Yachting FAIL - Jessica Watson

[osirissail]

Originally Posted by Factor

Mate - Im not the one making rules, I dont really care - its none of my business. I have no desire to make rules for other people.

And that is what separates land lubbers from real full time cruisers. We are tired of bureaucrats, condo committees and everybody else telling us what we have to do _ "for our own good." We have enough troubles with Mother Nature, we don't need added grief from land folk.

[Ocean Girl]

Originally Posted by Pblais

That is to say do pink boats sink easier than white boats? Seems a foolish argument in that light so maybe the issue is really not important.

Actually, my point wasn't about the boat or the color pink, (sorry) I am not very articulate, but that doesn't seem to stop me from commenting

My point was..hmm what was it again? Oh yea, Jessica's mind set. She stated to the world "this is what I am - the youngest ever to RTW". Well, I have parents that circumnavigated. A close family friend Charles solo'd around the world. I know at least three other solo circumnavigators. What I am getting at is - circumnavigators are not new to me and I have found a certain commonality about them, though they have different personalities and skill levels, and each sailed their boats very differently. The commonality was that they focused on the capability of their vessel not how the vessel looked. I think this is a natural trait of the serious offshore sailor because they realize that the vessel is their life line, if the vessel isnt up to the challenge then they too will fail. I saw that trait in Zac but I do not see this trait in Jessica. That is all I was trying to say.

For me, my biggest fear about this trip of hers, next to her hurting herself or another person, is the publicity this is giving single-handing. The talk of rules and laws worry me. I like the low profile we single-handers have enjoyed so far. There are questions that single-handers cannot adequately answer, the biggest one is how can a single-hander keep a proper watch 24/7? The answer is, we can't - and sooner or later society will want to regulate us. Bummer.

Erika

[Christian Van H]

Originally Posted by Ocean Girl

Well, I have parents that circumnavigated.

Hey, Ocean Girl has cool parents! Maybe even cooler then Sarafina as a parent!

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Lodesman

What are your rules? If 16 is OK, then how about 13? Is a six-year-old old enough for you? Where would you draw the line? Or would you draw the line at all?

Originally Posted by Factor

Mate - Im not the one making rules, I dont really care - its none of my business. I have no desire to make rules for other people.

While I am in agreement with Factor on this thread, the age question is already answered in JW' s case. In her home state, she must be 16 to legally be the skipper of her vessel.

[neelie]

Originally Posted by Ocean Girl

For me, my biggest fear about this trip of hers, next to her hurting herself or another person, is the publicity this is giving single-handing. The talk of rules and laws worry me. I like the low profile we single-handers have enjoyed so far. There are questions that single-handers cannot adequately answer, the biggest one is how can a single-hander keep a proper watch 24/7? The answer is, we can't - and sooner or later society will want to regulate us. Bummer.

Erika

Exactly Correct - yet again!

Except, sadly, I think your fears have been realized. Society is already trying to regulate this Watson girls endeavors and the 13 year old Dutch girl is now under some sort of "state care and control".

[Stillraining]

Its inevitable anyway...but I agree these high profile cases speed it up..

[plebian99]

In such a poor boat, with such a low limit of positive stability. A Contessa 32 would have been a better choice. I wonder a boat like the S&S 34 has such a cult following in Australia. Its average in every possible way. With all that excessive weight onboard for her safety, I do believe she is sailing in her tomb. The poor self righting ability of such a small yacht and her lack experience will lead to her failure in the first storm.

[sarafina]

Originally Posted by Christian Van H

Hey, Ocean Girl has cool parents! Maybe even cooler then Sarafina as a parent!

Heh. not me. I have been officially dubbed 'not cool'...

Actually my daughter and one of her friends has been following this whole debate from a safe distance and think it's all pretty amazingly stupid...

but they say they love me even if I am no longer cool ; -)

[TaoJones]

AIS shows her back in port: Port of Sydney - all ships live - vesseltracker.com Look down the right side and click on Pink Lady. She's come back into N. Sydney.

TaoJones

[sabray]

I think she went out of ais range and the program is defaulting to her home port.

[osirissail]

Wow, that is neat - you can zoom in using the hybrid map and see what slip she is in. From all the other boats around that seems to be a very busy boating area.
Any news reports on why she is back in port?

[TaoJones]

Originally Posted by sabray

I think she went out of ais range and the program is defaulting to her home port.

I suppose that's possible, sabray. I hope that's all it is. Seems like that would overwhelm the system, though, eventually.

EDIT: The website for Andrew Short Marine does show the location of Ferguson's Boatshed Marina as that same location as her vessel on the AIS display. She had been berthed at Andrew Short's marina prior to her departure.

TaoJones

[osirissail]

I didn't think that was possible as the AIS system should only display "actively" broadcasting units and the lat/longs contained in the signal being broadcast. Turned off AIS units should not show up or the maps would be severely cluttered.

[MarkJ]

Check that that AIS website is actually working and not showing positions from 24 hrs ago.

She might just be buying her parrot a beer? Do parrots have to be over 18 to drink?

[Hud3]

Earlier this morning, I saw her boat on the AIS website, heading approximately ESE at 3.3 kts. The screen didn't have a scale, but she looked to be well offshore. Then, twenty minutes later, the "blip" disappeared. I assume it was because she had traveled out of the AIS "box".