Jessica Watson's Round-the-World Voyage

[Hirophant]

Originally Posted by Noztradamus

I am still confused about the reports
Here PWT - News & Views is his website page on Jessica. There seems no disgruntlement there

The relevant section is his articles page, PWT - Feature Articles which contains a number of PDF essays, two of which (under "Technical" at the end) talk about Jessica, mainly the bulk carrier incident, e.g. tiny taster:

"If she didn't know the ship was close by - why not? She was in a major shipping lane!!!"

As I said earlier the guy's views are not necessarily unreasonable (in fact he has some pretty sound advice for solo sailors on that page), but it does show he was taking a critical slant on the voyage long before he hit the news.

Meanwhile, as for Jessica looking "quiet and stiff", maybe she was feeling stiff! She'd been on a boat for 210 days after all! And what's more, she was suddenly having to share her personal space with life forms very different from the albatrosses and dolphins she'd become accustomed to.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by sarafina

It was never about 'Jessica Sucks'

Ever.

I don't know Sara... some of the post's infer her seamanship sucks..
Her commercialism sucks..etc, etc....
Hence my suggestion..



I refuse to accept any other inference on possible meanings...
I would never stoop so low..

[Ocean Girl]

Originally Posted by boatman61

I don't know Sara... some of the post's infer her seamanship sucks..
Her commercialism sucks..etc, etc....
Hence my suggestion..



I refuse to accept any other inference on possible meanings...
I would never stoop so low..

No no, for me ( I was a nay sayer) it was

1) concern for her life
2) concern for others who would have to go rescue her
3) she totally blew out of the water my idea of what an offshore sailor should be like ( I will not expand cause I ain't proud of it!).

When I reconciled #3, I could then reconcile 1 and 2

I know for most it was about 1 and 2, a genuine desire not to watch a tragedy unfold. Whew, I'll get off my soap box, sorry.
Erika

[boatman61]

LOL.... Sorry Ocean...

Not trying to point fingers at anyone with that last post.... there was supposed to be a joke in there... somewhere....!!! honest..

HELP........

[Ocean Girl]

Oh! I was being sensitive.
Cheers,
Erika

[SurferShane]

Originally Posted by surfingminniwinni

Absolute garbage! Were you on Pink Lady? No.

I know Jesse Martin, and he is very fond of Jessica, he seems to care less about his record than you do. I was there when Jessica said she was going to smash his record and it was said in jest, to Jesse's face. You know as a joke!!!

God how much longer are you guys going to re live her incredible journey on your keyboards? She has done it its over.

Agree – likewise watching the live coverage it was obvious that Jesse has a lot of respect for Jessica…,,

Who cares about the technicalities and hype; it was great to see the camaraderie between circumnavigators. Kind of reminded me of the same kinship and respect that exists between mountaineers or polar explorers who have gone places so harsh and done things requiring inconceivable endurance. These experiences are so far beyond anything you can ever imagine merely sitting behind a keyboard?

[RichardInMd]

Originally Posted by TaoJones

He was very obviously put off by the extra few days that were added to Jessica's voyage so that her sail into Sydney harbor could be better stage-managed. It was unseamanlike, he felt, to delay the return simply for the sake of a grand entrance and all the accompanying media attention.

Having read his website, he strikes me as someone who would never understand, let alone make allowances for, the wishes of those who provided sponsorship. I think it's very amusing that the network that held the "exclusive" on Jessica, along with the assembled dignitaries, were kept waiting for about three hours past the intended arrival time.

Similarly, the item of stagecraft that saw Mike Perham and Jesse Martin deposited on Jessica's vessel to bring it the last little distance to the Opera House was amusing to me. Slomo nailed it, above, when he stated that it was a demonstration that the two were, literally, "on board" with her quest. I can well imagine the production meetings between Andrew Fraser / Oceans 5 and Ten Network as they wrestled with the issue of how to put the two young men on her boat to conduct the first interviews with Jessica, when no one could board the vessel until it cleared customs.

I wonder how hard it was to talk customs into performing the formalities out on the water after she had successfully cleared the Heads. Once that little problem was finessed, they could proceed with the placement of Martin and Perham aboard.

I couldn't help feeling that the awkwardness of the two as they attempted to interview Jessica was annoying to her and that she would just as soon have brought Pink Lady to the dock herself. I agree that she was much less comfortable with Martin than Perham, but young Perham may have been the most uncomfortable of all and couldn't think of anything to say - even with the producers and shoreside hosts prompting him with questions through his IFB.

It seemed that all he could think to do was to keep saying "Brilliant!"

Truly, Jessica was the star of the whole extravaganza, as well as the calmest and coolest person in attendance. She's got a very bright future (not married to Mike Perham, I'd wager) and will go far. Once she realizes she doesn't really have to put up with all the leaches who will try to attach themselves to her, she will be formidable.

I hope that happens.

TaoJones

Tao,

From what I understand, it was Jesse's decision to delay and come in on Saturday for a number of reasons. The first was so that she could rest up and enjoy it, rather than come in completly wasted. Another was she knew that there were many people that had hotel and plane reservations, including her whole extended family from New Zealand,that would have been adversly impacted by coming in early. Then, of course, there was the preparations that Sydney and her sponsors had arranged.

If you watch the 60 minutes show, she is asked, "Did you prepare your statement in advance?". She replied, "No, I don't normally get to address a crowd of this size, so I thought I'd get a few points across, without making a speech" Such poise!

I agree with all your other points as well, re the people that will try to profit from her fame. I think she will be a big deal. (already is!)

If you want to do research on this amazing human being, I have been maintaining a link page since last Oct at
Jesse Watson Info

There are alot of early links that I found in her blog. The video of her Tasman mock solo arrival in NZ is priceless, and incredible to compare to her Sydney homecoming. The mock solo was just last year.

Richard

[SvenG]

Originally Posted by surfingminniwinni

... Were you on Pink Lady? No.

I know Jesse Martin, and he is very fond of Jessica, he seems to care less about his record than you do. ...

Originally Posted by SurferShane

Agree – likewise watching the live coverage it was obvious that Jesse has a lot of respect for Jessica…,,

A lot of strawman arguing going on here.



-Sven

[SurferShane]

Originally Posted by SvenG

A lot of strawman arguing going on here.



-Sven

There is a huge gap between showing “respect” and “arguing”. I have no time for arguing for arguing sake. I would much rather be on my boat, out surfing, diving or trekking in Tasmania. However, I am more than happy to pay respect where worthy and due!


Good on you Jessica and all the best in the future!

[SvenG]

Regarding strawman arguments ...

Originally Posted by SurferShane

There is a huge gap between showing “respect” and “arguing”.

I rest my case.

By the way, here is another well thought out and thoughtful write-up that ends with

While I'm in awe of Watson's bravery and amazed by her achievement, it would have reflected better on the rest of us if we could have handled her arrival as sensibly as she handled her circumnavigation.

That probably applies to many (most ?) of us before and throughout her epic journey.



-Sven

[surfingminniwinni]

Originally Posted by SvenG

I rest my case.

-Sven

Does that mean you really will give it a rest?

The Coastal Passage Home Page

Bob & Kay the editors sum it up nicely.

Note the tension between Jesse and Jessica!

[RichardInMd]

Originally Posted by SvenG

Regarding strawman arguments ...



I rest my case.

By the way, here is another well thought out and thoughtful write-up that ends with

That probably applies to many (most ?) of us before and throughout her epic journey.



-Sven

Speak for yourself Sven!

That article is a hatchet job by a snarky columnist with a political pro immigration agenda. He is not objective.
Sven, what do you have against Jessica?
It seems that you are obsessed with finding fault in what she did.
If you think that that editorial was "well thought out and thoughtful" , you probably should do more research on the person you are attempting to malign.


RW

[Mariness]

Originally Posted by SvenG

By the way, here is another well thought out and thoughtful write-up that ends with

This article didn't seem too bad to me, he clearly feels young people shouldn't take big risks like this, but surely he's allowed to have the opinion if he wants to? He seemed to me to have more of a problem with other people trying to capitalize off it (production team, politicians, etc) than with her.

[SvenG]

Originally Posted by Mariness

This article didn't seem too bad to me, he clearly feels young people shouldn't take big risks like this, but surely he's allowed to have the opinion if he wants to? He seemed to me to have more of a problem with other people trying to capitalize off it (production team, politicians, etc) than with her.

Thanks for actually reading his article, that really improves reading comprehension

Your point about how he thinks young people shouldn't take risks is one where I disagree with him, and why I was an avid Jessica supporter in the months leading up to her launch and the later bulk-carrier incident. If qualified and capable, age should not be held against anyone. You could argue that her completed epic journey is an existence proof with respect to her qualifications and capabilities.

Thanks again,



-Sven

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by RichardInMd

Speak for yourself Sven!

That article is a hatchet job by a snarky columnist with a political pro immigration agenda. He is not objective.
Sven, what do you have against Jessica?
It seems that you are obsessed with finding fault in what she did.
If you think that that editorial was "well thought out and thoughtful" , you probably should do more research on the person you are attempting to malign.


RW

I guess what we have here is differing interpretations on the article...
I too thought it was a fair and reasoned article tho' with a slight bias toward the PC trend for 'Over Protection' that prevails today... makes me wonder how I lived so long without it....ROFLMAO

I'm very much pro JW and have always felt that she was adequately(as much as one can be for RTW)prepped for the trip... the collision could have happened to anyone... one could also blame the frieghter for not sounding its 5 blasts for "Get TF outa the Bludy way..." it wakes one up pretty damn fast... yes I've been there...

Doubtless I'll get a lot of flack for that but as far as I'm concerned if you've never done long distance solo "Shut It"...
Go back to your books... you don't know what your talking about... its like a non swimmer telling Mark Spitz where he went wrong..
You do what you do according to the circumstances as YOU see them at the time... and if you survive.... you got it right.
Nothing is 'Text Book' outside the classroom... as a few of you guys on here know only to well...

Right.. enuf said... I'm now going to put 3 reefs in the main and set the storm jib..

Definition of Solo Sailor... someone who accepts a venture could result in death and is not keen on inflicting it on others...
Definition of Skipper with crew... someone who accepts a venture could result in death and is buggered if he's gonna die alone....
hahahaha... no I'm not being smug... just having a laugh...