I’m afraid to admit that this Netflix flick crashed through my defenses and eventually – eventually – won me over. It’s a bit manipulative (call it drama, call it suspense) but it’s such a winning, good-natured film that I have to admit that I put that skepticism behind me and just went with the ol’ triumph of the human spirit thing.

The film is the true story about how a teenage Australian girl became the youngest person to solo circumnavigate the globe in her smallish sailboat back in 2010. She weathers (pun intended) storms and glassy seas to make it back alive… though I started to have my doubts at points.

I, of course, completely missed this story back then… though, I suspect, if I were an Australian, I’d have known every in and out of it. But I am not and I didn’t so part of me wondered if this was going to be the Perfect Storm of teenage sailing around the world movies.

But it wasn’t and I came away uplifted and in good spirits. This movie may have its manipulative sequences and moments that feel very Hollywood, but I guess that’s what makes a movie a good movie too.

I went and up and down with this flick but I ended up thoroughly enjoying it. I’d recommend it to anyone, especially teens with their own challenging aspirations.

Score: 83