Follow jessica around the world

[MARK PASSMORE]

She’s a Shellback now! Welcome to the Northern Hemisphere Captain Jessica!

[nemo]

last night, Jessica passed over the namesake of my boat, Point Nemo. Known for being the spot on the ocean farthest from any land mass.

Googled the location:

The oceanic pole of inaccessibility (48°52.6′S 123°23.6′W / 48.8767°S 123.3933°W / -48.8767; -123.3933 (Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility)), is the place in the ocean that is farthest from land. It lies in the South Pacific Ocean, 2,688 km (1,670 mi or 1,451 NM) from the nearest lands: Ducie Island (part of the Pitcairn Islands) in the north, Motu Nui (part of the Easter Islands) in the north-east, and Maher Island (near the larger Siple Island, off the coast of Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica) in the south. Chatham Island lies farther west, and Southern Chile in the east. This location is also referred to as "Point Nemo".

Ha, and some of you probably thought I had named my boat after a cartoon fishy!

Go Jessica!! And Merry Christmas to you -

[Bransher]

Regardless of whether Jessica is experienced enough as a sailor, there is another item that I have not seen anyone mention. Physical disabling illness or injury that could prevent her from functioning at all. A serious injury from being whacked in the head by a swinging boom, appendicitis, food poisoning or some other problem that might keep her curled up in the cabin in excruciating pain unable to function. Single-handed sailing by anyone regardless of age or experience is extremely risky for that possibility alone. Do you suppose her parents have thought about that? The average teenager’s brain is not mature enough to make the same rational decisions as that of an adult. That is why teenagers are generally more prone to having automobile accidents, which is proven by insurance statistics. And that is why she should not have been permitted to make the final decision to go.

If Jessica is so hull bent on circling the globe nonstop, then why not find another girl her age and do it as a team? I think people would be just as impressed by two young girls doing it together, and after it is accomplished they could still write a book and do the TV talk show circuits together. Of course, it is too late now to change things as she has passed point nemo and is now alone in the southern ocean where no one can come to her rescue. God-speed Jessica, we wish you a safe journey home.

[MARK PASSMORE]

If you get the chance to read her blogs, I think you may realize the same thing that I did. That this girl is no average teenager. She is very capable and I think if Jessica really was just the “average teen” then her parents would have vetoed the excursion. At first I thought to myself that her parents must be nuts. But after reading her post I realized that she is something special. Of course it is extremely risky. It would be for anyone at any age, but look at it this way...she could always be out cruising around town in a fast car. Texting on her cell phone, like so many other teens are doing. Taking the chance of raising all of our insurance rates. I just wish all teens were as smart and driven as she is. She's got brains and spunk...Go Jessica!

[rwmiller56]

Jessica rounded Cape Horn today, in 40 kt winds and 4 meter seas. No easy feat. Congratulations to her, and I wish her all the best on the remainder of her journey. She has done an excellent job so far.
Below is a picture of Diego Ramirez Islands in the background. It's the first land she has seen since the start of her journey.

[Kelly Hanson East]

There are no illnesses at 18, you forget. Teens heal at incredible rates and dont experience the breakdowns like people of Scott's age....

[DaveB]

Any Teenager doing this around World Cruise Solo is one part crazy, Parents who allowed this have no love for their child and if she does do it her life will forever change, she will never be the same when she left.
I did it at age 32 for three years and was never the same person when I returned. I went from a Highly motavated Builder with great ideas and building projects to giving it all up at age 32 and Sail around the World.
Problem is when you come back you are a much deffrent person than when you left and for the most part..you became a self sufficiant sailer that is very independent and self reliant in anything you do.Most of all is the rejection of Land Base rules and regulations.
Landing and becomeing a landlubber is very difficult to do as a long distant sailer or liveaboard and try to get back to your old lifestyle. (not going to happen)
Dave

(She's got brains )

[Scott]

Why do it at all is a better question than why let a 16 y/o do it. Parents or her personally.

Why is it any different for a 16 y/o or a 36 y/o. I was a better sailor at 16 then I was at 36. At 16 I was fresh out of navigation/ sailing and seamanship school and sailing near daily since I could remember. At 36 I was lucky to get to sail monthly and had forgotten everything I had learned in school. Grqanted many things had become second nature but the tech and book stuff had gone away with the pot smoke.

At 16 her physical conditionong and stamina will also be at an optimum.

Why not at 16?

[jpatter]

I applaud her. Teens now a days are lazy to a most part. If we did not have risk takers and dreamers, we wouldn't have gone to the moon or America wouldn't have been discovered. Maybe she will inspire some other teen to excel at something that most adults wouldn't or couldn't do and be the next Einstein or Bill Gates.

Jpatter

[Mistral]

As one subscriber stated on another website:

Go Jess, show all those naysayers and armchair experts how it's done! You've got more guts and talent in your little toe than all of them put together.

Too many whooses in the world today and of course here parents dearly love her and support her, as do so many others. Let her follow her and many other's dream.

[waternwaves]

as one of the .........cadre who have awakened to no land in sight........

sitting on a sailboat is not all that tough of work. and the prep work for the trip is not that strenuous either. Frankly I am a lot more impressed by an educated 16 or 17 year old man or woman that willing chooses to join the marines for the job they do.

sailing is tedious boredom, and seemingly endless repetition interspersed with occasional intervals of suprises, while your supplies dwindle. remember......most of us do it for recreation.

and if the average age at the olympics is anything........ 16 does not seem to be the peak years for strength issues anyway.

It is someones (parents-sponsors-others) way to spend money and get acclaim. They want to feel good about sailing and what they do.
Lets not overdo the acclaims and raise this girls efforts compared to those that sacrifice for years to help others.

but wouldnt that money have been better spent elsewhere Couldnt a school have been built somewhere, wireless internet brought to a village, a teacher subsidized in southern egypt.? He that pays the piper calls the tune.

I know people want to equate it to a lunar mission...... but I just don't see it. childrens hospital is a better places to spend that much money. hull, I used to feel guilty even owning a boat after going in there, except when I found out what those doctors make.

The remaining part of this post is being self restricted by the general forum conscious before I wax polemic on possible moral, political, religious or other inappropriate charges or statements for this forum. Thankfully I recognzied this in time. And I thank the moderators for their continue vigilance and efforts to keep this board a fun, educational and fulfilling pastime.

[MARK PASSMORE]

Agreed.... Joining the Marines these days is much more dangerous than sailing solo around the world. So I say we can be very proud of both accomplishments of our youngsters.

[kadet]

IMO Australian Big Brother was canceled so where else is a 16 year old girl going to get so much free publicity to try and set themselves up for some $$$$$$$.

This is purely a publicity stunt by her, her parents and her sponsors.

Solo as in no-one else in the boat but definitely not alone with satellite Internet connection daily radio contact her packaged school work etc. not alone. One of the biggest issues facing a long distance solo sailor is the mental issues and the utter loneliness that drive many mad. This boat of hers is automated, calculated and inundated with gizmos. She is a passenger along for a ride to become famous.

I would have been impressed if she had done this on her own and quietly slipped into port one day without a word and announced that 12 months ago she left to sail around the world and she is now back. Heck one of the old boys from my son's school sailed solo from the UK to Australia after graduation without so much as an hooray until he arrived back at his school for a visit for assembly.

If this makes me a naysayer so be it, I like to think of it more as being a non-mediahyperist. Because this story is a load of media cr@P.

[Mistral]

kadet,

It is hype, because she is 16 and female (ok, so it is sexist) and the internet is now more of a factor. Jesse Martin had virtually the same support and at that time (10 yrs ago) was also the youngest to sail solo around the world. No matter what others think, I think it is a major achievement.

[MARK PASSMORE]

Heck...I cant sail solo for one day much less 9 months. I think she rocks!!!