Jessica's tough final miles.

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Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
Jessica is finding tougher conditions south of Australia than she saw at the Capes. Here is a part of her last blog from Saturday: "Despite the fact that today started with a knockdown, a wet bunk, a headache and some pretty huge seas, I've had a great day."

Nothing from her since then but the shore crews latest note is calling for some horrific weather: http://www.jessicawatson.com.au/_webapp_466891/More_Wild_Weather_Forecast_Tomorrow . She still has a long way to go because her course is to take her south of Tasmania to avoid the traffic. Hopefully this is the last low pressure system she will encounter. It has been fun following her adventure.
 
Oct 22, 2008
3,502
- Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
You've got to love that girl's attitude:

Despite the fact that today started with a knockdown, a wet bunk, a headache and some pretty huge seas, I've had a great day.
 

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
Ruth and I follow her every day. We are in awe of what she has done and as others have said her attitude.

Not to put us Americans down, but I've been around a pretty large group of Aussies and Canadians being involved in land speed racing and have had the pleasure of having them stay with us and have taken them out on hikes in our area and all of them sure seem to have a "can do" attitude and there is never any complaining. Something that seems to have gone by the wayside here in the last 30 years or so. Still there are some, like a lot of you guys that post here, that get out there and get it done.

c ya,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID
Our Mac Pages
Mac Links
 
May 25, 2004
99
Catalina 27 Carlyle Lake
I've been following her pretty regularly. Her situation seems very worrisome. Her struggles with weather have been going on since she approached the west coast of Austrialia .... maybe a couple of weeks ... and she has to be getting pretty drained right now as she enters another major storm. If any of you are praying sailers, now would be a good time ....

Ed, as you watch her track, do you still think she plans to go south of Tasmania?

Tom
 

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,182
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
She will avoid the Bass Strait triangle, unless there is no other option. That stretch of water is notoriously dangerous and crowded with islands, reefs and shipping.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_Strait_Triangle

It is unlikely that after 24000 miles and 8 months they would risk so much to save a couple of days. But... hey.... it's tempting.
 
Oct 22, 2008
3,502
- Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
Good to see she's taking it all in good spirits. Her sense of humor and strength show through in posts like this one:

....This time we went more than 90 degrees over, port (left) side down for a change. No damage again but this time my big bottle of dishwashing liquid worked its way out of the locker and went flying, empting its contents absolutely everywhere! The whole cabin including the key board I'm typing on is covered in sticky, slippery, bubbly lemon fresh washing up liquid -lovely. Mum reckons that I have some sort of obsession with cleaning! And I'm starting to wonder why I bother drying and tidying the cabin anymore, as it
never lasts.

It's still going to be some time before the sea drops off and we're able to head south, which is going to delay my arrival date back. But on the up side, these waves are just amazing. I spent years dreaming about what waves like this looked like and they are 10 times more incredible than I'd ever imagined. I just can't believe I sailed the whole way around the world to see them when here they are right in my own backyard!

I was sorry to hear about Abby having to pull in to Cape Town for repairs. But like Abby said so well in her blog the other day, in one way it's great that we're now aiming for slightly different records, so that we don't have to be competing with each other. I'm also totally jealous that she's probably going to beat me to a hot shower!
 
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