Not far to go now.

I thought it was timely to revive that that thread but it's too old.
I'm sure there are many of you who are happy about that considering the crap that was written

I'm going to hang my head in shame. I personally thought she should not have done it, but she proved me wrong - well done. A fantastic achievement - I'll look forward to the 60minutes interview.

GypsyDrifter said...

oliver said...

I'm going to hang my head in shame. I personally thought she should not have done it, but she proved me wrong - well done. A fantastic achievement - I'll look forward to the 60minutes interview.

It is GOOD to see a young girl like that, not fold under pressure
(well I am assuming that...I will wait to see the doco.)
But it is good inspiration for all Y- gen's...which has to be a good thing.

I did think she could do it...
I just had my reservations on why she was doing it...
15 minutes of fame? well thats gone..lol a couple of months of Fame now and more to come.
It's kids like her...that might be our new prime minister in the future..
and I would like a Y - gen, prime minister to have done something courageous..
with some sort of life skills under their belt

just another boat person

cwamit said...
just another boat person

Yeah, they are quality people aren't they?

Makes you wonder even more about the travels of the likes of Matthew Flinders (and people like that) who ,I believe, was only in his 30's and without all the modern technology available .Still a fantastic effort from a gutsy Ausssie girl!!!!!!!!!!!
Hope the media is as good to her as it was to Alan Bond

Just like the loopster that left Wollongong a fortnight ago with no supplies, aiming for a 100 day trek to an undisclosed location in Queensland

what I was referring to was a nutter walking from wollongong to somewhere in Qld with no supplies etc

japie said...

If she had made the money to buy the boat, or built it herself, it would be another story. She is setting a bench mark that is unavailable to most kids her age by virtue of the fact that someone had the money.

I am not impressed with the effort. I have been inundated by her achievements through my house mate who has followed her every move. Anyone can sail around the world today, especially with the technology available.

old4dy, I don't know what you are referring to but in my final year at school one of our set books was about a Frenchman who crossed the Atlantic in an inflatable without any supplies.

He set out to prove that it was unecessary to die at sea through thirst or hunger. Got all of his nutrition and water by eating fish he caught. It was a pretty rugged journey but a real achievement although there are a few critics who believe he may have cheated: www.nytimes.com/2005/07/24/opinion/alain-bombard-80-dies-sailed-the-atlantic-alone.html

from memory, he is the doctor who theorized that it was possible to survive without freshwater. And he succeeded though I understand he died a few years later from liver/kidney failure?

I reckon record attempts about distance or time/ speed are generally pretty cool. ones about the youngest to do it aren't really that impressive to me. I think trying to do something like this is a pretty awesome challenge. Its always going to be hard to tell if someone has healthy motives to attempt such impressive feats.

japie said...

I am not impressed with the effort. I have been inundated by her achievements through my house mate who has followed her every move. Anyone can sail around the world today, especially with the technology available.

If this is not bait for comments it shows an ignorance of ocean sailing.

I read an extract from a book about fifteen years ago written by a woman from Sydney who worked two jobs, learned to weld and built her own boat. She sailed here there and everywhere thereafter. That was a momentuous achievement.

I am sorry guys, I am just not impressed with Jessica's effort, or rather the effort of what are obviously a couple of very indugent parents.

Fortunately I do not have television so I will not be subjected to the 60 minutes account. Hopefully she will reimburse her mum and dad with the proceeds.

I didnt think she would make it, but Im glad for her and her family that she did.

Richiefish said...

mmm, how many people can weld, how many people have worked two jobs, how many people have built a boat???.Heaps....how many people have sailed solo ,non stop unassisted around the world????..Not many...Try spending a year alone, add to that constant problems thrown at you daily,knowing that if you make a mistake you may die. Do this on a tiny constantly moving boat..It aint easy.

Richiefish is right, its a mammoth task, Just the thought of "WHAT IF".............
and theres lots of time to think about this stuff and she will be working hard for none of these things to happen, so many things to break, run into, illness and the list goes on.
I have HUGE amounts of respect for her and shes more than proved to be a great blue water sailer with out a dought!
I still think she shouldent of done it, just dont see the point of the whole record thing its just stupid and "VERY" high risk.
I would of had alot more interest if she chose a different type of voyage and I think her blog would be better reading too.
I hope the future is going to be bright for her and im sure shes going to be enjoying the warm trades winds in a more comfortable vessel with couple of mates sipping margaritas With no deadlines to worry about and all thoughs memories of being cold wet and miserable will go but all the epic moments will be there forever.
May Fair Winds Escort You Jess!

By the look of the marine forecasts for southern ocean things could be a little lumpy over the next week or so

GO GIRL - SHE MAKES THE REST OF US SEEM LIKE SUCH WOOSIES

jUST READING FATAL STORM - ROB MUNDALS 1998 SYDNEY HOBART BOOK IS ENOUGH TO SCARE ME FROM HEADING OUT IN THE GULF ST VINCENT ON A YACHT

All I said was that I was not impressed. I am very happy that she has almost made it. Just that she is in a one car race.

camal19 said...


As for the being alone for 12 months - there are many who would welcome the chance to be isolated for that long.

"Welcome the chance" maybe, but to actually be able to handle 12 months alone - not so many methinks.