movie, I had heard about the voyage in mention at a point in my life. However, I hadn’t followed it during that time and I’ve seen a lot of true life movies where they don’t survive. This was thoroughly good and I wasn’t sure how it was going to end. Some might say it was okay, but for me I truly found it brilliant.

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