Jessica Waston at Sydney Boat Show In 2009 (Photo by Colin Merry)
Jessica Watson Is back in Australian Waters.
She had this to say about arriving in her country’s home waters. “The flyover with Mum, Dad, Tom and Hannah on Saturday was a great welcome to Australian waters and a lot of fun. Even though all I could see was a small plane way overhead, it was still really cool. Mum reckons that Ella’s Pink Lady and I looked really small between the swell, which seems strange to me because Ella’s Pink Lady is my whole world at the moment!
Things got pretty interesting for a while last night, when what I thought was just a light passing squall, turned into a full on electrical storm, the worst I’ve seen at sea yet. Even though I could hardly see it through the icy cold sideways rain, the lightning was striking the water nearby much too close for my liking. The wind gusted pretty high too.
Ella’s Pink Lady was already well reefed down at the time. But till I was able to furl almost all of the headsail away and pull the tiny third reef in, we were healed over pretty dramatically. But the wind soon dropped again and as it did, the rain really started. It was so heavy that you could hardly see where the water stopped and the sky began. A bit of thunder has never worried me, but alone at sea at 4 in the morning, it seems particularly menacing and it becomes a lot harder to keep your nerves in check!
Other than the lightning storm, the weather’s still been really unsettled with almost constant rain, squalls and a messy sea. Luckily the wind hasn’t been too strong though. Progress has been good and even with all this gloomy grey stuff, I’m happy as Larry and mostly staying dry thanks to my snug dodger.
Jessica was yesterday treated to a visit from some guests who dropped by. Her Mum, Dad, brother Tom and sister Hannah flew overhead to give her a wave from a small plane. “With the sun peaking out through the clouds and Ella’s Pink Lady surfing along in a big sea and lots of silly chatter over the VHF, it was a really, really special moment, “said Jessica”
“The plane couldn’t come in very close at all this time, which was a pity, because I’d made a special effort with my hair, painted my toe nails pink and shaved my legs especially. Strangely it felt a lot like a normal family get together which gives you an idea of what’s become normal for me.”
She is due in port in a couple of weeks.
Jessica Waston At Syndey Boat Show (Photo by Colin Merry)
Jessica Watson has started her world record attempt after being bid farewell by family, friends and many spectators when she sailed out from Sydney Heads on Sunday morning.
Her spokesman Andrew Fraser said Jessica got off to a good start and many people came out in boats and lined the headland to cheer her on when she took off aboard her yacht, Ella’s Pink Lady, from the Spit in Middle Harbour.
‘There is probably about 100 boats out here (seeing her off),’ he said.
Mr Fraser said the weather conditions were good and that winds should pick up once she got past the heads.
NSW Maritime boats escorted Jessica out of the Heads.
The teenager from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and her team spent Saturday ‘fine-tuning’ their preparations and planned to get a good night’s sleep.
Mr Fraser said she was relieved and upbeat to be finally beginning her voyage, after being delayed in Sydney by gusty winds last week.
‘I said: How are you feeling?’,’ Andrew Fraser told reporters in Sydney on Saturday.
‘She said: I wake up tomorrow and sail around the world’.’
Jessica is setting off on her quest despite calls for her to abandon the voyage from the likes of the Queensland government and some of Australia’s most experienced sailors.
Concerns were heightened when her yacht collided with a 63,000-tonne cargo vessel off North Stradbroke Island during an aborted journey to Sydney last month.
But Mr Fraser dismissed the doubters.
Colin Merry and Jessica Watson
‘Let’s have this conversation in eight months,’ he said, referring to the time Jessica is expected to take to sail around the world.
‘It (the collision) may have been a blessing in disguise, to be honest,’ Mr Fraser said.
‘I think we’ve learnt a lot from that experience, (and) Jessica has learnt a lot.’
After leaving Sydney the 16-year-old will head towards northern New Zealand, then to Fiji, Samoa, South America and South Africa, then sail the final leg of 4,000 nautical miles back to Australia.
Her route will be similar to that taken by Australian Kay Cottee, who became the first woman to sail solo, unassisted and non-stop around the world in 1988.
Jessica Waston (Photo by Colin Merry)
The 16-year-old Australian yachtswoman Jessica Watson, who is hoping to become the youngest person to sail around the world, will almost certainly have to delay the start of her voyage, after hitting a cargo ship on a test sail.
Jessica had started out on a 10-day test run from the sunshine coast in Queensland south to Sydney. Unfortunately, less than 24 hours into the trip, she hit the carrier – at about 02:00 local time on Wednesday morning, 17:00 BST on Tuesday evening.
Her yacht Ella’s Pink Lady has sustainded damage to its mast, and the starboard side of the deck and hull have been badly scraped. Jessica is unharmed, although a little shaken.
The teenage is still determined to carry on with her plans to circumnavigate the globe: “”All things considered, the boat did come up well. The big thing for me is I came through the whole thing feeling confident.” Ms Jiggins said Waston called her parents immediately after the crash, who then contacted maritime authorities for help.
“Her parents contacted our rescue co-ordination centre which advised Watson to turn her motor back on and head to Stradbroke Island,” Ms Jiggins said. Watson, who is now 15 nautical miles from shore, later agreed to travel to Southport on the Gold Coast and is expected to arrive in the next two hours. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau will also investigate the crash. Watson left Mooloolaba Wharf yesterday on a week-long test run ahead of her world record attempt to be the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau will investigate the circumstances of the collision early this morning, but was unlikely to recommend a halt to the solo sail. ATSB spokesman Richard Batt said details about the crash were still sketchy. “We know it was a foreign ship heading out of Australia,” Mr Batt said. “We are still gathering some preliminary details. “It is not our role to apportion blame. From our point of view it would be about seeing whether there could be any safety gains made. The question of whether it is reasonable for a young person to be doing this is not a matter for us.”
Despite the mishap, Watson’s spokesman Scott Young said the solo attempt would continue. “She is determined as ever,” Mr Young said. “It certainly hasn’t stopped the voyage. I cannot ever see Jessica not wanting to do this. She is every bit the competent professional.” Mr Young said a preliminary assessment of the yacht indicated there was no structural damage. “There’s mostly just damage to rigging, which can be replaced,” he said. “But we’ll have to get boat back into port to confirm that at this stage. “The good news is that we know the tracking systems and communication system on her boat are second to none and that the network of the project team, including her family and those around her, have worked.”
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Brett Harrison said conditions in the area at the time of the crash were relatively calm. “There would have been come showers around earlier this morning. The wind weren’t particularly strong. It doesn’t look particularly bad, apart from a few showers, Mr Harrison told ABC Radio.
Jessica Watson's Pink Boat (Photo by Colin Merry)
Spirit of Mystery at the Sydney Boat Show (Photo by Colin Merry)
Well the boat show here in Sydney has got off to a great start! The weather is sunny and temps. are up into the high teens. With five exhibition halls and a marina full of boats there is plenty to see and drool over. ”Spirit of Mystery” is being really well received with loads of people coming on board for the tour and story of her voyage. We are working hard to try and accommodate all who want to see her.
Jessica Watson's Pink Boat (Photo by Colin Merry)
Next door to us is a very pink yacht indeed! It is a 34′ Sparkman and Stephens. Sixteen year old Jessica Watson will be setting off from Sydney in September in her bid to be the youngest solo circumnavigator. Her route will take her northeast across the equator to Washington Island in the North Pacific, around the notorious Cape Horn, below South Africa and the Cape of Good Hope, across the Indian Ocean and up the East coast back home to Sydney. Jessica hopes to return before her 17th birthday. I asked her a few questions whilst being shown around on board.
Why? – The challenge, she has heard the stories and needs to know what it will be like for herself.
Which things are you most looking forward to? – The milestones, the Horn would be great.
What things are you most dreading? – The first storm, other than getting that one behind me not anything really.
What will you miss most? – Friends and family.
How long are you planning for? – 230 days.
What are you taking with you to remind you of friends and family? – Pics, mascots, music and a dancing chicken!
What frustrates you most about societies perception of a youngster taking on what you are about to do? -Not being ready to accept that I can do this. And being classed as a minor on all the forms that have to be signed off.
Colin Merry and Jessica Watson
Jessica came across as a level headed girl who has her sights firmly set on achieving her goal.
Jessica Waston (Photo by Colin Merry)
We at C&A wish her well and will be following her progress. For more information on Jessica log onto www.jessicawatson.com.au
