Jessica Watson Young Sailor, good or bad idea???

All of us opposed to or raising legitimate questions are not against this girl, at all. In fact quite the opposite. We are concerned about her safety, and what's wrong with that?

And I think it only fair that a lot of questions get raised, the more I look into it the more I have.

From her site: "Attitude: Always make the best of everything, Positive, ask questions, lots of questions."
I read this as natural, youthful overconfidence. Unfortunately mother nature doesn't give a damn about your attitude. Realistic beats positive any day. And ask questions, lots of questions? Don't mind if I do.

- How many years experience of open ocean sailing, solo, does she have?
- What is the longest distance she has traveled solo?
- What has her training been like?

This is the roughest seas in any of the pictures on her site:



Here's what she has to be prepared for, solo, probably for many days and nights at a time:

"This video was taken on board a Russian vessel crossing the Drake Passage between Ushuaia (Argentina) and the Antarctic Peninsula. The Drake Passage is known as the roughest sea on earth with severe storms almost at any times and extremely huge waves. We were hit by a storm sailing north that lasted two days with 14m waves."

From the Blog:
"THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2009

Keeping More Than Busy
Over the last few days I've been enjoying learning all about weather systems of the world, currents, passage planing procedures, cyclones and finding sextant errors all as part of the Ocean Yachtmaster course."

Soooo, not too much actual, first-hand experience?

No wait:

"Solo sailing experience?
Because of age/legal restrictions I've not been able to sail a passage properly solo but I have completed a mock solo passage across the Tasman, January 2009 and have been collecting offshore miles for almost two years.

Better get back to work

A different perspective in this video and worth watching to the end to hear what the guy has to say.

More dumb/smart comments:

TV network One, who has signed broadcast rights for a documentary about Jessica and has signage on her yacht, will also support Jessica.

"The upmost priority is Jessica’s safety," a spokeswoman for the network said.

Well that's easy fixed.

"We respect any decision made by Jessica and her parents in relation to her voyage."

What is that supposed to mean? If Jessica and her parents decided she should sail around the world with 12 Bengal Tigers in the cockpit they'd support it?

Yachting Australia chief executive Phil Jones urged Guinness World Records to reconsider recognising titles for events declaring "youngest-ever" competitors.

"While such a record exists, you are always going to find younger and younger people trying to break it, and I don't think that's necessarily a good thing," he said.

Hurrah!!!

Have to agree with you on that Evl. I wasn't quite aware that Jessica's adventure was a Guiness Book thing. Are they the only people who keep records??

If the "Guiness Book of Records" is Jessica's prime motivation (which I doubt), to my mind it is a trivial pursuit.

Now, being the front page lead story of the Courier Mail, the subject of a total reversal of opinion and comment by the premier, and investigation of the incident having been passed to the "Australian Transport Safety Bureau", not A.M.S.A. (Australian Maritime Safety Authority), the issue of the colission is obviously a political "hot potatoe".

We don't want to upset our biggest coal customer do we?? Go figure.

Mark my words, the "authorities" are going to hang her out to dry.

Video footage of large container ships punching a sea at 25 knots are not relevant to a relatively small sailing vessel screaming downwind in a following sea at speeds of up to 30 knots.

Looks impressive though.

But if you want to see what a cargo ship does around Cape Horn as recorded by one of the greatest sailors ever born and an Australian to boot watch this and the rest of the episodes, narrated by the great man Alan Villiers. This is your Australian Sailing Heritage in the raw. Enjoy!!

Hi Guy
the sea will teach her realities, humility , real fast..........
and she can proclaim what she want ..

she got a great PR ( public relation team ) congratulation to them , they have been selling and promote "S---" to the public and fool the media

But DO nOT BLAME , cargo ship or other people for your mistake or accident or else.
remember that say

"i did not prepare to fail, i fail to prepare"

From the wires:

"Young sailor stopped


Thirteen-year-old Laura Dekker was put under temporary state care in August in the Netherlands after her father gave her permission to sail around the world solo.
The state control is limited to two months while judges and lawyers discuss and determine whether Laura should be permitted to make the journey, which would make her the youngest person to do so. Her parents support her plans.

Laura planned to spend two years aboard her 26 foot (8m) boat, Guppy, to break the record set in late August by 17-year-old Mike Perham of the UK.

The Dutch Child Protection Agency requested Laura be made a ward of court because it was “irresponsible for such a young girl to make a two-year solo trip around the world.”

According to news reports, Laura was born on a yacht off New Zealand during a seven-year world trip, and spent the first four years of her life at sea. She had a yacht by the age of six and began sailing solo when she was 10.

A psychologists’ report is expected this month."

do they have a "record "
for the youngest to climb Everest? Too...........( sailing solo as often been compare to climb Everest)
or your child could 'dream" to do both ..
solo around and world and climb everest

maybe prepare your next child or it, and contact everybody about it ..
and get your 15 minuts of fame and fuss

If this isn't her prime motivation, then why not wait until she's at least finished school and had a little more experience?

Wow first post to say that - you wouldn't happen to have an agenda would you?

The loneliness would drive me insane. I dont think shes ready...I wish her good luck and I hope she dosnt go nuts !!!

And a great 1st post it was

mmm-is there a reason why commercial vessels have "minumum safe manning" levels?

Why isnt there a "youngest person to drive Perth to Sydney" record?

Or "youngest to fly solo Perth to Sydney"?

Because its STUPID and endangers peoples lives.

Do you wonder why authorities have to bring in rules such as licences for amateur boaties? While she may have balls to try what she is doing, enough is enough.
I spend 50% of my life on the water and if we collide, there are consequences for all involved. It is IMPOSSIBLE to maintain a competent watch solo.

Is it ok to drive drunk on quiet roads cos theres not much traffic? NO for good reason. Everyone has an obligation to maintain a watch-not just rely on others(professional mariners) to do it.

Cisco-while your facts are pretty good your logic is a bit lacking.

ATSB investigates ALL incidents involving commercial vessels.

To the person posting about who gives way at sea-"might is right" is only a law of self preservation, not Colregs. In fact if the standon vessel takes action early and CONTRIBUTES to the collision they are at fault. If a vessel is showing correct lights/shapes, and isnt sailing/fishing/NUC/retricted manoeverability (towing etc)/restricted by draught then it DOESNT matter what size the vessel is.

I get names and faces mixed up:




Plus (+)



Equals (=)

Not at all, it was a good pun.



I am also impressed with this pun. Nice work.