Australian sailing hero Jessica Watson has shared an “exciting” life update, announcing she is expecting her first child.

Watson, who endeavoured to circumnavigate the globe in 2009 when she was just 16, shared the pregnancy news on Instagram alongside a photo showing off her baby bump.

“We’re very excited to be expecting a little crew member at the end of the year,” Watson captioned the post. “Grateful, and acutely aware of how important it is to celebrate such a wondrous thing.”

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A second photo showed the 33-year-old alongside her new partner, believed to be fellow sailor Dave Moen, according to The Daily Mail.

The announcement comes five years after Watson lost her former partner, Cameron Dale, who died at the age of 29 from a stroke, the result of undiagnosed high blood pressure.

Watson confirmed the tragic news at the time via Instagram.

“Cam passed away peacefully nearly six weeks after a catastrophic stroke,” Watson shared.

“We’ll be forever grateful for the dedicated care he received at the Gold Coast University Hospital.”

Jessica Watson’s former partner Cameron died of a stroke brought on by high blood pressure. Credit: The Morning Show

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Watson became the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world in 2009, surviving seven knockdowns while at sea for 210 days on a 33-foot vessel.

She returned to Sydney three days before her 17th birthday.

Upon completing the voyage, Watson was met by then prime minister Kevin Rudd who declared her an Australian hero.

In a simple speech that won admiration across Australia and around the world, she responded by announcing she disagreed as Watson didn’t consider herself a hero, just an “ordinary person, who had a dream, worked hard at it and proved that anything really is possible”.

She was later awarded the title of Young Australian of the Year in 2011, awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia and has been included in the Australian Sailing Hall of Fame.

Jessica Watson arrives back home in Sydney following her world record attempt to become the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world. Credit: Getty

In 2010, Watson shared her remarkable story in her book titled True Spirit, which was later adapted into a Netflix film of the same name.

Watson’s pregnancy announcement was met with an outpouring of well wishes, including a message from Australian actress Teagan Croft who played Watson in the film.

“Oh my goodness!! Fresh deckhand!!!! So excited for you huge congratulations,” Croft wrote.