Jessica Watson - Solo Sailor

Setting out to sail around the world by yourself at the age of 16 is a pretty big step... The current record holder is a 18 year old.

Might be something that you might want to follow over the next year.

It's really big news back home.

jessicawatson.com.au/

John,This is really good stuff! Thanks for posting Jessicas' web address! I will be forwarding it to the many adventure enthusiasts that I call friends. I fully intend to follow the progress of this bold young woman.

Nice, John. Bold young woman...

Simply amazing. She looks well prepared, I'll have to keep a close eye on how this develops.

Yeah, pretty cool ... She sailed out of Sydney a few hours ago on her trip.

17 year old kid from So Cal should be getting back in the next couple weeks, or maybe is already back. No sponsors, just his dad who helped him outfit his boat. Not to take anything away from this girl though, it seems like there are a lot of kids trying for this fleeting title.

OT, but I just watched a really kick-ass documentary about the Nonstop Round the World Race held in the late 60s. Called Deep Water, and its by the same guys who did Touching the Void.

Isn't that the one where a guy went crazy in his trimaran?

Heard a rumor that if courts allow it, a 14 year old female of Holland? will be setting out on a circumnavigation soon too.

Things aren't looking too good out of the gate for Ms. Watson, already having collided with a 30,000 ton cargo ship. Australian Premier is suggesting she call it off...

Evan Johnson wrote:Isn't that the one where a guy went crazy in his trimaran?

The book about this race is called "A voyage for Madmen"....cool read.

Ryan,

The collision was a while back on a test run. Her alarm system failed to work and it has been fixed since then. Right now she has passed Norfolk Island and heading to the equator. She is ahead of schedule even though she has had a couple of calm days.

Cheers

John

Thanks for the update John.

jessicawatson.com.au/videos

First video on the link above is her video on day 10. Watch the compass pitch and roll... looks pretty crazy. At the very end she looks like she is going to go hurl.

I think she will do just fine though. People used to take on way more responsibilities at younger ages than they do now. She seems up to it and will hopefully be successful.

I saw this story today and thought it was Jessica. I guess there's another girl out there trying this and she's been lost at sea. Sad news. abcnews.go.com/2020/abby-su…

Hang in there Abby!!

I have spent 11 months at sea. Have 17,000 miles of sailing experience. Crossed the Pacific ocean. If I had a son or daughter under 25 years old and wanted to do this. Solo. I would have to say no.

sonvclimbing wrote:I have spent 11 months at sea. Have 17,000 miles of sailing experience. Crossed the Pacific ocean. If I had a son or daughter under 25 years old and wanted to do this. Solo. I would have to say no.

Pirates, nice young American girl, and then there's the danger nature presents. Tania Aebi did it @ 19 in the early 80's and was scared of these factors. It was a different world then. I wouldn't sign off my kid like that unless she was armed...to the teeth!

I will let my child chase any dream they have at whatever age they are. To stifle someones dreams is not my business.

She will be fine.

maybe not so fine. Hopefully just a few equipment glitches.

huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/…

Thank god Abbey has been found.

I guess for those that haven't gotten news, she lit up her PLB and then spotted by aircraft in the Indian/Southern Oceans area about 2000 miles SW of Perth. Watercraft will be at her location in about a day or so.

Her vessel, Wild Eyes, had been rolled in rough seas and main mast snapped. From reports, she's basically okay otherwise.

When you need them & employed properly, PLBs are a useful locate tool.

[post-edit] she was successfully rescued, a little banged up, but no worse for wear.