With age comes wisdom. How many times have we heard that? I look back at things I did 20 years ago, or things I said, attitudes towards things.... I come to a situation that was similar to something many years ago and think, now when I was 20 I would've just......, but now I'm gonna do this.....and it's usually less inspired. I feel the same concern for any youngster's safety, but it's ONLY because I've been around long enough to see the dangers for what they are. Anyway, I thought we were supposed to be developing into a more enlightened society, not a nanny planet. Isn't it better that these youths go on their adventures with the support they have, than have them steal away in the night, alone? If some kid said they were gonna sail away with no support, some would decry them as being so foolish when there are such great support methods in place. Here, we have kids that are willing to take the challenge, and despite having worldwide support in some form or another, they're called foolish for thinking such a thing. Maybe they won't all make it. Maybe they're not supposed to. That's life. Remember?
I looked up the September 2009 issue but couldn't find a story that sounded like the one you described. If you have a link, you can PM me, I'd be interested to read it or post it here if you don't mind. In any case, we obviously differ in our interpretation of what happened to Jessica the first day she was out on her boat trial. I don't think that in her case it was a matter of circumstance, but of negligence. There are things that are beyond our control (the weather being a sailors biggest), but we mitigate those risks through action. A lot of the choices we make are based on knowledge, skill and experience (like not leaving at the peak of hurricane season, etc).
You're not the first person to interpret or dismiss the incident with the freighter as something beyond her control and, indeed, I hope you're right. Because if not, then only blind luck will keep Jessica safe, and as those of us who sail know, there isn't a whole lot of blind luck to carry one around the world on a boat.
Yeah there is Reid Ho.. I remeber being towed by Slingshot we came to 100 ft of a commercial container ship... They never saw it I picked it off AIS only. just because **** happens - doesn't mean your not qualified. Slingshot had now idea until I called it and demanded a course change... Fact is **** happens - to derail the gal on unsubstantiated claims - ridiculous...
Maybe they won't all make it. Maybe they're not supposed to. That's life. Remember?
Or Darwinism...
Cynicism aside...I'm about to go have dinner, so the soap box will be put away--I promise. What you wrote, seabreeze, is so true about so many things and a very romantic view of how parents and children should relate. Modern parents do try (as mine did) to say things like "I know you're going to have sex, so let me educate you about how to be safe.." And extrapolate that to drinking, etc. I think, however, the situation is a bit different than a teenager sneaking out of the house to go smoke, drink or drive around town with his friends (Speaking from experience). What's the difference if Jessica chooses to gain experience crewing on a boat circumnavigating the world and then attempted it solo? Joshua Slocum was 51 and had decades of experience as master of a vessel before attempting to circumnavigate alone. No one's saying (at least I'm not) that Jessica shouldn't attempt it, only attempt it when she's ready.
Cynicism aside...I'm about to go have dinner, so the soap box will be put away--I promise. What you wrote, seabreeze, is so true about so many things and a very romantic view of how parents and children should relate. Modern parents do try (as mine did) to say things like "I know you're going to have sex, so let me educate you about how to be safe.." And extrapolate that to drinking, etc. I think, however, the situation is a bit different than a teenager sneaking out of the house to go smoke, drink or drive around town with his friends (Speaking from experience). What's the difference if Jessica chooses to gain experience crewing on a boat circumnavigating the world and then attempted it solo? Joshua Slocum was 51 and had decades of experience as master of a vessel before attempting to circumnavigate alone. No one's saying (at least I'm not) that Jessica shouldn't attempt it, only attempt it when she's ready.
- - A nice short and concise recap of where she is and her latest video clips is available at: "www(dot)examiner(dot)com/x-23258-Grand-Rapids-Sailing-Examiner~topic409640-Jessica-Watson-Solo-Circumnavigation?selstate=topcat#breadcrumb"
From viewing some of the videos she is making and posting I get the impression that she is "along for the ride" on an automatic/automated boat. Currently for the next month she will be in relatively calm and gentle sea conditions where the "automatics" work fine. But wait until see gets to the Roaring 40's and tries round Cape Horn and the "automatics" cann't handle it. That will be the test of whether she really is a RTW sailor or not. The young men who did the same thing before her were all taxed to the extreme trying to stay alive and in control of their boats.
Fact is **** happens - to derail the gal on unsubstantiated claims - ridiculous...
Agreed. **** does happen. I would argue that it's not unsubstantiated. The things I was quoting come from her own log, not from a third-party. She admits and documents seeing the vessel on radar. She admits going down below and no one disputes that approx. 15 minutes later, she struck the container ship and dismasted her vessel. Did the container ship change course? Possibly. Did they continue on without stopping? Definitely. Did she fail to monitor the situation for the 15 minutes between target acquisition and impact and thus deprive herself of any opportunity to take corrective action to avoid the collision? By her own account, it appears that way.
Anyway... We're all just observers in this situation. I can't effect any change one way or the other. It's up to the ozzies, her parents and God. Whatever happens, I hope she's safe.
Agreed. **** does happen. I would argue that it's not unsubstantiated. The things I was quoting come from her own log, not from a third-party. She admits and documents seeing the vessel on radar. She admits going down below and no one disputes that approx. 15 minutes later, she struck the container ship and dismasted her vessel. Did the container ship change course? Possibly. Did they continue on without stopping? Definitely. Did she fail to monitor the situation for the 15 minutes between target acquisition and impact and thus deprive herself of any opportunity to take corrective action to avoid the collision? By her own account, it appears that way.
Anyway... We're all just observers in this situation. I can't effect any change one way or the other. It's up to the ozzies, her parents and God. Whatever happens, I hope she's safe.
Listen - not argumentative. Sometimes you make deicsions or learn from others and (example) mine a learning experience.. As much as we all want to be awesome sailors we are subjected to events beyond us...
I agree with you in part. It's not her age alone, but coupled with her seemingly lack of poor judgement in the incident that left her dismasted. Her own log stated that she saw the freighter on radar at 2am and noted that she went below to take a nap. She collided less than 15 minutes later.
So from that I conclude (as did the Queensland maritime authority) that at her age (maturity level is perhaps a better word), she lacks sufficient experience and judgement to proceed safely.
Not every 16 year old is the same. But this one sure seems pretty immature and inexperienced.
WE all make mistakes...Hers was a big one that could have cost her, her life...She learned from it and is probably better prepared to be in a shipping lane now then most of us...Remember how safe you drive after you get into a fender bender?...same deal...your awareness perks up and you are way more alert then you have been in a long time...Then it wears off a bit but you still never forget the lesson.
She is gaining experience every single day that builds on itself..more so then i would at age 52 as her mind is tack sharp and receiving input from every receptor of her young brain..Her first storm will ready her for the next one and so it goes...Nobody wants the mother of all storms to hit the first day out..If she gets enough lessons along the way she will be just as prepared for the southern ocean as all but a few of the greatest sailors alive.
Sailing a boat is easy ...Keeping your self together when things hit the fan is the hard part...She already passed that test.
__________________ "Go Simple...Go Large"
Relationships are everything to me..everything else in life are just tools to enhance them.
The purchase price of a boat is just the admittance fee to the dance...you still have to spend money on the girl...court one with something going for her with pleasing and desirable character traits others desire as well... or you could find yourself in a disillusioned relationship contemplating an expensive divorce.
Last edited by Stillraining : 11-03-2009 at 09:57 PM.
WE all make mistakes...Hers was a big one that could have cost her, her life...She learned from it and is probably better prepared to be in a shipping lane now then most of us...Remember how safe you drive after you get into a fender bender?...same deal...your awareness perks up and you are way more alert then you have been in a long time...Then it wears off a bit but you still never forget the lesson.
She is gaining experience every single day that builds on itself..more so then i would at age 52 as her mind is tack sharp and receiving input from every receptor of her young brain..Her first storm will ready her for the next one and so it goes...Nobody wants the mother of all storms to hit the first day out..If she gets enough lessons along the way she will be just as prepared for the southern ocean as all but a few of the greatest sailors alive.
Age doesn't make "experience" notable nut what you gain from the experience..
Jesus seriously - eye opening is only defined by when you open your eyes and take it in... /
hahaa... Like the rest of us on this thread, I'm just another person with an opinion. Nope, I'm working towards circumnavigation some day. So in that regard I'm as unqualified as the rest of us who haven't done that either. But that's what this thread is about, right? Sharing our thoughts.
