Jessica Watson's Round-the-World Voyage

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by slomotion

I nominate dpex to organize the CF arrival time pool. Closest time without going over wins? New South Wales time? Do they have daylight savings time? When she enters the harbor or when she finishes docking the boat? Prize?

Come on guys, this is an international forum; Jess has done an international voyage (albeit without any international ports of call); we should all have basic navigational knowledge (even in this GPS era); surely the finish time (for this forum at least) should be GMT.

I am guessing her official finish line will be where she crosses her outbound track (tying the knot) which given her route will probably be when she enters Sydney Harbour passing through the Heads.

[dpex]

Originally Posted by bengtinge

Here you have lats and longs:
21 mar ― Latest position ― 37°48S 72°52E
29 mar ― Longitude ninety ― 35°00S 90°00E (850 nm)
11 apr ― Cape Leeuwin ― 34°22S 115°08E (1250 nm)
27 apr ― SE Tasmania ― 43°42S 147°48E (1610 nm)
04 may ― Sydney ― 33°51S 151°12E (610 nm)
The distances are straight distances, and I have assumed that the remaining distance gets 100 nm less each day. Since the straight distance is 4320 nm according to my calculation this means 43 days.
/Ben Larsson, Sweden

Your calcs assume way less than what Jesse's speed has averaged in similar conditions. Also, my Rumb-line says 3600NM, MOL. And I am a damned good navigator and support that claim with a further claim that I have always managed to find my yacht on it's swing mooring, even though it is nearly 500 yards off-shore. :--))

Seems to me we need a sweep-keeper here, so I nominate me.

All sweepers please email me direct at dpex@xtra.co.nz. In the subject line put "ETA". In the body of the message please repeat your email and nick, then your nominated time and date. I can then simply cut and paste those data into a separate folder which I will then email to the site when Jesse arrives.

Please do it like this herbertthehorrible@google.co Herbie. 25th June 1100 hrs. Sol ladies and ge'mun. Place your bets!

The prize, which I have personally arranged, is a free holiday for two in the Arctic Circle. The winner must provide own transport, food and temp accommodation. But access to the site, just 100 yards away from Lat/Long Zero degrees, covered in virgin snow, complete with marauding polar bears, three disenfranchised Reindeer and a reasonably friendly Eskimo, is free! Good deal huh?

[Stillraining]

You have my guess already

[TaoJones]

Originally Posted by Wotname

I am guessing her official finish line will be where she crosses her outbound track (tying the knot) which given her route will probably be when she enters Sydney Harbour passing through the Heads.

This is correct, Wotname - her website refers to the Heads as "the official start/finish line." I'll post my best guess here, and on the http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tml#post425576, and it is:

May 2, 2010 at 09:48:30 local (Sydney) time.

TaoJones

[Ocean Girl]

Jessica, your arrival time is May 5th 1300 local.

Jessica we are so proud of you! Great job and a safe journey home.

If there is a pool started, what say we donate the proceeds to Jessica's college fund, she did do all the work after all .
Erika

[Randy]

I agree with you OG on the possible proceeds, nice thought!

[sec906]

Teen solo sailor Jessica Watson on home stretch - Times Online

Jessica has returned to Australian waters with 4000nm left to return to Sydney, expected in early May.

[bengtinge]

She seems to be hot mediawise in Australia.

I often search what media writes about her (and Abby), doing an advanced Google search, exact phrase "Jessica Watson", last week or last 24 hours only. Now I find 52 800 hits (last 24 hours), including a number of different articles on several newspaper sites. In a blog comment I saw that a Queensland newspaper has her as major news on the front page and two more full pages. I wonder how it will be when she reaches Sydney.

[surfingminniwinni]

Originally Posted by bengtinge

She seems to be hot mediawise in Australia.

I often search what media writes about her (and Abby), doing an advanced Google search, exact phrase "Jessica Watson", last week or last 24 hours only. Now I find 52 800 hits (last 24 hours), including a number of different articles on several newspaper sites. In a blog comment I saw that a Queensland newspaper has her as major news on the front page and two more full pages. I wonder how it will be when she reaches Sydney.

The funny thing is, news.com.au (murdoch press) were the first to be critical of Jessica's voyage, when she 1st started. Saying she should not go, she's too young etc:
Now they have exclusive pics, exclusive rights and she is our hero etc:

She will come home to a hero's welcome and deserves it. I have been a supporter of Jess's from the word go, but one has to wonder at the hypocrisy of the media.

[Ocean Girl]

Originally Posted by surfingminniwinni

The funny thing is, news.com.au (murdoch press) were the first to be critical of Jessica's voyage, when she 1st started. Saying she should not go, she's too young etc:
Now they have exclusive pics, exclusive rights and she is our hero etc:

She will come home to a hero's welcome and deserves it. I have been a supporter of Jess's from the word go, but one has to wonder at the hypocrisy of the media.

Hypocrisy maybe, or maybe she won the hearts of the nay sayers. Maybe some of us are glad to eat crow

I was a nay sayer, and said some pretty negative things about the idea of her route, her age, preparation etc. I supported her reluctantly when she left port. Then by day 30 or so my view of her started to change. I started to think that maybe she does know what she is doing, I started to think of her as a sailor. By the time she rounded the horn I knew we had an extraordinary sailor in our midst, and I admire her for her incredible accomplishments and courage.

For all the people who saw these amazing qualities in this young girl from the very beginning, good job ( good on ya!). As for me, better late then never.
Godspeed Jessica,
Erika

[surfingminniwinni]

To your credit Erica, you have been one of the few to admit it.
Now thank you for your suggestion! I will open a deep fried Crow take-away store at Sydney Harbour in May. I could make my fortune.

[TaoJones]

This is from Jessica's latest blog entry:

"Other than the lightning storm, the weather's still been really unsettled with almost constant rain, squalls and a messy sea. Luckily the wind hasn't been too strong though. Progress has been good and even with all this gloomy grey stuff, I'm happy as Larry and mostly staying dry thanks to my snug dodger."

* * *

Please excuse my ignorance, but can someone provide some background on the meaning of "...happy as Larry..."? Is this an Ozzie saying? What does it reference?

All help appreciated.

TaoJones

[sec906]

Originally Posted by TaoJones

Please excuse my ignorance, but can someone provide some background on the meaning of "...happy as Larry..."? Is this an Ozzie saying? What does it reference?
TaoJones

It's Australian for "happy as a clam".

[slomotion]

I don't really understand either expression. But, I prefer clams to Larrys.

[Jim D]

Perhaps its along the same lines as rats talking to moles. ;-D

Or, look here (the wonders of google again):
As happy as Larry

As happy as Larry
Meaning: Very happy.
Origin
Larry - certainly the best known character in the world of similes. The expression he instigated is most likely to be of Australian or New Zealand origin. The earliest printed reference currently known is from the New Zealand writer G. L. Meredith, dating from around 1875:

"We would be as happy as Larry if it were not for the rats".

Almost all the other early citations are from Australia or New Zealand. For example, this from Tom Collins (the pen name of the popular Australian writer Joseph Furphy), in Barrier Truth, 1903:

"Now that the adventure was drawing to an end, I found a peace of mind that all the old fogies on the river couldn't disturb. I was as happy as Larry."


I always thought "happy as a pig in mud" worked pretty well, too.