Cruising with Jessica Watson.

[Ed Schenck]

Without being judgmental I am enjoying breakfast with Jessica Watson most mornings. Maybe you noticed that they now have tracking on her website: http://www.jessicawatson.com.au/the-voyage. Since I cannot cruise myself this is a way to stay close to the water.

She seems wise way beyond her years. I suppose it might be because she is getting editorial help with her blogs. But those daily journal entries are interesting. She has explained her food stores, electrical and today her communication equipment. I think you will be able to sense her moods as conditions change out there. She has already sailed double-reefed through some nasty weather. Problem is it will get much tougher.

I have learned one thing. If you want to cruise with all the best equipment then get sponsors. Two sat phones and a sat dome?!

[jackhartjr]

Ed, thanks for the link, I to will start looking at it.
Jack

[Benny]

Now you got me hooked!

[Franklin]

That girl has guts. On my trip I'm not going around Cape Horn, I'm cheating and going through the Straights of Megellan. I hope she has good weather and enjoys it.

[Joe]

Originally Posted by Franklin

That girl has guts. On my trip I'm not going around Cape Horn, I'm cheating and going through the Straights of Megellan. I hope she has good weather and enjoys it.

I wouldn't call that cheating. The weather and conditions inside the straits can be just as challenging for a sailboat. Going round the outside gives you much more room to maneuver if things get nasty.... and gives you a tremendous time advantage if the weather is good. To me the main reason for making the passage inside the straits of magellan is to stop at punta arenas for r&r.

Just remember, she is attempting a NON STOP circumnavigation. The goal is to get round the tip of South America ASAP and head north to the Falklands to rest in calmer waters before crossing the south atlantic.

[Franklin]

I think it's cheating. The mountains provide some cover from the high winds. Many of the high winds that hit the cape do not reach up to the straights. There is always a windward shore to escape the waves. There are three narrow channels that currents reach up to 8 knots during tide changes, but those are easy to avoid as the channels are not that long...an hour or two to get through. I'll take the issue of making that timing over 25' waves, fog, underwater rocks and the unprotected wind any day.

One thing I like about her trip is it seems she is timing it just right so she hits the cape in the middle of summer. Lets hope she doesn't run into delays and ends up rounding in the fall.

[Franklin]

Been going over her website. A lot points to a good knowledgeable sailor she is, but a few things have me scratching my head like: says boat is moving slow and then the video shows her sails are not trimmed correctly....headsail is let out but main is pulled in as tight as it can get. There is also that accident she had and initually no plan for exhaustion or rest plan.

I've gotten the impression she has done a lot of sailing and has been taught well, but actual experience with her as captain seems limited, let alone solo. There is a hugh difference between being crew and being captain and also a hugh difference between going out with crew and going out alone.

One thing is for certain, it sure pays to be young and cute So got a ton of sponsors to beef up that boat into a floating electronic store. Yeah, I'm jealous

[dserrell]

Ed,

Thanks for the link! I'm hooked too! Posted it on the Compac Yacht Owners Association web site. Jessica's going to take us all on an adventure of a lifetime! Fair weather!

David