Official Jessica Watson Blog

The little Yanmar engine is going again! A little delicately, but it is running with a water transfer pump rigged up in place of the fuel pump which had stopped working. It's pretty dodgey with all the miss matching hoses but should do the job. Apart from the kick I got from actually managing to fix something, it was quite a relief as we've pretty much had no wind at all the last two days, so the batteries were lower than I'd thought.

Thanks Jim, Iain and Dad for the ideas and Bruce for the encouragement (threat!). Bruce knew just the right thing to say to get me fired up and to give me the incentive to get the engine going. If there's one thing I've learnt out here, it's that there's nothing that can't be fixed with enough perseverance, even if it means pulling some other part of the boat apart to do it!

So apart from spending a lot of time lately getting covered in diesel puzzling over the engine, I've been enjoying lots of sunshine and making an extra effort with the house/boat work so Mum doesn't have a heart attack when she sees the cabin. Actually Mum's not like that and the cabins never been that bad (cough cough!). 

Then yesterday I saw my first blue whale of the trip (I know I can't believe it either). Then I got a bit creeped out by something seriously big jumping out of the water all around us in the dark when the water glassed out last night. It was probably just marlin but I'd rather imagined it was something more exciting like a great white chasing dinner!

And of course yesterday was Mother's Day. I couldn't cook her breakfast in bed or make her a card like she deserves a million times over, so I've saved an extra hug for when I get in. What Mum did letting me go and helping me get to the start line while still looking after everyone else is in my eyes much harder than anything I've faced out here. Thanks Mum!

The problem with this lovely weather and the amazing starry nights I've been getting, is that I'm really not sure I want the voyage to end! I could go on forever like this. One quiet day after another, doing things at my own pace with little challenges and problems to keep me busy. Except of course there's also so, so many things I'm looking forward to when I get back home!

In one way I think sailing back through Sydney Heads is going to be as tough as it was sailing out through them. I'm told that things are going to change pretty majorly for me as well, so that's a little scary. But I'm not worried because I know that if I can find a reason to laugh while surrounded by huge waves, in the dark and after a knockdown, then I'll be able to smile through whatever comes my way.

Oh dear I'm getting far too soppy and reflective, so I'd better finish up.

Only 5 more sleeps and 4 days left!

Jesse