Jessica Watson sails across the Pacific, around the Horn, and into the Atlantic. Then she encounters her first real storm. Brave, young sailor that one: http://www.jessicawatson.com.au/jessica-rides-out-perfect-storm-and-knockdowns .
Jessica gets "knocked down"!
- Thread starter Ed Schenck
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She endured 4 knockdowns, total..
which is twice as many as me.... I was caught totally off-guard one time, and it took a long time to clean up the mess! Lesson: keep stuff stowed.
The other time, I was expecting it- the only mess was cleaned up with a wardrobe change
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I questioned the wisdom of a 14 year old girl doing a solo, comparing her to my kids (and me). I can only imagine what was going through her mind, but she's obviously cut from strong cloth. She's made a believer of me...
cup
which is twice as many as me.... I was caught totally off-guard one time, and it took a long time to clean up the mess! Lesson: keep stuff stowed.
The other time, I was expecting it- the only mess was cleaned up with a wardrobe change
.I questioned the wisdom of a 14 year old girl doing a solo, comparing her to my kids (and me). I can only imagine what was going through her mind, but she's obviously cut from strong cloth. She's made a believer of me...
cup
Umm...last I checked Jessica Watson was 16, not 14. From her website:
That means she'll be 17 this May.
which is twice as many as me.... I was caught totally off-guard one time, and it took a long time to clean up the mess! Lesson: keep stuff stowed.
The other time, I was expecting it- the only mess was cleaned up with a wardrobe change
I questioned the wisdom of a 14 year old girl doing a solo, comparing her to my kids (and me). I can only imagine what was going through her mind, but she's obviously cut from strong cloth. She's made a believer of me...
cup
Yeah...... there's nothing like a full blown hurricane and 4 knockdowns to put salt in your veins. Like Levin said, though, pretty much anybody can circumnavigate if they have a sat phone... heh, heh.
On another note, Abby Sunderland departed on her circumnavigation attempt today.
She's sailing a very high tech boat... very different from Jesse's. She's planning a non-stop, unassisted, solo voyage like Jessica... but she claims to have thought of it first.. geeze, who cares.
On another note, Abby Sunderland departed on her circumnavigation attempt today.
She's sailing a very high tech boat... very different from Jesse's. She's planning a non-stop, unassisted, solo voyage like Jessica... but she claims to have thought of it first.. geeze, who cares.
Jessica actually "turtled"!
Big difference in my small mind between knocked down and turtled. In this morning's blog she writes about looking straight down at Davey. A couple of pictures of the bent stainless frame too. Amazingly the solar panels look OK. http://youngestround.blogspot.com/
Big difference in my small mind between knocked down and turtled. In this morning's blog she writes about looking straight down at Davey. A couple of pictures of the bent stainless frame too. Amazingly the solar panels look OK. http://youngestround.blogspot.com/
Just read Jesse's blog about the storm......... Jesus H. Christ... what an experience!!!!!
We need to keep this stuff somewhere to illustrate the difference between a bluewater boat and a coastal cruiser when the inevitable newbie question arises.
We need to keep this stuff somewhere to illustrate the difference between a bluewater boat and a coastal cruiser when the inevitable newbie question arises.
I can hardly get past Block Island without trouble, I can't imagaine this. That's what makes it such compelling reading.
It appears that her description of the knockdown collaborates the experience of others, in that a rogue wave will pick the boat up and send it in translation sideways until it slams into the water causing damage on the so called leeward side. Absolutely terrifying to think about. She's a tough gal and so his her boat.
It appears that her description of the knockdown collaborates the experience of others, in that a rogue wave will pick the boat up and send it in translation sideways until it slams into the water causing damage on the so called leeward side. Absolutely terrifying to think about. She's a tough gal and so his her boat.
There is always a faster gun !!!
I get a little smug from time to time telling people about some weather on our Bahamas trip when my wife was laying on the cabin floor, and I was white knuckled in the cockpit.
Then, along comes a 16 year old who completely eclipses anything I have ever done, or will ever do. Maybe the younger generation isn't so bad after all !
Jeff
I get a little smug from time to time telling people about some weather on our Bahamas trip when my wife was laying on the cabin floor, and I was white knuckled in the cockpit.
Then, along comes a 16 year old who completely eclipses anything I have ever done, or will ever do. Maybe the younger generation isn't so bad after all !
Jeff
Surprise
Getting knocked down shouldn't come as a surprise, especially if you know what you are doing. Prudence demands 1. reefing sails, 2.stowing gear (should always be stowed anyway), and finally doning a survival suit. With all the equipment Jes has I'm very surprised that she did get blown over. You have got to monitor the weather in your area 24/7 and heed the forecast of high wind, so you CAN reef your skivvies before the high winds hit you. If she had taken on a lot of water, the subsequent knock down could have ended her attempt, and her.
Getting knocked down shouldn't come as a surprise, especially if you know what you are doing. Prudence demands 1. reefing sails, 2.stowing gear (should always be stowed anyway), and finally doning a survival suit. With all the equipment Jes has I'm very surprised that she did get blown over. You have got to monitor the weather in your area 24/7 and heed the forecast of high wind, so you CAN reef your skivvies before the high winds hit you. If she had taken on a lot of water, the subsequent knock down could have ended her attempt, and her.
I read it that a "rogue wave" or two knocked her down. No predicting them. The wind didn't do it, the big water did it.
For those following Jessica's blog, this is one tough little lady. I have admired her raw courage during the entire voyage. Her toughness and her seamanship in the S Atlantic gale was predictable. When EPL was demasted in early Sept when the 225 meter container ship collided with her, Jessica was plucky enough to secure the mast and limp to port---no mean feat, single-handedly. For several months, she sailed, alone, in the middle of a huge ocean. Now, typically Jess, she described the three knockdowns and one turtle as a "bit of a bang". Her support system is a huge help, but the sat phone hasn't sailed EPL for over 11,000 nm. Hats off to the Lady!
70 Knot winds, and rogue waves, look at the photo, wind, and waves from stbd aft, very difficult to avoid a knock down with sails up. She did well, obviously, she's still sailing.
Food for thought...
Hello All,
Not knocking Jessica's bravery (because anyone has to be brave to go through that and still want to keep going), but given our previous discussion about if someone using her level of technology can be considered to be sailing "solo" around the world I wanted to point out something from her own blog...
"I owe a huge thanks to Bruce, who was completely perfect, saying just the right things on the phone every time I called in and also to Bob who stayed up through the night to keep me updated on when the wind could be expected to ease."
I still have to ask the question of if she would have made it through that storm if it hadn't been for her SAT phone and all her support. Not that I don't think she should have those things (because given the fact that we have this technology I think it would be foolish to send someone her age out without it) but it still forces me to ask the question of whether we can really say that any of these young sailors are truly heading around the world "solo and unaided". (Which before anyone gets upset is a very different question than is she a brave young woman- which as I said before I believe she is).
Glad to hear she got through ok and hopefully she will still make it the rest of the way around... Although it sounds sadly like she might not get to keep the title of "youngest around" very long if the other girl manages the same thing.
Take care,
-Levin
Hello All,
Not knocking Jessica's bravery (because anyone has to be brave to go through that and still want to keep going), but given our previous discussion about if someone using her level of technology can be considered to be sailing "solo" around the world I wanted to point out something from her own blog...
"I owe a huge thanks to Bruce, who was completely perfect, saying just the right things on the phone every time I called in and also to Bob who stayed up through the night to keep me updated on when the wind could be expected to ease."
I still have to ask the question of if she would have made it through that storm if it hadn't been for her SAT phone and all her support. Not that I don't think she should have those things (because given the fact that we have this technology I think it would be foolish to send someone her age out without it) but it still forces me to ask the question of whether we can really say that any of these young sailors are truly heading around the world "solo and unaided". (Which before anyone gets upset is a very different question than is she a brave young woman- which as I said before I believe she is).
Glad to hear she got through ok and hopefully she will still make it the rest of the way around... Although it sounds sadly like she might not get to keep the title of "youngest around" very long if the other girl manages the same thing.
Take care,
-Levin
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It sounds like she had a plan ...
and stuck to it. She had a tiny amount of sail up to maintain a heading and she relied on her autopilot to keep it. She went below to make herself secure and let the boat take care of her. It shows a lot of confidence in her boat.
It also makes me wonder just a little bit if avoiding rogue waves or dealing with them to avoid a knockdown is feasible by actiively steering the boat. I suspect that it was not feasible to make herself safe in the cockpit under those conditions and that the best procedure was exactly as she did.
She had to have been terrified, no matter what, but it sounds like she has the confidence and the ability to ride this to the end. Basically, who cares what qualifies for unaided status and how long she may stay the 'youngest'. It's not really important because time and technology will always change everything. I'm wishing her success!
and stuck to it. She had a tiny amount of sail up to maintain a heading and she relied on her autopilot to keep it. She went below to make herself secure and let the boat take care of her. It shows a lot of confidence in her boat.
It also makes me wonder just a little bit if avoiding rogue waves or dealing with them to avoid a knockdown is feasible by actiively steering the boat. I suspect that it was not feasible to make herself safe in the cockpit under those conditions and that the best procedure was exactly as she did.
She had to have been terrified, no matter what, but it sounds like she has the confidence and the ability to ride this to the end. Basically, who cares what qualifies for unaided status and how long she may stay the 'youngest'. It's not really important because time and technology will always change everything. I'm wishing her success!
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Quote from above
I still have to ask the question of if she would have made it through that storm if it hadn't been for her SAT phone and all her support.
Who cares ? Why are we disparaging here ?
This 16 year old girl has more cajhones, skill, drive, determination,focus, and purpose than all of us put together.
Just because we wouldn't do what she did, or do it in exactly the same way in No way diminishes her accomplishment.
I know you would do it different or better, but let's look at the shear, overwhelming magntude of what she is doing
Jeff
I still have to ask the question of if she would have made it through that storm if it hadn't been for her SAT phone and all her support.
Who cares ? Why are we disparaging here ?
This 16 year old girl has more cajhones, skill, drive, determination,focus, and purpose than all of us put together.
Just because we wouldn't do what she did, or do it in exactly the same way in No way diminishes her accomplishment.
I know you would do it different or better, but let's look at the shear, overwhelming magntude of what she is doing
Jeff
I'm glad she got through without too much damage.
Co-incidentally, I've just been reading Larry and Lin Pardey's book "Storm Tactics" because I have wondered just what to do when the BIG ONE comes along.
According to what I read there, she'd be better off to heave to and hang out a sea anchor and wait it out, than run ahead on storm sail, under self-steering . Not a good tactic to make speed, I suppose, but it may have helped her some.
I do wonder if she's aware of Larry's teachings, which make a lot of sense to me. If someone could get the ideas in his book to her, it might save her another knock down later.
But then, she's out there doing it, and I'm sitting here at the computer, where the BIG ONE means I turn up the furnace, and put on a sweater......
Go Jessica, God Speed. Dennis Martin
Co-incidentally, I've just been reading Larry and Lin Pardey's book "Storm Tactics" because I have wondered just what to do when the BIG ONE comes along.
According to what I read there, she'd be better off to heave to and hang out a sea anchor and wait it out, than run ahead on storm sail, under self-steering . Not a good tactic to make speed, I suppose, but it may have helped her some.
I do wonder if she's aware of Larry's teachings, which make a lot of sense to me. If someone could get the ideas in his book to her, it might save her another knock down later.
But then, she's out there doing it, and I'm sitting here at the computer, where the BIG ONE means I turn up the furnace, and put on a sweater......
Go Jessica, God Speed. Dennis Martin
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