Official Jessica Watson Blog
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We crossed back into the southern hemisphere this evening, its nice to be back home! I said a quick hi to Neptune and thanked him for the fish! Still no sign of the big red line though, I'm starting to think that all this water must have washed it away?!
More of a quiet day out here, nothing too exciting just keeping up with all the ins and outs, doing a little school work, reading and napping. Mostly we've made great progress and have had some light squalls come through. The squalls didn't give us any more than gusts of 20 knots of wind but that was just enough to make conditions just a little too wet to have the hatches open, making life pretty hot and sticky. Did I mention I'm looking forward to some cooler weather?
Plenty of open water ahead for the next few days so it will be nice to have some more uninterrupted sleep and I'm itching to put some miles behind us. Bob's latest forecast predicts south easterly winds, so looks like we'll be able to make some good progress south but none east for a while.
Hey guys, loving all the comments and support but please don't worry if I miss a blog now and then, I write when I can and love doing it, but sometimes I have to put the time and energy into something else. Just remember, I'm always in contact with the support team and chances are, if you don't hear from me, I'm just too busy sailing and having fun!
Back to Easyfoods for dinner tonight after that last of the fish for brecky, oh and yes it was really tasty!
Jesse
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
- August 2011 (1)
- June 2011 (1)
- April 2011 (2)
- March 2011 (1)
- February 2011 (3)
- January 2011 (2)
- December 2010 (2)
- November 2010 (2)
- October 2010 (2)
- September 2010 (3)
- August 2010 (5)
- July 2010 (2)
- June 2010 (3)
- May 2010 (9)
- April 2010 (12)
- March 2010 (13)
- February 2010 (16)
- January 2010 (18)
- December 2009 (20)
- November 2009 (26)
- October 2009 (19)
- September 2009 (10)
- August 2009 (14)
- July 2009 (19)
- June 2009 (14)
Comments
Jess i dont think my post posted yesterday so i will ask you again.
Cape Horn,have you thought about it,is it on your mind.can you let us ow what you are thinking about it.I know some of us worry for you to go around Cape Horn.If you have time please try to talk to us about it before you get there and when do you think you will arive at Cape Horn.
Well lil one,have fun, safe sailing, Our prayers are with you.We all love you girl.
your friends
Rober,Ellen,Alison,Autumn
North Carolina,USA
Go girl!
Dreams are whatever we want them to be and it's up to YOU as the individual to chase NO MATTER WHAT and you are doing that!
News from Brisbane....over cast today, Christmas decorations are going up everywhere & the sun is now up at 4:30am!
Take care special woman!
Jodie.
Paul.
Do you realise that checking your blog is the first thing I do when I come back home from work ?
And I believe we are just a few thousands in this case, my dear.hehe.
However, we do understand that your primary duties are for your sailing, your health, your enjoyment.
All the same, thank you for sharing so much with us all. It's all witty, funny, clever, informative, interesting, and not necessarily in that order, mind you.
Enjoy to the full
emgb1 from South Wales, UK (GMT+0)
Keep up the spirit, girl! We like what you are doing - even it is a bit too early.
Nils
I read your blogs religiously every day and enjoy them immensely and I think of you every night as I go to bed & the fact that you are out there sailing along.
Can I ask if it would be possible for you to include some technical information on your blog every day such as Distance travelled in past 24 hours, Average speed, Max speed & distance to go to the Horn?
Keep up the great work.
Steve of Caringbah NSW Australia
So proud of you following your dream.
May God surround you with divine favour, travelling mercies and angels all around you.
May you be blessed with fair winds and calm seas.
Never take your eye of the end result - don't allow your faith to waiver - keep your dream before you and we will see you complete your amazing journey in to the history books.
Love reading your blog and seeing your pics.
Till next time - peace be the journey.
Lynne - Gold Coast
You're having a dream run for the early part of your journey but, where minor challenges have surfaced, you've shown your capabilities as a sailor and skipper. You made some thoughtful decisions as you navigated your way through the Kiribati Islands group.
I love to hear from you and gravitate to your web page without realizing I do so. Magnetic, girl, magnetic!
Ian from Brisbane
wonderful, now it's south and around!
Good luck with it all!
I think you will have plenty of cooler to cold weather soon.
Glad you are able to have more sleep. Ella looks after you, while you are resting!
There definitely is a close bond between a captain (more so for a solo sailor) and his boat.
Look after her, she'll look after you!
But you are doing all of that, so all is well!
I am amazed, that Joshua Slocum could not swim and he had no fear of drowning.
When he was soloing, near land, he overturned his dinghy and twice he tried to right it. The third time he managed.
I am sure he had some fear of drowning then, but kept his cool head and succeeded!
Attitude is everything!
It appears, that many of the early sailors did not know how to swim!
I went to see the Russian Ballet last night. 'Swan Lake' and of course it was sensational.
Next year they are coming back to Australia in Sept/Oct and present 'the Nutcracker'.
Take care, have more fun, keep safe,
Trudy, Austria, now in Mackay
Good to hear you are now back in the Southern Hemisphere. Your blog gives the impression you are pleased and happy to have turned the northernmost corner of your journey, and it is good to hear you are making ‘great progress’ southwards. Your last two blogs have been much happier than your ‘Around Kiritimati Island’ note which expressed a touch of frustration with the wind ‘on the nose’.
Also good to hear the fish that didn’t get away was really tasty and good to see you were able to capture the moment of your fishing success so well in the photo. I guess that might become one for the book – to be chosen from hundreds no doubt.
Best wishes for a fast ride southwards until you can turn southeast and head for the challenges of the most southerly section of your journey – around the Cape. I am sure time will fly by rapidly during the next month.
Tony L (Mt Martha VIC)
Hadn't realised that you've gone so far already - magnificent effort and a massive 'ya boo sucks' to all those stuffed shirts who said you shouldn't go.
A fair wind on your back all the way to the Cape, batten down the hatches then off across the Atantic.
Remenber - fortune favours the bold - so give it plenty
Good onya Jessica - look forward to your return next year
Stay safe.
waiting for, what next will be,
tending to her sailing vessel,
strengthening, her cerebral muscle.
Many follow with great intent,
worrying about, her energy spent,
wishing her, good food and sleep,
wanting her in angels keep.
Knowing she can stay the course,
trusting in her education,
her knowing crew is the force,
in her excellent preparation.
These thoughts in rhyme are meant to be,
just a reminder to you from me,
that when times are tough in that big ole sea,
there are many thinking of Jesse and ELP.
Mike
Bron Central West NSW
I'm in cold rainy London, very jealous of your hot weather! Love the blog, I'm feeling inspired to take up sailing... my dream would be to sail the world, maybe one day. Heading to Perth next year so maybe I'll see you as you sail past!
Your living the dream, enjoy every minute.
Engine
Love reading your blogs and I am disappointed when you miss one, but like evryone else, I understand there are priorities. Great knowing that I can look forward reading your doings for many months yet. I don't like hearing things like you bumping into a bouy though. Even in that vast ocean, unexpected things can still happen. I know you always keep your wits about you.
John
I posted a comment this morning, but it got lost somehow.
That's okay, I know that good thoughts travel on the wings of Angels,
and not on the time schedule of a web master.
It's understandable that some days, posting on your blog is not on your "to do" list.
Wishing you fair winds as you head south,
to your next destination.
Molly
Maryland USA
I enjoy reading this blog and imaging your life out there on the open ocean. I am a teacher and I have my class reading as well. We have regular discussions about your voyage and you are an inspiration to many. However, I have a request. My students are mostly around your age and are curious about your studies. Would it be too much of an imposition on you to include a small update on what you are studying? You have no idea how useful it would be to us teachers to have you describe some maths problem you are tackling, or piece of literature you are reading.
cheers
Charles
Heading back down south eh? Nice to know you're making steady progress in the right direction and with no hassles.
I love the blogs and eagerly await them no matter how regular they might be (although your commitment so far is heaps better than mine would have been!!).
Looking forward to the next fish... :-)
Take care,
Lea
Regards,
William
Fukuoka, Japan
Welcome back down south! Glad to hear you're making steady progress and heading in the right direction with no hassles.
I love the blogs no matter how far apart they are but your commitment to writing regularly so far is much better than mine would be!!
Glad you enjoyed the fish -I'm sure there will be plenty more where they came from and I'm looking forward to seeing the next great catch.
Keep enjoying yourself,
Lea
Happy sailing.
Kev, Sydney, Australia.
My hubby's been trying to get me to go cruising around the world for years. Now we have a couple of young kids and it seems we're getting closer to doing this.
Despite all your important support from your back up team, I admire your own courageousness and determination.
All the best Jess and may you catch many more fish, and have the wind (and swells) behind you!
Stu, Jen, Min & Hank