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Jessica Watson

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Jessica Watson
Approximate route taken by Watson on her voyage between October 2009 and May 2010
Born (1993-05-18) 18 May 1993 (age 31)
NationalityAustralian
OccupationSailor
Known forSetting out to be the youngest person to sail, non-stop and unassisted, around the world solo.

Jessica Watson (born 18 May 1993 in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia) is an Australian sailor and resident of Buderim, Queensland. She is currently attempting to become the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world.[1]

The departure was from Sydney, Australia on 18 October 2009, headed eastbound over the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean. Her arrival back in Sydney (calculated in February) is expected in early May before her 17th birthday.

The Los Angeles Times reported Watson's reason for her journey: "I wanted to challenge myself and achieve something to be proud of. And yes, I wanted to inspire people. I hated being judged by my appearance and other people's expectations of what a 'little girl' was capable of. It's no longer just my dream or voyage. Every milestone out here isn't just my achievement, but an achievement for everyone who has put so much time and effort into helping getting me here."[2]

Watson is writing a book about her experience to be called True Spirit and published by Hachette Publishing[3] three months after completing her journey.

Preparation

As training for her voyage, Watson crewed on a number of vessels, including Oceanswatch's Magic Roundabout on which she acted as skipper during a crossing of the Tasman Sea. Watson had over 10,000 nm of ocean sailing experience before departing on her round the world trip.

Jessica Watson has the following qualifications:
RYA/ISAF Offshore Safety course (ISAF SR 6.01) Cat zero (one day 8 hour course)
RYA Diesel Engine course (one day 8 hour course)
RYA Radar course (one day 8 hour course)
YAs Safety and Sea Survival certificate (two day 16 hour course)
OMTC issued Certificates of Competence for Apply First Aid HTLF301B
IMO compliant Elementary First Aid Table A VI/1-3 STCW95 (one day 8 hour course)
Yachtmaster Ocean theory certificates (40 hour course)
Radio operator’s license and all of the other required certificates.
About 6,000 coastal and 6,000 ocean miles experience
[4] [5]

Watson's Boat

History
 AustraliaAustralia
NameElla's Pink Lady
NamesakeElla Baché
OwnerDon McIntyre[7]
OperatorJessica Watson
RouteSydney - Kiritimati - Cape Horn - Cape of Good Hope - Cape Leeuwin - Sydney
Launched1984[6]
Renamedoriginal name Shanty
StatusAt sea
General characteristics
TypeS&S 34
Length34 ft (10.23 m)
Beam10.1 ft (3.08 m)
Draft6 ft (1.83 m)
PropulsionSails
Crew1

The boat is a 10.23-metre Sparkman & Stephens S&S 34, the same design as used by Jon Sanders, David Dicks and Jesse Martin in their circumnavigations.[8] It was obtained and refitted with new equipment under the supervision of Don McIntyre and Bruce Arms, both skilled and experienced sailors[9] Jessica Watson was also deeply involved in the preparation of the boat, which she named Ella's Pink Lady. Most of the time the boat is steered by a self-steering windvane system. She has named the system Parker after a driver of a pink Rolls-Royce in the TV series Thunderbirds.

Test run and collision

During a test run sailing from Brisbane to Sydney, on her first night after leaving Brisbane she collided with the Silver Yang, a 63,000-tonne freighter at about 02.00 am on 9 September, 2009 near Point Lookout.[10] Watson's sloop, the 10.4 metre Ella's Pink Lady, was dismasted in the collision. She was able to retain control and return the boat to Southport under motor.[11]

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's preliminary report on the collision found that Watson had been sleeping during the event, and that while she had checked her radar prior to lying down, she had failed to spot the Silver Yang. This led to the accident four minutes later. The report also found that the Silver Yang had been aware of her presence and had attempted to change course, but that this had been insufficient to avoid Watson's boat. The Bureau has yet to apportion blame for the accident, and a full report is due to be released at a later date.[12]

Criticism

Her journey has been criticised, particularly after the collision with the freighter. Barry Tyler of Pacific Motor Yacht magazine wrote, "like the majority of the seafaring world [I] consider it irresponsible, cavalier and indeed ignorant to attempt such a feat, at such a tender age and with so little trans-ocean experience."[13] Questions about her experience were also expressed by Phil Jones, the CEO of Yachting Australia, and by Grant Wharington, the skipper of Skandia, with Wharington stating that he had been impressed by Watson when they had met, but that he had advised her to gain experience by undertaking a number of shorter solo passages before attempting the circumnavigation, although she chose not to follow his advice.[14] A more general concern was raised by the Australian Childhood Foundation, who questioned whether a 16 year old girl would have the ability to fully understand the risks that such a venture would involve.[15]

Nevertheless, Watson has had her supporters, also before the departure. In particular, adventurer Don McIntyre strongly supported her attempt, providing her with a boat and speaking in support of her attempt.[16] Similarly, Tony Mowbray, who, like McIntyre, has previously circumnavigated the globe, provided his support, arguing that she was "doing it for the right reasons" and that he was confident of her success.[17] The captain of the Magic Roundabout spoke highly of her skills, backing her circumnavigation attempt by describing her as a "damn-good crew member" and stating that he believed that she possessed the necessary abilities.[18] Also adventurer and company owner Richard Branson gave his support before departure.[19]

During her journey others have expressed their support for her attempt. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said in a public speech on 26 January that "Jessica Watson ... is an extraordinary young Australian"[20] According to ABC News, competing circumnavigator Abby Sunderland congratulated Jessica on rounding Cape Horn, "She's done an amazing job and I hope the rest of her trip goes as well as it has so far."[21]. The Epoch Times wrote a praise with the headline "Jessica Watson More Than 'One tough cookie'."[22]

Journey plan

Her circumnavigation route is planned to start and end at Sydney and will pass near New Zealand, Fiji, Kiribati, Cape Horn, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin, South East Cape.[23] In accordance with the definitions set out by the International Sailing Federation World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) for circumnavigations, the equator must be crossed;[24] this was done near Kiritimati.

The journey was announced on 1 May, 2009, and was expected to take eight months with an approximate distance of 23,000 nautical miles.

Her arrival in Sydney is expected in mid May 2010, a duration of 6½ to 7 months.

The plan is to sail non-stop and unassisted. This means that during the journey, no other person is allowed to give her anything and she must not moor to any port or other boat, although advice over radio communication is allowed. An acceptable circumnavigation can be done with harbour stops and assistance there, but Watson has decided to do it the more difficult way.

Journey

Watson sailed out of Sydney Harbour on 18 October, 2009 in her pink-hulled Ella Baché sponsored Ella's Pink Lady.[1]

She passed Tonga on 5 November, but she did not go near New Zealand or Fiji.

She crossed the equator on 19 November 2009 (Australian date)[25], at about 161°40'W longitude, near Jarvis Island and rounded Kiritimati on 22 November 2009 (Australian date) after 36 days. Then she crossed the equator again at 156°20'W longitude, and continued south-easterly towards Cape Horn. The sailed distance from Sydney to Kiritimati was about 3,900 nm. At Christmas she was near Point Nemo, the place located furthest from land.

On 13 January 2010 (9:40 UTC) she passed Cape Horn, having sailed around 9,800 nm in 87 days. This was 11 days ahead of the planned 100 nm per day schedule. Soon after her parents flew over her in a small plane in order to witness the passage.

On 23 January 2010, several days after passing the Falkland Islands, she suffered four knock-downs in a severe storm with 10-metre waves and 70-knot winds. The storm caused minor damage to her boat and her emergency beacon was accidentally activated as the mast hit the water.[26][27][28]

On 25 January 2010, her 100th day at sea, she passed the halfway point on her voyage,[29] 11,500 nm based on the original calculation of 23,000 nm sailing route.

On 15 February 2010, she crossed the Prime Meridian, crossing from the Western Hemisphere to the Eastern Hemisphere.[30]

On February 24, Watson passed the Cape of Good Hope and reached Cape Agulhas, the southernmost point of Africa, crossing from the Atlantic Ocean into the Indian Ocean.[31]

From southern Africa, Watson sailed more than 5000nm towards Western Australia.

On 10 April, Watson arrived to the Australian economic zone. There her parents and media flew over her in a small plane in order to welcome her.[32]

On 12 April, Watson passed Cape Leeuwin in south-western Australia, with approximately 2,500nm remaining. [33]

When south of Australia, Watson suffered a lot of bad weather. In this part of the jorney, she had at least three knockdowns (where the mast hit the water), one of them with the mast deep into the sea, luckily without any real damage or injury. The swells she experienced in the Great Australian Bight had up to 12 metres height, higher than anytime before.

On 3 May, Watson rounded the South East Cape of Tasmania and began heading north to Sydney, her final destination.[34]

She is expected to complete her journey early May, well ahead of schedule, [35] and shortly before her seventeenth birthday.

Circumnavigation scrutiny

Sailing website sail-world.com published an analysis on 3 May 2010 which claims that the expected rhumb line distance travelled by Watson is 19,631.6 nm, which is less than the required distance according to the definition set by the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) and that the journey will therefore be ineligible to claim world record status for round-the-world journeys. The WSSRC definition states in part "The shortest orthodromic track of the vessel must be at least 21,600 nautical miles in length." The analysis suggests that Watson's published distance logs are based on sailed distances, including tacks and strategic weather detours, rather than the shortest orthodromic track between islands and capes as defined.[36]. The rule is based on the older even harder rule, followed by previous record-holder Jesse Martin [37], that during a circumnavigation, the sailor must somewhere pass the opposite side of earth (antipode) as somewhere else on the journey. For example if starting in southern England, a place near the start will be opposite to the track near New Zealand if going there. It was replaced by the rule that for world records the shortest orthodromic track must be at least as long as the circumference of the earth.

Watson responded "If I haven't been sailing around the world, then it beats me what I've been doing out here all this time! Yes it's a shame that my voyage won't be recognized by a few organizations because I'm under 18, but it really doesn't worry me."[38]

Watson’s manager, Andrew Fraser, dismissed the claim as "ridiculous", noting the WSSRC does not recognize records by sailors under eighteen. [39]

Watson's team stated "Jessica has sailed a southern hemisphere solo circumnavigation, [in which] 'a vessel must start from and return to the same point, must cross all meridians of longitude and must cross the Equator'. Jessica has ticked all of these boxes. Jessica has sailed the most challenging and treacherous oceans of the world, passing the four capes (Cape Horn, Cape Agulhas, Cape Leeuwin and the Cape of SE Tasmania) and crossed the Equator twice. She has sailed around the world, non-stop, solo, unassisted and when she completes the voyage, she will be the youngest to have done that, sailing almost 23,000 nautical miles in the process. We have official TracPlus data to confirm Jessica’s exact distance upon her return."[40]


References

  1. ^ a b "Jessica Watson sails in search of record". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 18 October 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  2. ^ http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/outposts/2010/02/abby-sunderland-1.html
  3. ^ "Jessica's Book to be Titled 'True Spirit'".
  4. ^ http://www.powerboat-world.com/Jessica-Watson-blames-instruments-for-bulk-carrier-collision/61691/arc
  5. ^ http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/jessica-watson-couldnt-resist-the-call-of-the-sea/story-e6freuzr-1225854711496
  6. ^ http://www.pwt.net.au/newsview.htm
  7. ^ http://www.mahalo.com/ellas-pink-lady
  8. ^ "Ella's pink lady". jessicawatson.com.au. Retrieved 2010-01-26.
  9. ^ THE MAKING OF PINK LADY - Article by Don McIntyre
  10. ^ "Silver Yang". marinetraffic.com. Retrieved 2010-1-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  11. ^ Johnson, Stephen (9 September 2009). "Jessica Watson yacht collision probe begins". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  12. ^ Christine, Kellett (20 October 2009). "Watson asleep during crash: report". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  13. ^ Tyler, Barry (November 2009). "Should She, or Shouldn't She?". Pacific Motor Yacht. p. 6.
  14. ^ Pierce, Jeremy (28 September 2009). "Jessica not ready, warn top yachties". The Courier Mail. Queensland, Australia. p. 9.
  15. ^ Pierce, Jeremy (11 September 2009). "Storm in a port". Hobart Mercury. Tasmania, Australia. p. 9.
  16. ^ Taylor, John (18 June 2009). "'She can do it': Teen's sailing adventure". The 7.30 Report. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
  17. ^ Dinneen, Martin (3 October 2009). "Support in a sea of critics". The Newcastle Herald. New South Wales, Australia. p. 34.
  18. ^ "Veteran yachtie backs solo trip". The Cairns Post. Queensland, Australia. 15 October 2009. p. 9.
  19. ^ "Jessica Watson sails out, with support from Richard Branson".
  20. ^ Prime Minister, Transcript of address, Flag Raising and Citizenship ceremony
  21. ^ http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/26/2801409.htm
  22. ^ Jessica Watson More Than 'One tough cookie'
  23. ^ http://www.jessicawatson.com.au/pink-lady
  24. ^ "The Courses Offshore". World Sailing Speed Record Council. Retrieved 2010-01-26. To sail around the World, a vessel must start from and return to the same point, must cross all meridians of longitude and must cross the Equator.
  25. ^ "Teen solo sailor Jessica Watson crosses equator}work=news.com.au". November 19, 2009.
  26. ^ http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2010/01/25/jess-makes-running-repairs-after-big-seas/
  27. ^ "Watson battered by 10-metre waves". ABC News. Jan 25, 2010.
  28. ^ "Watson fights fierce waters". Herald Sun. January 25, 2010.
  29. ^ "Jessica Watson passes halfway mark".
  30. ^ "More Wind and Across the Prime Meridian".
  31. ^ "Jessica Watson at Cape Agulhas".
  32. ^ "Jessica Watson off the coast of Western Australia".
  33. ^ "Jessica on home stretch, passes third landmark". Brisbane Times. April 12, 2010.
  34. ^ Watson, Jessica (03 May 2010). "The Last Cape!". Retrieved 03 May 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  35. ^ http://www.smh.com.au/national/next-target-australia-jessica-watson-heads-for-home-20100224-p2o5.html
  36. ^ ISAF/World Sailing Speed Record Rules for individually attempted Passage Records or Performances Offshore
  37. ^ "Kylie Browne at St Leonard's Primary wanted to know why I am heading so far up into the Atlantic and why not cut straight across to South Africa. I have to go around the Azores Islands in the North Atlantic which is called my antipodal point. This means it is the exact opposite side of the Earth to Melbourne." http://www.jessemartin.net/Lionheart_4.html
  38. ^ "Savouring Every Second". www.jessicawatson.com.au. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
  39. ^ Levy, Megan (5 May 2010). "Teen sailor Jessica Watson 'will miss out on world record'". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 2010-05-05. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  40. ^ "The Facts About Jessica's Voyage". www.jessicawatson.com.au. Retrieved 2010-05-04.
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