If you read yesterdays feature titled ‘Jessica’s Dream’ in the Weekend Australian Magazine you’ll understand why I spent all of yesterday being teased about not being able to find a razor! To my horror and with the help of a once trusted source (Mum!) comments such ‘Pretties herself up, can’t find a razor’ ‘Alone in the ocean swells, shaven legs or not!’ found their way into national media! But other than being described as Pippi Longstocking, the article was another good read.
After meeting with Professors, Fiona and Gray from the Sunshine Coast University on Friday, I’ve been busy keeping a food dairy and have been put to work rating different kinds freeze dried food. With this information as a starting point, Gray and Fiona will be able to put together a detailed meal plan for the voyage. There’s a million things to consider changing energy needs, likes/ dislikes, nutritional needs, storage, weight etc.
Still plenty of progress at the shed, a little bit of paint here and there and few new fittings makes it feel like we might be on the up hill. I’m constantly amazed at my ability to completely cover myself with resin and a million other sticky, itchy, stinging products.
Tomorrow I’m headed down to Brisbane again this time to study diesel engines, maybe being locked up a class room is a good thing while all those smart comments about the razor die down!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
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6 comments:
Jessica,
Minoru Saito’s Challenge 8 campaign
to become both the FIRST and the OLDEST sailor to complete eight solo circumnavigations of
the globe — this time the “wrong way around.” He has conquered Cape Horn 5 times! Do you know about the tradition of opening a bottle of Champagne at Cape Horn and pouring half the contents into the sea?
Joanne Socrates said, “Zihuatanejo (Mexico) from where my solo journey around the world finally started on Monday 26th March '07. I reached Cairns, Australia, on 11th July '07, Richards Bay, South Africa on 16th November '07 and left Trinidad on 1st May '08. I was then incredibly unlucky to lose "Nereida" on a steep surf beach in Mexico less than twelve hours and about fifty miles short of completing my solo circumnavigation on 19th June'08“.
This is now my new definition of PAIN! She is doing it again with a new Nereida, lots of quality pictures of her boat on her website.
YouTube “sailing cape horn” from yachtpals.com captures the feeling that never leaves you.
I’m just learning about self steering, I found the following interesting, I assume modern systems are improved and had their beginnings from those developed by Yves Gelinas.
On May 9, 1983, on board the sloop Jean-du-Sud, an Alberg 30 (Hull #399) Yves Gélinas completed a 28,000 mile single-handed circumnavigation from St-Malo, France, to Gaspé, Québec, by way of the Roaring forties and Cape Horn.
In the 282 sailing days of his voyage, he did not steer Jean-du-Sud more than one hour.
His boat stayed on course with the aid of a self-steering system which he had designed, through the seas and gales of the Roaring Forties and in all other strengths of wind, even under spinnaker, square before a very light breeze. If there was enough wind to keep the sails full, there was enough for the self-steerer. It even survived two knock-downs and a 360° capsize which dismasted Jean-du-Sud.
Albert
Hey Jessica,
Once you reach the top of the hill, it will quite literaly be smooth sailing.
Good luck tomorrow
Cameron B
Jessica,
Regarding the tradition of opening a bottle of Champagne at Cape Horn and pouring half the contents into the ocean, I’m not sure of the exact procedure, however if Cape Horn gives you good passage, I would give it a little more than half, if the ride was rough, I would give it less than half, then take a swig from the bottle and seal it for life, it would be a wonderful souvenir to show your grandchildren.
Albert
Jessica,
Dee Caffari is the first solo woman round the world both ways on Aviva, fabulous clips on YouTube, and fabulous pictures including cutaway of Aviva, I want one! She’s chasing records everywhere. Aviva has a swinging keel and looks like a serious ocean racer. It has a similar shape to Mike Perham’s boat, perhaps slightly longer. All these boats look a bigger class than First Lady, Nereida and Youngestround. I’ve seen so much of cape Horn lately that I believe it’s safer than people think, especially for smaller boats. The Horn doesn’t pose the risk to our modern light, manoeuvrable, flexible and almost unsinkable sailboats that it did to older heavier ships, and weather forecasting with satellite pictures is far more accurate. Today’s pictures of the southern ocean explains why Mike is going through Panama.
Albert
Hi :D
i just wanted to say
"good on you jessica"
:D
i really hope that you succeed in your endeavour, you truly are an inspiration.
I hope that its smooth sailin and i will be loggin on to keep checkin on your progress . . .its something which i could not do myself . . .but it shows how dreams can be real if you really want them to be.
Good Luck, keep smilin, I'm sure you'll do just fine :D
Amy from W.A
I've have never been so jealous of someone who is so much younger than me than right now! I can't wait for you to start the trip and follow your adventures!
Wish I could make the trip too... Because I can't, though, and you are, I will be praying for you along the way.
Man, I loved Pippi Longstocking! Make her proud! ;)
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