Yachting SUCCEED - Jessica Watson

[Starbuck]

The first real lesson
Learned after only a day:
Big ships are quite hard.

[Starbuck]

There once was a girl with a boat,
'Round the world was her goal to float;
She's rolled the dice
Against David's advice,
And hasn't set sail with a goat.

[sww914]

At least, at the very least, she is attempting something great while I sit on my ass staring at one screen or another, criticizing.

[SabreKai]

Originally Posted by sww914

At least, at the very least, she is attempting something great while I sit on my ass staring at one screen or another, criticizing.

Good point.

Here's hoping she get it done. I wonder how many of us forum members will actually go ahead with OUR plans? Its pretty easy to sit in harbour and comment on others' adventures, perhaps while thinking we aren't ready or will be NEXT year.

As they say in the SAS, Who dares, Wins.

Go for it Jessica, may the sea gods smile on you.


Sabre
58 days n a wake up.

[TrevC]

Gord, your "three kinds of people" comment really cracked me up. Good stuff.

I can't say I'm all that worried about Jessica's safety. If she believes she can do it, then good luck to her! I'd like to see her succeed. What's the worst that could happen, perhaps getting run over by a freighter?

Cheers

Trev

[s/v 'Faith']

Hear Hear!

Originally Posted by SabreKai

Good point.

Here's hoping she get it done. I wonder how many of us forum members will actually go ahead with OUR plans? Its pretty easy to sit in harbour and comment on others' adventures, perhaps while thinking we aren't ready or will be NEXT year.

As they say in the SAS, Who dares, Wins.

Go for it Jessica, may the sea gods smile on you.


Sabre
58 days n a wake up.

Go Jessica!

[surfingminniwinni]

Thought I'd post this pic, to get this back up & running seeing how the negative thread is raging away. Why do people enjoy negativity?

Jess+3.jpg (image)

Nice Pic

[Factor]

Let me be clear on my position, I dont know if she will make it, I dont know if she has enough experience, I do know her age is irrelevant and I do know its no one's business but herself. I know she hit a moving ship and I know PWC hit a stationary rock.

I cant accept that people who have never met this girl think that because her boat is pink that that somehow makes her unfit to go to see.

My position is that its none of the assembled throngs business. I particularly dislike the - I am a mother/father therefore I am qualified to have an opinion group. I too am a father - I let my children live their own lives and offer advice when asked for. They seem to be doing okay. And just because I managed to have two children (it actually wasn't that hard to have children - hard to raise - not hard to have them) doesn't actually make me an expert on all children - particularly those half way round the world.

[amytom]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Safe voyage, Jessica...

Patriotism is NOT “My country - right or wrong!"
Patriotism IS: “My Country! When right keep it right; when wrong, set it right!” (Carl Schurz), or as Edward R. Murrow put it: “We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it.”

Gord, I'd love to follow this thought with you sometime over a beer.

More on topic. While I don't support this venture I, of course, do wish her safe travels.

[GordMay]

I'm always up for a beer and a philosophical discussion!!!

[neelie]

Originally Posted by Factor

Let me be clear on my position, I dont know if she will make it, I dont know if she has enough experience, I do know her age is irrelevant and I do know its no one's business but herself. I know she hit a moving ship and I know PWC hit a stationary rock.

I cant accept that people who have never met this girl think that because her boat is pink that that somehow makes her unfit to go to see.

My position is that its none of the assembled throngs business. I particularly dislike the - I am a mother/father therefore I am qualified to have an opinion group. I too am a father - I let my children live their own lives and offer advice when asked for. They seem to be doing okay. And just because I managed to have two children (it actually wasn't that hard to have children - hard to raise - not hard to have them) doesn't actually make me an expert on all children - particularly those half way round the world.

I agree, pity there are not more of us that take an open minded view.

I have been reading the Fail thread with much amusement and some shame. There is a mean spirit in our society these days, I watch with dismay at a segment of the US population cheering when Chicago failed to win the rights to host the Olympics - apparently. they were happy to see their President fail. I see this same mean spirited, self righteous mindset on the Fail thread.

I just think its the society we live in these days, which encourages this mean spirit. People are no longer able to cheer someone on because they're having a "go", instead they focus on the negative and work to drag everything down and all the while praying and hoping for everyone else's misfortune. Or maybe, its simply boils down to the naysayers having such miserable lives and knowing no joy and happiness.

In the meantime, I wish Jessica all the very best and godspeed.

Succeed or fail, it doesn't really matter - as long as she gives it a bloody good go.

[sneuman]

Here's the thing:

Maybe she's ready; maybe she's not ...

BUT, all the media hype and the sponsorship (they go hand-in-hand) that the Watsons have actively sought makes it harder for Jessica to back out of this venture. This applies not only to her departure but to the whole voyage. She will have enough on her mind in the Southern Ocean, and it seems a little unfair to additionally burden her with the potential for a very public failure. Teenagers in particular are sensitive to that sort of thing.

It's one thing for Ellen MacArthur to juggle all the expectations and make an informed (adult) decision whether to push on or not. It's entirely another thing for a barely 16-year-old girl.

I am not saying she should or she shouldn't, I am only throwing this consideration into the mix. Frankly, I think it's the 800-lbs gorilla in the cockpit.

[Stillraining]

Originally Posted by GordMay

I'm always up for a beer and a philosophical discussion!!!

And the more beer consumed the more sillyosophical our discussion will become..

[Factor]

Originally Posted by sneuman

Here's the thing:

Maybe she's ready; maybe she's not ...

BUT, all the media hype and the sponsorship (they go hand-in-hand) that the Watsons have actively sought makes it harder for Jessica to back out of this venture. This applies not only to her departure but to the whole voyage. She will have enough on her mind in the Southern Ocean, and it seems a little unfair to additionally burden her with the potential for a very public failure. Teenagers in particular are sensitive to that sort of thing.

It's one thing for Ellen MacArthur to juggle all the expectations and make an informed (adult) decision whether to push on or not. It's entirely another thing for a barely 16-year-old girl.

I am not saying she should or she shouldn't, I am only throwing this consideration into the mix. Frankly, I think it's the 800-lbs gorilla in the cockpit.

OK - can you keep the negativity for the Fail thread - and the obnoxious unfunny Goat thread? theres a good chap.

But seriously - what therefore do you think the rules should be, how old, how long should the boat be, how many hulls should it have, what electronics, when , what route. Its all well and good to say HMMM she is too young, - how old is old enough.

All the naysayers seem to have an opinion on people they have never met, but dont offer any empirical positions of their own to debate.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Factor

OK - can you keep the negativity for the Fail thread - and the obnoxious unfunny Goat thread? theres a good chap.

Fair enuf you want to support Jessica's venture, but why then knock the Goat's forthcoming similar voyage? It''s not a race............