Jessica Watson inspirational...

[norm]

Just wondering if anyone has been following the movements of Jessica Watson. I know some people may think she is crazy and likewise her parents allowing her to seek such a challenge. No doubt there are challenges and dangers ahead, but the thought and sheer determination and guts to JUST do it, I tips my hat off to her.:):bowdown:

I hope she makes it on her long voyage and fullfils her dreams, she is truly inspirational. And regardless of the outcome I admire her determination and willpower. She will make all Australians proud and WHEN she sails into Sydney harbour - WOW, won't that be amazing to see.:thumbsup::thumbsup:

God speed to her now to Cape Horn.

Go Jess. Norm

[Kal]

I have been keeping tabs on her progress checking in every now and then. She is getting close to the equator now (will have to check to see if she has crossed it yet).

Cape Horn will certainly be the true test of her voyage. There have been many ships wrecked and lives lost there for a reason...

[DJDD]

a 17-year old american just finished an around the world sail.

if Jessica Watson makes it around the world then it will be hard to beat her record as the youngest person ever to do it!

:thumbsup:

[Ric]

I check on her progress every few days or so.

It's fantastic what she is doing and deserves to be commended every step of the way.

In an era where there is so little for the youth of today to achieve she really sets the example.

[Baddad]

Hi Norm & All, :)

ABC Radio announced that Jessica (J.) was nearing the Equator. There was also what J. thought to be a petrel sitting on the mast. It had been with her for a few days.

Some people claimed that she was not alone the petrel was keeping her company. Hence her record would not be valid.:P

However, judges had responded that birds do not count.;)

Obviusly some people do not want J. to succeed. :mad2:

I am with you Norm, its quite an achievement. The parents must have a great deal of confidence in J. They all are aware of the dangers ofcourse and J.'s ability to handle them.

Cheers Marty

[dpastern]

I REALLY hope she does OK in her travels and comes back home safe. I do fear for her, and I do think that she is not really ready for rough seas around cape horn. *fingers crossed* that she goes through that area unscathed.

Dave

[JimmyH155]

Good on her, I say:D I hope she disproves all those knockers and whingers and does it. I agree, Cape Horn will be her test. What's her website called???

[supernova1965]

Who among us are ever really ready for what life can through up to us. Go Jessica give em heaps and keep going and be safe. I am sure best wishes and prayers from all on IIS are with you.:thumbsup:

[Kal]

http://www.jessicawatson.com.au/

[jjjnettie]

Good on her.
To have found her passion at such a young age, I really envy her.
It's such a challenge that she's set herself!!
All the best of luck to her, she deserves it.

[DJDD]

and about the naysayers before she left: your signature says it all...



:thumbsup:

[jjjnettie]

It's very true isn't it.

[GrahamL]

I was given a copy of Robin Lee grahams book when I was about
16, having done little offshore sailing with a friends family
(only a couple hundred km trips )it really stunned me somone my own age would undertake something like this.

http://www.bluemoment.com/dove.html


Best of luck to her , and I hope the sourthern oceon lets her slip by unnoticed, She will be home soon :)

How would you stop smiling Robin hasn't yet :)

[glenc]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/05/2785652.htm
"The 16-year-old has been sailing in Ella's Pink Lady for 79 days and is preparing to round the notorious Cape Horn on the tip of South America some time this week...
Ms Watson says while the wind has not been as strong as expected, she is experiencing some very cold temperatures as her heater has broken.
"On the down side, it sure has been and still is very cold," she wrote.
"The cabin temp has been sitting on 4 degrees Celsius and the wind chill outside is really quite something.
"Handling wet lines on deck is just downright painful, but mostly I'm staying toasty warm in all my layers..."

[Rod66]

Well its just my opinion, but I don't beleive this is an adventure of passion and of the heart. On one hand I want to support the girl and wish her encouragement for what she is doing because its truly inspirational, but the other side of me says this is just a stupid idea from a little girl who can sail a boat but really doesnt comprehend the true dangers. This is a typical naive finger in the air and reckless attitude that is more common of the youth of today and disappointing behaviour from parents that should know better.
I pray she makes it safely home and hope its only mother nature that she has to battle. Unfortunately, this is the 21st century, not the nostalgic 1950's and 1960's where the world was a different place.
I continue to shake my head at all of this and if she makes it home safely, I'll be the first person to say "thank god.." and be happy, but if she doesn't - guess what all the naysayers will be saying....they will have a field day.

So what next.. 14 year old girl sets sail to do an around the world trip? what would we all say then? What does it take for people to change thinking from "go Girl!!" to "thats just idiocy".

Rod

[stephenb]

Yes, I too, have been following here blog every few days. I am proud to say that I have not been one of those 'knockers', who criticised her before she even sail! She has more sea-faring skill in her little finger than many of us will ever have in lifetime. Yes it will be dangerous in parts for her, but she is no less prepared than any adult. Her age and sex are irrelevant. And to see the GPS plots on here maps is a great piece of info. Go Jess!

[matt]

I wish her well too, and believe she's doing something which should serve as inspiration to many.

She's been very fortunate so far, as far as conditions are concerned. It'll be intersting to see how things go when she encounters truly challenging conditions.

Good luck, Jess...and stay safe.

[glenc]

Jessica wrote on 11/1
"The wind has finally picked up to a steady 12knots in the last few hours, so Ella's Pink Lady is pushing along nicely again now. You have no idea how good it feels to be moving again! We've still got about 270nm till Cape Horn and if the wind behaves as expected, we are aiming for the rounding sometime on the 13th."

[stephenb]

Not far now, and her Mum and Dad wil be doing a fly-over tomorrow? Her blog is just amazing to read. http://www.youngestround.blogspot.com/

[Ric]

Top stuff, she's doing a fine job.

[stephenb]

I understand your aprehension, Rod, and I respect your opinion, but I look at Jessica's voyage completely the opposite. I think she is fortunate that it is the 21st Century and not the nostalgic 1950's. I believe that someone undertaking this adventure is as equipped and supported than 50 years ago. As I have stated in a previous thread, she has more seafaring skills and experience in her than most of the members on IIS collectively. If she is in an unfortunate position of requiring assistance, Jessica will be of no more of a burden than an adult attempting this. Jessica has goals, and a dream of completing something that for many of us, we will never acheive. Her age is largely irrelevant to this feat. 100 or 200 years ago one could reach the rank of Commander of a ship in your 20's. I'd like to see more young people with the drive and committment that Jessica Watson has.

[stephenb]

I believe Jessica has passed the cape, but her website has been down for several hours. Perhaps it is getitng a lot of traffic?

[norm]

She's now literally 1/2 way through her journey. Go Jess Go :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Norm

[matt]

No reports of wild weather around the cape.

Thankfully she got lucky:thumbsup:

[stephenb]

The images on her blog are amazing. http://www.youngestround.blogspot.com/ I am a great reader of many navel explorers of the 16th-19th century, and I can only imagine what it would have been like sailing in these waters many hundreds of years ago, often in unchartered waters.

[Ric]

Into calmer waters now and some good winds to push her along.

[GrahamL]

bit o nasty weather of late

[JimmyH155]

She got knocked over three times!!! AAAGGGGHHHH. She made it though!!
Onya, Jesse:D:D:D

[lacad01]

Now there's a slightly younger rival hot on her heels :(
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/25/2800410.htm
Go Jessica :thumbsup:

[GrahamL]

Not anymore , she had to make land in mexico because of power problems , strange they didn't sort it before leaving as I think I read
they were having some issues .



Fair winds and a little luck Jess :thumbsup:

[stephenb]

Reading her blog and viewing the google map for her location, has foced me to lean about all those remote but inhabited islands in the middle of the oceans. For example:

Taravai (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taravai), Tristan da Cunha islands (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tristan_da_Cunha), South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Georgia_and_the_South_Sandwic h_Islands), French Southern and Antarctic Lands (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Southern_and_Antarctic_Lands ), Île Amsterdam (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%8Ele_Amsterdam), Pitcairn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitcairn_Islands)

Not to mention all those dozens (hundreds?) or islands in French Polynesia. How remote are these inhabitants! And what dark skies they must have!


Jess is doing well :thumbsup::thumbsup: The Cape of Good Hope is in her sights now!

[Quantum629]

Although she may not be after this in particular, she getting the ultimate view that we all envy. The darkest skies possible! And by going around the world she'll get to see practically the entire sky! Not fair! :lol:

[GrahamL]

True stephan.. dare to dream about pehaps visiting some of these places one day:thumbsup:.. Truth Is there is no record on the line for either of these girls as I believe the body who ratifies sailing records had already withdrawn any involvement within ..for attempts by "the youngest"
before either had begun .

So no matter what the media will want to tell us of the failures and
succeses either have to endure , its still down to a case of human endeavor against a multitude of obsticles .. in there compexity and simplicity each capable of swatting them down .

Good luck and fair winds to both :)

[stephenb]

Jessica is around the Cape of Good Hope and into the Indian Ocean :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[stephenb]

Jessica is now level with Madagascar! Well into the indian Ocean now. Go Jess :thumbsup:

http://www.jessicawatson.com.au/the-voyage

http://www.jessicawatson.com.au/_blog/Official_Jessica_Watson_Blog/

[norm]

Go Jess, she's literally on the home stretch now - 2500 nautical miles.:)

It seems it was only yesterday that she sailed off and now she is homeward bound !

Its going to be huge when she sails into Sydney Harbour!

Norm:thumbsup:

[stephenb]

According to her Google map Jessica is approximately 400 nm from the WA coast. Go Jess.:thumbsup:

[kinetic]

Stephen,

Jesse says why she's going under Tas and not through Bass Strait
in her blog. I was wondering that myself.
She says it is quite possible she may go back outside Oz territorial
waters to do that.

It's been wonderful following her blog, videos and site map.
I hope she has some good people around her when she makes
landfall because the media will all want to extract their pound of flesh
with no care whatsoever for her settling back into normal life.
I'd expect she would want the enormity of what she has just achieved to
stay fresh in her mind, undiluted by media commitments, but that's
never gonna happen.

I expect the thread is going to get quite busy soon :)

Go Jesse!

Steve

[JimmyH155]

I wonder when the first planes will go out and try to spot her??
My two boys live in Canberra, and I am trying to persuade them to go down there when she turns up. The atmosphere in Sydney will be fantastic:D:)

[Ric]

She has done a fantastic job, that's for sure.

I take my hat off to her.

[GrahamL]

Close but still a long way to go. :)


The other young lady and her team have decided to make for Cape Town
as a major gear break down has made it unsafe to try and continue.

[norm]

Anyone planning to see Jessica sail into the harbour. Love to be there, but heading the other direction to SPSP.

It seemed only yesterday I started this thread and her dreams have nearly come to fruition.

Well done Jess.:thumbsup:

Norm

PS: Waiting for the tall poppy syndrome to kick now:(

[erick]

Pretty extreme way to get out of school for seven months :D

I'm sure she will get a great welcome. :thumbsup:

Wonder if she can stand up on solid ground? :help:

[taminga16]

Hi Eric,
After my last sail across Bass Strait I was fine until I got into the shower
and then had to call for help (we had only been at sea for five days).

Greg.

[Steffen]

They might have to carry her off like those cosmonauts after a year aboard Mir :) I guess she will probably be emotionally overcome by the reception, too.

Cheers
Steffen.

[stephenb]

Like many of her followers, I have supported Jess from day one. She has achieved something that many of us could never do in our own lifetime. I'd love to be there cheering her on today at the finish line.

Isn't it interesting that the media have increased their interest in Jess now? unfortunately, they will chew her up and spit her out like the vultures they are. I also strongly disagree with those who were against this challenge as a 16-year old female. She has proved all the bitter and twisted critics wrong!

Go Jess!!!!

[Liz]

On all the major TV stations at the moment, but she is still a bit of way away.
Looks like a gorgeous day in Sydney!!
How many Sydney IISs went?

................ and she has made it!!! Well done Jess.

[h0ughy]

well congratulations to her - mighty effort

[leon]

We should be all proud of this young girl, well done I say.

Leon

[starlooker]

Good on her. :thumbsup:

[acropolite]

I agree, a gutsy effort.:thumbsup:

[DavidTrap]

Impressive and humble - she's not a hero, but an inspiration.

DT

[Ric]

Forget the tall poppies syndrome.

What she has achieved no one can take away from her.

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