Official Jessica Watson Blog
Subscribe to Blog RSS feedFlying-Fish, Rubbish, No Wind then Lots of Wind
We've had both very little wind and plenty of wind in the last few days. All made much more pleasant because of the tropical feeling temperatures. I actually found a few little flying fish (which are mostly only found in warmer waters) on deck and got wet inspecting it. But I don't squeal half as loud these days when an unexpected wave gives me a drenching!
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Jessica's Blog Now Has a New Home - UPDATE
UPDATED POST - 12 February, 2010 Read More
Due to technical issues, we will remain on Blogspot for now. The Official Jessica Watson Blog "will" have a new home once these issues are rectified.
Bouncy and Dolphins
Yesterday was a bit bouncy with the wind up a bit as we just clipped the edge of that nasty weather system to the south. My best "Jess-timate"(this is what Bruce calls my often slightly vague descriptions of what the wind is doing) would be 40knots in the gusts.
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Cruising Along
It's almost starting to feel a bit 'same old, same old' out here at the moment, which is probably a silly thing to say, because now that I've said it, 'Murphy's Law' says something's bound to happen! And it's not as if no action is at all a bad thing. No news it good news right?
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Life Goes on as Normal Out Here
Still more nice sailing for Ella's Pink Lady and I. Yesterday was particularly great with our speed sitting on an almost constant 7knots all day. The wind has mostly been between 12 and 17knots. Well that's my best guess anyway, because since losing the wind instruments, I've had to resort to the oh so primitive method of looking out the window and at a piece of string tied to the rigging, to determine the wind speed and direction!
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Recent Posts
- Only Six Weeks Until Our Exciting Campaign Starts!
- The Mini Fastnet, Turning 18 and World Food Programme Youth Ambassador
- Our Youth Should Have A Voice!
- Study, Ella’s Pink Lady and New Zealand
- Introducing The New Project!
- Bilbies, Bike Rides and Other Events
- Jessica the Bilby!
- Young Australian of the Year & Germany!
- Lion’s Club Fundraiser for the Flood Appeal this Sunday
- Happy New Year, Sailing & QLD Floods
Archive
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Comments
It's sad to hear about all the bits of plastic and rubbish floating past EPL. Sadder still that I can say it doesn't surprise me. Good on you for your strong statement of resolve. I hope it serves well in drawing more attention to our problem and instilling awareness in everyone.
Most of our waste today is comprised of plastic. Made from petroleum, plastic is a material that our planet cannot digest. Every bit of plastic that has ever been created still exists, except for a small amount that has been incinerated, releasing toxic chemicals.
In the ocean, plastic waste accumulates in swirling seas of debris. Plastic to sea life ratios now stand at 6:1. Birds and mammals are dying of starvation and dehydration with bellies full of plastics. Fish are ingesting toxins at such a rate that soon they will no longer be safe to eat.
What can we do about it? First, we need to understand and comprehend the size of the problem. Then together we need to find the solutions. Every little bit helps and it has to start with each and every one of us making a conscious effort to simply think before we throw.
I hope you continue to make good progress. Take good care of yourself, stay focused, safe and most importantly, ENJOY!
Bye for now...Aunty Sam XX :-))
Hi Jesse - it's a relief to be back on line. Not being able to keep in touch on a daily basis reduces my worry beads to nervous breakdown conditions. But here we are again darl and all is well or are they??
Your emotions appear to have been on a bit of a roller coaster ride recently. Particularly after the most recent blow and the 4 metre swell that made me sea sick just reading of your plight.
As I said in a recent blog 'you are important to yourself'; out there 'you' are your most important ally; and in that regard dousing 'yourself' in Ella Bache products is a step in the right direction.
You have to learn to relax darl and use some of your free time on just doing that. Do you have a set of relaxation exercises? And if so, are you using them? Speak to your support group about it. If I was in a position to help you I could but I am able to send tapes to your support team and they could downland them for you. Perhaps you can follow it up if you think it would be of benefit. I certainly do.
It is important you take stock of things at this point and be happy with how far you have come; and I might add against the odds with many obstacles to overcome not least the doomsayers. You are a beautiful girl, a resourceful girl but you are human. You must also be realistic and be patient. Each small step Jesse is in fact a GIANT LEAP when you are working in the type of environment you face of a day. Don't worry how far CoGH is at this stage think how far you have come since Cape Horn and how marvelously you have managed the process -looking back at what you have achieved bears testimony to how quickly you are ticking off the miles day by day. Look back to measure your achievement look forward to plan the next SMALL STEP and the same the next day and in the psychology of it all you are continually making progress and adding to your existing achievement.
There will be plenty of time for fishing and remember on occasions birds are unfortunately trapped by their own game - it's not your fault these things happen darl. Your intentions are homourable.
Jesse is it a good idea to be having conversations with passing boats?? Particularly, letting those you are speaking to know that you are alone. I can understand confirming that they are aware of your position but conversing beyond that to strangers in the night worries me and as a result my Jess-Stress meter is in turmoil. Be very careful darl if anything happened to you I don't know what I would do.
In the meantime precious one you keep the mind in the moment, think safety first, follow up the relaxation suggestion and don't be hard on yourself. Get those products out more often. Incidentally, your latest photo is stunning - so take care precious Jesse, keep the chin up, love ya and god bless.
HAWKEYE
Flying fish are cool but rubbish? It's a shame that there is polution even that far out at see. It just goes to show that every little bit hurts.
I see a lot of stores here in the US that are selling reusable cloth shopping bags. That seems to be a good way to go. Even better than the paper ones.
Keep up the good work.
DeWitt
"...it's a bit out of the norm to come across at little pink yacht in the middle of nowhere..."
Hilarious!
Here is also another Captain, who "talk trash":
Captain Charles Moore on the seas of plastic (video length: 7 min 20sec)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7K-nq0xkWY
From here we can found other article about Captain Moore and those Garbage Patches:
Plastic ocean: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
http://www.cdnn.info/news/article/a071104.html
Well (as we all just read from above link and presumably also from other Commentator's comments), there are singularly remarkable garbage areas in the North and South Pacific, in the North and South Atlantic and in the Indian Ocean. Each of these areas gyre (or "vortex") has its own version of the Garbage Patch, as plastic gathers in the currents. Together, these areas cover 40 percent of the sea. And, as Captain Moore says: 'That corresponds to a quarter of the Earth's surface, so 25 percent of our planet is a toilet that never flushes.'
Jessica, it seems as if you found The South Atlantic's Dunny. Outstanding observation and excellent conclusion "using less plastic"! I think You'll never forget and ever stop cast up how "out of place and ugly" things did you see there!
Right, a few days ago there were flying dunny in the EPL, and now EPL was flying in the dunny... I'm speechless!
Anyway, I wish You - from Our God, and bottom of my heart - undramatic, quietly and peacefully sail to home, whether it be in any Port of The Universe.
--
Jack from North
Ps. Obviously you guys noticed that my natural language isn't english. Hopefully you still understand what did i try to say.