Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: AKKuya on October 20, 2009, 10:27:09 AM
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BUDERIM, Australia (AP) - Jessica Watson stares out at the expanse of Pacific Ocean from the deck of her family home. The sun glistens off the calm sea and all appears tranquil.
In September, Watson's experience of the ocean will likely be much different - she'll be attempting to become the youngest person to sail solo, nonstop and unassisted around the world.
She'll start the voyage at the tender age of 16, which has triggered animated debate in Australia about her parents and their decision to approve such a journey.
"You've got to have a goal, you've got to go for something," Watson said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I have the experience, I have the team, I have the preparations. I think I can do it."
Sailing in her newly refit 34-foot yacht, Watson will cover nearly 23,000 nautical miles on a journey that will take her from Australia's east coast and across the equator, south to Cape Horn at the tip of South America, across the Atlantic Ocean to South Africa, through the Indian Ocean and south of Australia back home.
She expects the trip to take her seven to eight months - "230 days hopefully" - she says, at which time she would become the youngest person to complete a solo unassisted circumnavigation.
The previous mark is held by another Australian, Jesse Martin, who was 18 when he completed the journey in 1999. An American, 17-year Zac Sunderland of Marina del Rey, Calif., is in the latter stages of completing a solo, around-the-world trip, although it's not in the "unassisted" category.
"Without assistance" means that a vessel may not receive any kind of outside help or take on board any supplies, materials or equipment during the attempt. A craft may be anchored or beached during the attempt, but any repairs must be made without outside resources, materials or help.
Watson, who was inspired by fellow Australian Kay Cottee, the first woman to sail solo nonstop unassisted around the world, could easily beat the record in both age and time, but the very fact that a slight, under 110-pound teenage girl will be attempting such an arduous and dangerous trip has raised its share of eyebrows.
John Morrissey of the Australian Family Association said his rather strong criticism of Watson's trip has led to "more flack from sailor types than anything else I've commented on."
Morrissey, a school teacher, stands by his comments that a 16-year-old girl should still be in school. Watson, an 11th-grader who studies through correspondence, hasn't attended a regular school since the ninth grade.
"I think she's too immature, both physically and psychologically, to do something like this," Morrissey said. "It's sure putting a big load on her guardian angel."
An informal Internet poll in her local Sunshine Coast newspaper marginally approved of Watson's plans. Forty-seven percent said they thought experience was more important than age, 39 percent said she was too young, and 12 percent said they'd like to meet her first before commenting.
That 12 percent would probably be impressed.
Watson seems mature for her age, and has been sailing since she was 8. Her New Zealand-born parents, former real estate man Roger and mother Julie, lived for 5 1/2 years on a 50-foot motor boat with Jessica, her sister Emily, 17, brother Tom, 14 and younger sister Hannah, 11. Before that, the family spent two years traveling around Australia in a motor home.
Watson said she expected some criticism.
"As long as it's sensible and good advice, you listen to it all," she said. "The one thing I won't accept is when someone calls this reckless. This is years and years of planning and preparation. We haven't just jumped into this."
Watson and her family have already spoken to Australian and New Zealand search-and-rescue officials. She's studied navigation, electronics and safety procedures.
She and her mother are seeing a nutritionist to best plan the freeze-dried meals she'll have on board for the journey, and she recently completed a maritime first-aid course.
"I learned about hypothermia, every kind of wound," she said of the course. "I stitched up some chickens and stabbed a few oranges."
Watson is allowed to catch fish, but admits a fishing rod is not "big on the agenda" because of the possibility of falling overboard. When she leaves Australia, she'll have only about 95 gallons of fresh water with her, but her sails and a gutter system on the boat will help her capture rainwater. A cooking stove will operate on methylated spirits, as propane gas was deemed to be too heavy and dangerous to take on board.
She will have four "EPIRBS," or satellite tracking devices, on board, including one attached to her body at all times. She'll also have satellite phones, a laptop, and music and books to keep her occupied and in touch with the world.
"Next week's plan includes final fiberglassing, getting the new paint under way, building a new galley, completing the plumbing, getting the wiring under way and I'll be heading down to Brisbane on Wednesday day to do a marine medical course," Watson said.
Don McIntyre of Hobart, Tasmania state, is a 40-year sailing veteran who circumnavigated the globe in 1990-91. He's providing the boat Watson will use and has helped the family in its preparations, along with a handful of sponsors who are providing sails, rigging and safety gear.
"I believe there is a lack of young people who want to live their dream," McIntyre said. "I can see that she is truly committed. You need to see they are happy within themselves, and that they are independent. She has a steely determination that is totally separate from her sailing skills.
"That's what you need. Will she do it? No one knows. There are other factors involved. But she has the ability to do it."
Jim Hawke, an Australian offshore yacht instructor who did a "mock" solo sail with Watson from Australia to New Zealand in January, was impressed with the-then 15-year-old's ability.
"She saps up knowledge like a sponge, she sorts it out, makes her own mind up," Hawke said. "The real strength is in her head. She has such an even temperament and never gets flustered."
Her parents agree.
"She has proven to us and applied the skills and shown us that she has the determination to see it through," Julie Watson said.
"We know she can do it," added Roger Watson, who admits it took him longer to accept his daughter's plans for the sail. "But that's not to say we won't have some sleepless nights when she's away."
The sailor herself admits to concerns over big waves and gear failure.
"And you have to be very careful about exposure," she said. "You don't get warm again out there."
And she again defends her age.
"Someone said to me recently that the ocean doesn't care how old you are," Watson said. "It respects experience, not your age."
She's sure to get plenty of experience on her voyage.
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Wow. When she ventures out, I hope she keeps close tabs on her water supply. Better to lose the record then to head off on the last leg of the journey without water.
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She better keep tabs on pirates.
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Wow, I wonder how much time she will spend in the South Sea. The storms that come up from the south are nasty, and big rough seas would scare the crap out of me. Anyone know the planned route?
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Age is only a number at some point....I have seen 30 year old's I wouldn't trust with a potato peeler.
May she have tailwinds and calm seas......God Speed!
Strip
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She's supposed to travel east from Australia towards the South American coast. The real question is how much will be the Australian and United States navies will be keeping tabs on her location to prevent the pirates taking her hostage?
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My father sailed round the world as part of a crew of roughly twenty, took them about 13 months from Liverpool to Liverpool. Shes a brave girl to try this solo, good luck to her.
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She's supposed to travel east from Australia towards the South American coast. The real question is how much will be the Australian and United States navies will be keeping tabs on her location to prevent the pirates taking her hostage?
I don't see many of the POS Pirate "rickshaws" lasting long in those seas to the South. She has a lot more to worry about than being "hijacked" in the roughest seas in the World.
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I don't see many of the POS Pirate "rickshaws" lasting long in those seas to the South. She has a lot more to worry about than being "hijacked" in the roughest seas in the World.
Like falling asleep and running into a container ship.
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You do know that she collided with a cargo ship on a test sail.
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You do know that she collided with a cargo ship on a test sail.
Then I'm amazed her parents would approve of this.
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The Horn is always the most dangerous area. Incredible high winds and rough seas with huge waves.
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I wonder if she will be sponsored by Tampax.....
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The Horn is always the most dangerous area. Incredible high winds and rough seas with huge waves.
QFT. Sailing around Cape Horn is nuts. I have an uncle that did it, he said it was the most terrifing experiance of his life. Very high waves, hitting you from multiple directions, winds and currents that are some of the worst in the world.
Good luck little one, fingers crossed for you.
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If you think 16 is quite young for such a huge undertaking...
About 2 months ago, a Dutch court had put the 13 year old Laura Dekker under state care (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2009/08/28/2009-08-28_dutch_gov_garners_custody_of_laura_dekker_13_to_evaluate_her_ability_in_solo_sai.html) to prevent her from sailing solo around the world.
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Best of luck to her. I'd never be able to do such a thing.
I think I'm in love :eek:
(Just in case you, the reader, did not know, I am 15 years old. Makes it sound a bit less creepy, eh? :P)
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Best of luck to her. I'd never be able to do such a thing.
I think I'm in love :eek:
(Just in case you, the reader, did not know, I am 15 years old. Makes it sound a bit less creepy, eh? :P)
WOAH I thought you were older, You officially qualify for an invitation to SQUEAKING DEATH. Just copy and paste the name in my signiture without the CO bit and there you go :)
THAT APPLIES to everyone under the age of 20
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I'm proof that a ten year old can sail around the world...and I'm 27. ;)
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WOAH I thought you were older, You officially qualify for an invitation to SQUEAKING DEATH. Just copy and paste the name in my signiture without the CO bit and there you go :)
THAT APPLIES to everyone under the age of 20
Sorry, my voice is too deep and my balls are too low for your squad. Shoulda caught me sooner! :P
I'm proof that a ten year old can sail around the world...and I'm 27. ;)
Way to go :lol
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You do know that she collided with a cargo ship on a test sail.
haha yes it happened just off the coast here, first night sailing from the Sunshine Coast to Sydney, "Mind the container ship dear.".
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If you think 16 is quite young for such a huge undertaking...
About 2 months ago, a Dutch court had put the 13 year old Laura Dekker under state care (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2009/08/28/2009-08-28_dutch_gov_garners_custody_of_laura_dekker_13_to_evaluate_her_ability_in_solo_sai.html) to prevent her from sailing solo around the world.
I heard that there is a 7 year old somewhere working on a solo Mars mission.
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Eventually one of them will die in the attempt to be the youngest. There will be a lot of hand wringing then. To be honest, it's not the maturity of the child, I would worry about. But the maturity of the parents. You have to wonder if the child turned up and said 'I really, really want to sail around the world solo'. Or was the idea planted by over ambitious parents. If it was the child's idea, a simple NO would suffice.
It reminds of those stunts where a child flies long distances with an Instructor alongside of course because flying is more regulated than sailing. Remember the one that crashed? That put a stop to it for a while. One or more of those kids will die inevitably and gain the grim record of being the youngest unassisted solo sailor to die pointlessly for the benefit of their parents' egos.
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. One or more of those kids will die inevitably and gain the grim record of being the youngest unassisted solo sailor to die pointlessly for the benefit of their parents' egos.
don't forget about the books sales and movie rights and the product endorsements. $$$$$$$
"hi, i sailed around the world and my Rolex kept perfect time"
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At 15 I was doing 150 mph in the 1/4 mile....
You got 16 year olds racing NASCAR series and 14 year olds running sprint cars.
Perhaps I should go outside when ever it gets cloudy, lightning could kill me....
Please, this girl will be well trained and well equiped.....God Speed!
Strip
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At 15 I was doing 150 mph in the 1/4 mile....
You got 16 year olds racing NASCAR series and 14 year olds running sprint cars.
Perhaps I should go outside when ever it gets cloudy, lightning could kill me....
Please, this girl will be well trained and well equiped.....God Speed!
Strip
did you run into a container ship
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did you run into a container ship
To be fair, the container ship ran into her. :lol
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To be fair, the container ship ran into her. :lol
to be fair, those big ships can't turn or stop, YOU have to stay out of their way.