She was just 18 and travelling on a ship for the first time when the Wahine struck a reef and foundered during a violent storm at the entrance to Wellington Harbour on April 10, 1968.
The disaster claimed 51 lives, but she escaped the icy waters and her parents whisked her away to Dannevirke to recover.
She then went 40 years without meeting another survivor.
Yesterday, she finally got her wish when she wrapped her arms around ‘‘Lincoln Wahines'' captain Kerry Armstrong and his teammates during a meeting at Steamer Wharf in Queenstown.
‘‘I thought I would just burst into tears, but I'm just really happy,'' she told the Otago Daily Times.
On Tuesday, Mr Armstrong's team featured in the ODT after it re-formed for the fifth time since the Wahine tragedy to take part in the 13th Golden Oldies World Cricket Festival in Queenstown.
The team members were all original members of the Lincoln University first XI team, which was travelling on the Wahine to the Universities' Easter Tournament in Palmerston North when it foundered.
They found themselves climbing into lifeboats and rafts as the ship rolled over, but survived.
Yesterday, Ms Watson (59), resident artist at the Ivan Clarke Gallery on Camp St, said she was determined to meet the team after reading its story.
She recalled being thrown across her cabin when the ferry struck Barrett's Reef, and clambering onto the deck in time to witness scenes of chaos around her.
She slid down the deck as the ship's list increased, and was forced to jump into the sea while wearing an oversized lifejacket in an effort to reach lifeboats.
Her lifejacket popped over her head when she hit the water and threatened to drown her, she said.
She was saved by a Fijian medical student named Eroni, who jumped with her and pulled her into a rubber raft.
‘‘It was very frightening. You couldn't see the sea or the sky - all you could see was spray,'' she said.
Her response to the tragedy was to quit her job in Wellington and go travelling.
‘‘I was so lucky to be alive, and I just had to travel and see the world. I just had to do it,'' she said.
Returning to New Zealand several years later, she married and raised three daughters, but never met another survivor.
Yesterday, she said it was ‘‘fantastic'' to finally share her story with members of the cricket team, who were all eager to listen.
Mr Armstrong said the team was already planning more meetings with Ms Watson, beginning last night with an invite to their barbecue dinner in Queenstown.
‘‘We are fortunate because we have got a group. She hasn't had anyone to talk to about it,'' he said.
His team members would go their separate ways on Sunday, returning to homes around New Zealand, Australia and Samoa, but were already talking about the next reunion.
‘‘It will most probably come together by Sunday,'' he said.
