Official Jessica Watson Blog

Hi Jessica,
Just read the news from your Mum and I hit my conversion chart and saw that the 4m waves converted to 13 feet. Yow!!!!! Young lady I am definitely a firm believer that you know what you are doing, not that I ever doubted you. Even in a 34ft boat that’s a pretty good slide to me. I have never done any sailing. I have done a lot of waterskiing, but there’s a big difference in that kind of boating and sailing. And your having the time of your life. LOL, God bless ya. Glad to read that you were satisfied as to how Ella handled the waves. Your Mum also mentioned that you had a 28 knot tailwind and that was helping you make good time. It sound like it’s starting to get exciting,(to me)so batten down the hatches, stay alert and be careful. We’re all still with you, never forget that. I’m really anxious to read your next blog. I’ll bet it’ll be a good one. (Haven’t read a bad one yet LOL)
May God be with you and watch over you and may the angels keep your sails full. I will keep you in my prayers.
Michael (74) from Kingwood, WV

Great job, Jess. Being an Aussie like you, I'm proud of your record attempt journey. Please have a safe trip.

Hi Jessiaca
Another day has gone by and I hope you are still having fun.
It's good to hear you have all your safety gear on when sleeping, but I'm not sure about having the lifejacket on when inside the cabin.
I know you have gone through all your safety drills, but it may be better to have the life jackets close by and just outside the cabin? What do your team and other bloggers think.
Keep safe and keep the info and photos coming.
Cheers George Simmons and lots of love from Exmouth WA

As Ella's pink lady crosses the Equator, Jessica should be able to see Polaris the North Polar Star just above the horizon in the North.

The North Polar Star is only visible at the Equator and North of the Equator.

The Heavens-Above site is a favourite with Astronomers and those who want to learn more about celestial navigation.
http://www.heavens-above.com

The site is free, but to use it properly it is best to register in order to be able to save and configure observation sites for example:

Kiritimati , Kiribati,(Christmas Island)
2.0718°N, 157.7197°W,

put in the Time as UTC and you are ready to see what the sky above Kiribati looks like night and day or any year you choose and from any point on Earth.

Learn about the constellations planets and stars as they appear overhead in the night sky.

You will also be able to track the ISS International Space Station as it passes overhead the Ella's pink lady or any observation site you choose.

Heavens-Above celestial tracking:
http://www.heavens-above.com

Polaris and the Southern Cross:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celestial_pole

Line Islands coordinates:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_Islands

celestial navigation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celestial_navigation

have fun,

gustav haffner
(pilot-navigator)
www.redbaron.com.au

i wish i had as much courage as u do. you're an inspiration to women and girls everywhere.

Lauren Hagan from South Carolina,USA

Hey Jesse.

Craig (uni lecturer) here from Brisbane again.

You mentioned that you like little quotes and so on, so here's a factoid for you:

I've been reading through all the comments you're getting. Have you done the maths? On a bad day, you're getting a message here on average every 5 minutes or so. On a good day, much more often. They're pretty evenly spaced out too. That means that you can be pretty sure at every moment that someone, somewhere is reading your blog, thinking of you and sending their best wishes your way.

That wind at your back? It's also the sound of a lot of small friendly voices whispering you along :)


PS: To all those asking for daily exact coordinate updates - I imagine that, technical issues aside, there are also some safety issues to consider in doing this.

HAWKEYE

Hey Jess you must be busy. That good night's sleep and the solid breakfast must have come in handy. A quote I came across and thought I'd sculpture it a little bit for your sake:
" To understand the heart and mind of a Jess, look not at what she has already achieved, but at what Jess aspires to do". Jess it seems to me that hidden within these words lay the genesis of your dreams and ambitions.

I have said all along give priority to yourself and you will be in a good frame of mind to tackle what needs to be done. Us bloggers have the comforts of home and we can sit and blog 'til our hearts content - you on the other hand have other priorities. Your doing just fine.

Take care, be happy and can you give me a tip for the Melbourne Cup.

HAWKEYE

really great blog jessica (as usual).
never mind any negative press or bloggers.Thankfully they are becoming more
infrequent but when you arrive back here in OZ all the doubting thomas's will be full of endless praise!! Here is a quote from Marcus Aurelius, (121–180 AD)Roman Emperor & Philosopher he was Roman emperor from 161 to his death in 180 AD "It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live" take heed all the pessimists!!
Melbourne ,Aus

Hey Jess!!!!! hows ur adventure at sea? and also if i wanted to do that i would well maybe

I am enjoying following your adventure. I was wondering what are your thoughts on the upcoming southern ocean leg?

Fred
Amityville, New York

do you have a daily position update Latt Long
would be good to have an updated progress chart to follow along

lovely to hear you're tracking well - i log on every day & find out how you're going. You must have so much time to think out there, i'd drive my neurotic self insane! Which books have you got to read? I hope they're good ones!

Caz NSW

PEOPLE:

ALL THIS TALK OF PIRATES IS JUST UTTERLY RIDICULOUS.

TAKE A LOOK AT A MAP OF THE WORLD AND JESSICA'S PROJECTED COURSE!!

SHE WILL BE NOWHERE NEAR SOMALIA OR FOR THAT MATTER THE EAST COAST OF AFRICA!!

LET'S USE SOME INTELLIGENCE HERE...SOMALI PIRATES ARE NOT GOING TO SAIL TO THE SOUTH 40 AND 50 PARALLELS TO BOTHER JESSICA.

LET'S STOP WITH ALL THIS PIRATE TALK, OK??

Hi Jess,
Your doing good girl, as an old fella that has allways mucked around in boats, I am jealous, what an adventure at your age. I will follow you to the end then see what the non believers have to say. May the wind allways be at your back.

Cosmetics in the cockpit. Wow, it looks just like there's a female on board. Have fun sweetheart. Have lots of fun and stay safe. I haven't and I won't miss a day of your voyage.

As the Great Man Said:


Float Like a Butterfly
And Sail Like a Bee


You Are The Greatest

Keep on Being on,...........
Course of Course

Regards From Wave Rock,
Hyden WA

Hello Jesse,
It was good to see your day ten video, taken when you were surfing along. (For those who have not been on a sailboat, the "little porthole" on the bulkhead behind Jesse is actually a bulkhead mounted compass that can be viewed from inside as well as outside the boat. The little shape inside the compass is the compass card which is actually level relative to the horizon because it is gimballed and damped. Jess appears to be stable relative to the boat, as though there is not much motion going on, but actually the boat is moving just like the compass card. Watch how the cups,hanging objects, and compass card all point toward the center of the earth.You can also see the repeating pattern of the swells in the motions of the card) A long winded explaination, but I didn't want people to think that the boat was rock steady.

Keep on Keepin on! Go Jesse!

Richard in Maryland
SV "Shaba"

Hi Jesse,

this is the forecast for Fiji area which for sure knows already:

30/10-02/11
Generally fine weather with "cool" nights.

- whatever cool means out there.
What is your experience?

Am enjoying following the blog,we all know Jessica is amazing but well done to those behind the scenes too, I am looking forward to the tracking map.

Rose in Brisbane

Hi Jess,

Great boat,great trip and a terrific captain, go Jess have fun and keep safe.

hey,

nice boat!
nice speed!

enjoy your trip!

i think you will make it.

"mast und schotbruch!"

dirk

Hello Jessica, from Valdosta, Georgia USA.I've been following your voyage from day 1 and it's really exciting. I always look forward to your latest blogs and videos. I wish you all the luck in the world and I truely hope you make it.

Gail and I Tony are rooting for you Can you state your GPS fix?

Gday Jessica

I am an oldish 'old salt', and this is my first time trying to write to you. Fingers crossed!

I too have a daughter called Jessica, but here the likeness ends... there is no way that she inherited my adventure genes!

Tell you more next time, but well done. I love your stories, and wish I could do what you are doing.

take care, and kind winds
Mr W

Fair winds!