Jessica Watson inspirational...

[stephenb (Stephen)]

Originally Posted by 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

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 (Stephen)]

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

Norm

[matt]

No reports of wild weather around the cape.

Thankfully she got lucky

[stephenb (Stephen)]

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

[lacad01 (Adam)]

Now there's a slightly younger rival hot on her heels
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...25/2800410.htm
Go Jessica

[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

[stephenb (Stephen)]

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, Tristan da Cunha islands, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Île Amsterdam, Pitcairn

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 The Cape of Good Hope is in her sights now!

[Quantum629 (Will)]

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!

[GrahamL]

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

True stephan.. dare to dream about pehaps visiting some of these places one day.. 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 (Stephen)]

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

[stephenb (Stephen)]

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

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

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

[stephenb (Stephen)]

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

[kinetic (Steve)]

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

[Ric]

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

I take my hat off to her.