Official Jessica Watson Blog
Subscribe to Blog RSS feedSunshine, a Ship and Engine Problems
I've had lots of that lovely sunshine stuff lately and today I'm over the moon to see the cabin temperature sitting on 20 degrees! It's been a while since it's been that warm.
But not everything's going as well as the weather.
The fuel system on the engine is still giving me grief, so I can't get the engine to start. This isn't the end of the world, it just means that I've got to be extra careful with power usage. If I can't get it going again, then Jesse and Mike will just have to row Ella's Pink Lady up to the dock after the finish line. No, only kidding, we'll work something out. I would be very nice to motor in under our own steam, so I'll keep trying.
Since I gave up on the food bag system and went for all my favorites a while ago, I'm starting to run out of good food. I've had to start eating the stuff I'd normally leave (I know it serves me right!), but on the up side, I've got so much spare fresh water, that I've been able to use it for washing. Other than that, the dunny has also decided not to play nicely, which is also ore annoying than anything. I mean couldn't it wait just one more week before refusing to work?
Last night the AIS also picked up the first ship I've seen since under Africa, but it didn't come close and I'm pretty surprised that it's the only one I've seen.
If you've had a bit of a look at the voyage map or if you're familiar with these waters, you're probably wondering why it's taking so long to get to Sydney. If I was in any sort of rush or the weather was miserable, yes I could get in before the 15th. But I made the decision with my team a while back to set the 15th as the arrival date, so that I didn't feel any pressure trying to meet an earlier date. And the reason that we've set a date at all, rather than just letting the wind blow Ella's Pink Lady and I in at random, is because a lot of people needed to book flights and make arrangements.
If my estimated arrival date changed one more time, I'd have a lot of annoyed relatives! From what I've heard, planning my arrival in Sydney is turning out to be a pretty complicated business, with all sorts of different authorities involved.
If I was head over heels desperate to get in to shore and off Ella's Pink Lady, things would be different. But with the sun shining again, I'm totally excited, but not in any particular rush to get home. I'd like to make it perfectly clear that
I'm not feeling any pressure from anyone back home to arrive on a particular date. Believe me, I'm far more pig-headed than that. If I wanted to push hard and come in earlier, then I would!
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)
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- September 2009 (10)
- August 2009 (14)
- July 2009 (19)
- June 2009 (14)
- May 2009 (13)
- April 2009 (5)
- March 2009 (6)
Comments
A sua aventura me deixou muito empolgada.
beijo.
Shania K. xxx
even though i don't know you, and we have never met, i have followed your journey, from the start, and i am very inspired by you, you are a brave and amazing person. I hope that you get the record, have a fantastic time on your boat, and return home safely
izzy
:)
P. xxx
One Tthing how popular youar around the world and even in Germany: 2 days ago I had my Spinning class as an Instructor as Ialways had. I integrated music of Mike & the mechanics. Remenbering that you are on still on sea, I asked my participants if they `ve ever heard of you. That`s for sure, they were well informed about your trip. So I forced them in a Strength period to think if they were out on the sea and have to be strong. A screaming and yelling came up. Wonderful and going to heart.
So finalize your trip as planned. I love it how the Australians welcome citizens coming back from a long journey. You will have an incredible party. All Australia fall on knees for you only. Suck it in, life goes so quick.
Take good care of you.
Fritz from Hamburg, Germany.
Hope the sun is shining, the winds blow gently, the waves help sail you safely through the Heads on Saturday.
Will be watching via TV and will hoot and holla at your success.
Well done young lady and be safe.
I live in central California and have followed
your travels.
What an adventure and what an impressive sailor
you are. I signed up for a welcome back ticket
for Sidney thinking I might get a facsimile in
email since it is a long way to Australia to
cheer you on in person.
Making a name for yourself at age 16 is quite
an accomplishment.
I wonder how bright the stars are away from land.
I don't remember myself from my time in Westpac
with the US Navy a long time ago. Hope you have
time later on to get to see some of this planet
from land as well as the water.
Congratulations.
Stan Jones, California Delta dingy sailor.
Bravo Zulu, lassie. Magpie of Bingara /Gympie
Just wanted to say hello! and will be looking forward to hearing all about your return home. Wish I could be there.
Lynne Picton, NZ)
Missed a couple of days,allot of long hours right now here in the Gulf coast,trying to keep up on all the wildlife rescues.The oil cap has had problems in stopping the flow,so we keep plugging along.
Sounds like you are getting things done,another resume item to add I see,motor repairs,whats next young lady,you are too much with all your handy work,so proud of you as all ways.
Yet to read all the days comments,just wanted to get this on its way to you.
Hi to all in the world family,the days are winding down,I only pray we get some news over here,but thank God for the internet world.
Godspeed,enjoy your last leg home,I remain so so proud of you and your entire team,the critics should hang their heads.
Got to run for now,much love and admiration.
Stephen M.
Transplanted Aussie.
on the Gulf Coast for now.
YOUR THE BEST!!!!
Kathie(NYC) oxox
I have just returned from Brisbane to see my first grandson for the first time. Wow! What an experience. As I held him in my arms and looked at his beautiful blue eyes, I couldn’t help but to think of you. I thought: “I wonder what this little tyke will be doing when he is 16 years old”? Maybe the youngest to fly around the moon and back? LOL! @Shore team: Thank you for setting the record straight! I never could figure out what the hullabaloo was all about. At no time did I ever see any reference to Jessica “Circumnavigating” the globe. I agree that we all should give that garbage a rest and press on with the task at hand with the speech to follow: “My name is Jessica Watson. I am 16 years old. I have just realized my life’s dream of being the youngest person to sail solo, around the world, nonstop and unassisted.” And that will be that!
Jesse, I too have been concerned about your attempts to start your engine and what you may be doing from the mechanical standpoint. Michael 75 also indicated his concern with the volatility of diesel fuel in the confines of your engine compartment. I won’t go any further with this as I am confident, you have very good advice coming from your team. However, not being in that loop, us “boys” who have some understanding and insight into these kinds of problems, get very nervous with our imaginations running in overdrive. Hopefully, you have it going by now or will, prior to arrival. I predict that your next blog will say: “I have disassembled my dunny and put it back together again. It is now working like a charm. I have also cleaned my fuel filters, drained the water, bled the fuel lines, cleaned the injectors and the engine is now purring like a kitten. Oh and by the way, @cobrarog and hezakiah299, I didn’t spill a drop”.
To the shore team, well said, this adventure is all about Jessica and what she has done. We all know what an inspiration Jesse is so let’s enjoy the moment and not talk about the negatives anymore, we are all getting sidetrack and getting sucked into all this negative crap.
With all the dunkings Ella’s Pink Lady has had over the last few months you may have some water in the fuel, I’m sure you may have checked all this, but clean out the filter and remove the fuel line and pump some fuel through and then clean out the injectors, and cross the fingers.
When I look at your voyage map, I can’t believe how close you are, just seeing all those little yachts going NE away from Australia, just feels like yesterday. Now with a little time to kill, put out all your lures and try and catch that big fish.
It’s great you are still enjoying it out there, you must have amazing staying power, I think most people would just say, hang with this I’m getting home for a hot shower and a nice dry bed, everything is positive with you, enjoy the last 4 days and I wish I could have been over there to see you come in but not to be.
So keep having fun and keep safe.
Cheers George Simmons
Lots of love
Exmouth WA Australia