Abby will stop for repairs, Jessica gets knocked down.. again.

[Joe]

For all of you following the circumnavigations of our two teenage girls... Abby has just announced she will stop at Cape Town to repair her autopilots... which have been constantly breaking down the past few weeks. http://soloround.blogspot.com/ She will continue on after repairs.

Jessica, still sailing non-stop, is nearing Tasmania, which she will round before heading north, and home... but has run into a series of nasty storms, the last one had 30 Plus foot waves and knocked her down.. no damage to boat and most importantly her incredible spirit.... but this last leg is proving a great challenge.
http://www.jessicawatson.com.au/_bl...Knockdown,_Huge_Seas_and_a_Buzz_from_Customs/

Although both steadfastly claim they are not in a race... it appears technology has failed Abby... whereas simplicity and strength has been Jessica's advantage.

Note the basic ORIGO alcohol stove in Jesse's blog picture.... interesting... wonder who she purchased the fuel from.

 

[sailingdog]

I'd point out that Abby's choice of boat isn't very well thought out... her boat is very reliant on electronics and such....and far less seakindly or forgiving compared to Jessica's Ella's Pink Lady.

 

[Joe]

I'd point out that Abby's choice of boat isn't very well thought out... her boat is very reliant on electronics and such....and far less seakindly or forgiving compared to Jessica's Ella's Pink Lady.

Yes. Two different strategies. Tortoise and the hare, if you will. Although both Jessica's and Abby's boats had state of the art communications gear, Abby's relied on the computer controlled, electrically powered auto pilots to sail safely. Jessica, responding to a question about this early in her voyage, stated that even if she lost power to her navigation equipment she had brought along charts and her sextant... and she knew how to use them. She also had plenty of spare parts for her very reliable mechanical wind vane.

That said... both girls have been fortunate avoiding serious physical injury, hitting submerged objects, breaking a spar or any other unimaginable mishap....

 

[sailingdog]

Yes. Two different strategies. Tortoise and the hare, if you will. Although both Jessica's and Abby's boats had state of the art communications gear, Abby's relied on the computer controlled, electrically powered auto pilots to sail safely. Jessica, responding to a question about this early in her voyage, stated that even if she lost power to her navigation equipment she had brought along charts and her sextant... and she knew how to use them. She also had plenty of spare parts for her very reliable mechanical wind vane.

which put a lot more points in her black box IMHO...

That said... both girls have been fortunate avoiding serious physical injury, hitting submerged objects, breaking a spar or any other unimaginable mishap....

Very true... but I'd point out that Jessica made a lot of the luck she's been blessed with... EPL has survived at least two knockdowns, which I don't think would have been the case with Abby's boat.

 

[sailorkoop]

Jessica is really sailing!...Abby's boat is run by electronics, or used to be.