Follow jessica around the world

[Glorious]

For anyone who is interested follow 16 year old Jesica on her solo unassisted nonstop trip around the world.
http://www.jessicawatson.com.au/

[Phillip]

Hope this kid achieves her goal safely.

I hate thinking and saying this......but I am not sure on this one...it seems all too controlled....very controlled.
I really hope it turns out well for her.
She has made 2 serious mistakes...1st night out she runs into a bulk carrier, then after repairs etc, she leaves and does not register with Coast Guard.
I really hope she survives, and then completes her journey.

Cheers
Phillip

[Glorious]

I also feel a bit apprehensive but what can we do now that she is on her way other than to support her.
Glen

[bubba]

Is she sailing a MacGregor 26M ??? Good for her.

[The Mutt]

I'm with you Phillip, one and came up three.

Experts advised Jessica and her Family many months ago to do a solo around Tassie, advice ignored. What tech skills and dumb a$$ Redneck get it fixed with what you have experience does she have, does she know how to fix a crack in the boom ... Kay Cottee had to on First Lady ... I get the feeling she is being setup for her after school job doing the Celeb lecture circuit, thank the powers that be (Channel 10 Television Execs) that Big Brother Australia was canned.

If she fails is a PR machine going to go into overdrive to make her out as the Underdog Heroine?

Now to vacate the soap box for someone else.

I hope I am wrong, good luck Jessica.

Glenn

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

Her courage is outstanding. She will have good stories for her Grand Kids many years from now...

[Mistral]

I agree with Phillip and others.
Wonder if she is being pushed by the parents, just like the tennisand golf kids.

I sincerely it all goes well though. Success might mean a few more people sailing and disaster might turn a lot off.

Dirk

[Nautek]

Just to clarify one point
Jessica didn't run into the cargo ship
It ran into her as she had right of way.

Allan

[Blue Reef]

I don't think anyone really believes that Jess ran into the cargo ship. Nor whether she had right of way or not as governed by ColRegs. However, when she is in a 34 ft boat against a 225 metre ship I think the law of nature takes over (little thing stay out of the way of big thing). Jess has a lot more to lose than the captain of the cargo ship does. He now has a streak of hot pink paint down the side of his ship. She came as close as she has ever come to meeting her maker.

I will give her loads of credit. If i went through her experience with a ship that size i would be high tailing it off the boat and taking up golf.

Good Luck Kiddo and stay out of trouble!

[The Mutt]

Jessica was in the wrong, the cargo vessel has right of way, the question that should be asked is why no warning alarms went off! or did they and she hit the snooze button.

Glenn

[Blue Reef]

Jessica was in the wrong, the cargo vessel has right of way, the question that should be asked is why no warning alarms went off! or did they and she hit the snooze button.

I always believed that Sailboats have right of way of all engine powered boats, unless the powered boat is somehow restricted in movement, or if they are in a channel. Does a Cargo ship that far out to sea fit into either of these categories? Excuse my ignorance on this one.

Cam

[Nautek]

Glenn

The international rules for collision at sea state that a vessel under sail has right of way over a vessel under power.
Just because it is a ship does not give it right of way.
If it was declaring itself not under command or restricted in it's ability to manouver then that would be a different kettle of fish. However in this case the ship was in open water and so had to give way to Jessica or anyone else as per the rules.
That is not to say that Jessica was faultless as she failed to keep a proper lookout and the ship may have been guilty of this also.
I just wanted to clarify things as a lot of people especially the media keep saying that Jessica hit the ship. Not so.
I have had to give way to many yachts over the years whilst working commercially and some in the most ackward of situations where I could have put the ship into an ackward situation but that is what going to sea is all about but give way you must.
Some yachties force their right of way on ships just because they have it. Unfortunately this may not be good behaviour however legal.

Allan

[The Mutt]

I've never hear that rule before Allan, NSW Maritime rams the commercial vessel has right of way down your throat rule, possibly too many ferals boating on Sydney harbour.

Glenn

[Nautek]

Glenn

That is correct but only under certain conditions like Sydney Harbour but not outside the harbour as international rules would then apply.

See below

Rule 18Responsibilities between vessels.
Except where rules 9, 10, and 13 otherwise require:

(a) a power-driven vessel underway shall keep out of the way of:

(i) a vessel not under command.

(ii) a vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre.

(iii) a vessel engaged in fishing.

(iv) a sailing vessel.

(b) A sailing vessel underway shall keep out of the way of:

(i) a vessel not under command.

(Ii) a vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre.

(Iii) a vessel engaged in fishing.

(c) A vessel engaged in fishing when underway shall, so far as possible, keep out of the way of:

(i) a vessel not under command.

(Ii) a vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre.

(d)
(i) Any vessel other than a vessel not under command or a vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, avoid impeding the safe passage of a vessel constrained by her draught, exhibiting the signals in Rule 28.

(Ii) A vessel constrained by her draught shall navigate with particular caution having full regard to her special condition.

(e) A seaplane on the water shall, in general, keep well clear of all vessels and avoid impeding their navigation. In circumstances, however, where risk of collision exists, she shall comply with the Rules of this Part.

(f)
(i) A WIG craft, when taking off, landing and in flight near the surface, shall keep well clear of all other vessels and avoid impeding their navigation.

(Ii) a WIG craft operating on the water surface shall comply with the Rules of this Part as a power-driven vessel.

Hope this helps

Allan

[ogdog]

From her website -

"Monday, 5 October, 2009
Teenage adventurer Jessica Watson says her five-day sail from Queensland to Sydney proves she’s ready to tackle a solo circumnavigation of the globe.
If successful, she will become the youngest person to ever sail single-handed around the world."

My ocean sailing knowledge is limited to a day sail around San Diego. If I went on a five day trip from Brisbane to Sydney, is that all I have to do to prepare to sail around the world? As much as I applaud Jessica and her efforts to achieve this, I too feel she may be a little under done for preparation for the whole journey. No attempted slur against women, but I would also think that a amount of physical strength would be a prerequisite for such a journey. Jessica doesn't seem to have the same physical strength that I've seen on other fine solo female sailors who have a little bit maturity. This is an observation only and I might be wrong. Best of luck to her and I hope she succeeds, but if I was a betting man.................!