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Lodesman · 09-09-2009, 09:59

Very few collisions between two boats can be blamed solely on one of the boats - it is very likely the case here. I would suggest we don't try to assign blame to either the young lass or the pro crew until after the official accident report is produced.

As to her age - we obviously have two schools of thought represented here. Ms Watson is advertising the fact that she aspires to be the youngest person to do this sort of voyage - it's written on her boom. I think that if she intends to profit from being so young, then she should reasonably expect to draw criticism about being too young. She may very well be up to the task, have the necessary skills and experience, but I wonder where we draw the line. If 16 is not too young, how about 13? 10? 6? When one of these kids is eventually killed(no ifs about it, just a matter of when), who's gonna wear it? Will the sponsors be seen to be exploiting children? Will the parents get locked up for reckless endangerment? Will all those people who cheered them on, suddenly change their tune?

Artful Dodger · 09-09-2009, 10:03

If one is interested in what the public thinks beside us sailing arm chair critics, check out her blog and the comments postings, there is a vast array of different people there wishing her well as hoping she will get back to it. She might be living her dream but she is also inspiring others who have dreams and may or could not attemt them, such as those who are blind, physically challenged, or not the funds but through her they obtain some hope, as with out hope there is no life. There must always be hope. Or is it better for her to be around this situation check it out Gang ritual touted in Toronto shooting - Crime - Canoe.ca it seems this fellow was an innocent person wrong place wrong time, his hopes and dreams are gone.

Bash · 09-09-2009, 10:38

there's evidence that adolescents need more sleep--both in terms of quantity and quality--than adults.

suggests to me that singlehanding long passages might not be an ideal activity for teens.

Talbot · 09-09-2009, 10:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by speakeasy

You cruisers who're judgmental abouat this girl might want to be very careful. There is way too much inequity and suffering, especially in the 3rd world, to get so worked up and to waste too much indignation on a girl trying a great and foolhardy sail. We wouldn't want anything nasty to happen to you as you travel and report back to us 'cause we love hearing your reports.

Well said.

beneteau-500 · 09-09-2009, 11:18

some of the comments on here have really peeved me of about being young my first solo sail was from melb to tasmaina in 1975 i was sixteen and crossing the bass sea in january can have its hazards and in those days i never had radar or AIS so all those who are condemning this young lady get a life

MacG · 09-09-2009, 11:37

That this incident happened so fast after her departure, shows that she is not yet accustomed to be alone at night.

I am a solist myself and I narrowly escaped a beaching, or the results from that event on the Spanish coast near Torrevieja.

The worst thing you can do is going to sleep when you are still in the vicinity of a large port (Brisbane) and in the proximity of a shipping lane.

The vessel, the Silver Yang, happened to be a coalcarrier mesuring 225 meters by 35 meters beam.
Proficiat, if you can that stop that ship effectively for an unwatched sailing yacht that is not visible.
Particularly if the large vessel has no proper lookout on the bridge and who even cannot look midship where the vessel was hit by the girl's yacht in case he was on the bridge.

However, this is nothing new. Solosailers have to live with the fact that they cannot sleep during nighttime but have to keep an eye on the horizon for all reason.
They may sleep during daytime a little bit, provided that they wake up every hour to see what's around.

When they are out of anything, they might take the risk and do some proper sleeping.
But even the most experienced solosailers crash now and then. Even if the chance is one to a million.

But this accident is/was entirely the fault of the girl.

**David M** · 09-09-2009, 11:40

Under the COLREG's, its both their fault.

Artful Dodger · 09-09-2009, 11:47

can we hear from any other solo sailors out there and their views and maybe their experience, as experience is a good teacher they say.

**Pblais** · 09-09-2009, 12:06

Quote:

can we hear from any other solo sailors out there and their views and maybe their experience, as experience is a good teacher they say.

There is a fair bit of that material already posted in other sections. This topic has enough probelms being on topic that we really don't need to hijack the thread in new directions.

Stories about why you might be a better sailor than a 16 year old seems seriously off topic. It would be more productive to start new threads on specific topics that might lead to a useful discussion about the title of the topic. This thread is running out of it's useful lifespan quickly.

imagine2frolic · 09-09-2009, 12:14

Single-handers can't carry on a good watch. This is nothing, but true. A fully crewed freighter has the personel, and equipment. Of course there is fault of both, but the freigther with a full crew would carry most.......IMHO.......i2f

Artful Dodger · 09-09-2009, 12:23

Here is an update report on her responce Teen sailor confident after 'scary' collision - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
my thought was not to hijack this thread but hear some opinion's from some who have been here as all.

**sarafina** · 09-09-2009, 13:34

I have a daughter, the same age as this young lady,and like Jessica, she is bright and clever and eager to explore the world. I view it as my job as the PARENT to find appropriate outlets for that bright precious enthusiasm.

I would no sooner let her undertake a voyage such as this than I would let her drive home from a school event after dark. Which incidentally is against the law, for good reason. Go look at statistics on teen drivers.

A child this age, (and make no mistake, for all the sexy posing in the photos, we are talking about a child here, both legally and practically) is not yet sufficiently matured physically or mentally to undertake risks such as this safely. True, some might be up to the challenge, on a good day, with luck. Sadly here, Jessica ran out of luck early on in the game. Fortunately for her she is uninjured.

Would we all be having the same conversation if the collision had sunk her ship and she had drowned?

I do not think so...

cat man do · 09-09-2009, 14:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by blu

Lot of puritans being exceptionally judgemental when not in possession of all the facts. Let's wait and see where the stuff up occurred.

Best not to question and just pat them on the back and say well done I suppose?

cat man do · 09-09-2009, 14:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by imagine2frolic

Being a single-hander myself. I can see how she would need a wee bit of rest.

Perhaps while she had the opportunity, she could have dropped the pick in behind Cape Moreton and rested in Safety for the first night.

Would that not have been the responsible and safe thing to do instead of going to sleep in a shipping lane?

Not like she was doing the real thing yet, she was just doing a bloody delivery.

I also have done many thousands of single handed miles and around this area, but would never have contemplated sleeping in a shipping lane.

Just like I don't walk out in front of trucks with my eyes shut.

Perhaps she should have sailed another 20 miles east , well out of the lanes before heading south, if, she had to prove some point by sailing through the first night?