Jessica Watson does schoolwork at the edge of a Southern Ocean storm

by Laird Durham

More than halfway on her way to the Cape of Good Hope from Cape Horn, Aussie teen Jessica Watson has been sailing north northeast in her 34-foot sloop Pink Lady to dodge a storm system from the South that has been threatening her for several days.

Friday night it caught up with her, blowing at more than 40 knots, then eased back to 25-30 knots, letting Jessica head due east toward Africa, 1600 nautical miles away.

With almost 13,000 nautical miles into her solo circumnavigation, Jessica has 9,000 n.m. to go. Click here for a chart showing her progress since leaving Australia.

As the wind eased Jessica got out her schoolwork.

Besides school work, Jessica kept up the maintenance routine, tightening fan belts on the engine and re-taping chafe points.

"I also seem to be able to spend (or waste) a pretty huge amount of time cooking," she says. "My powdered egg omelets are steadily getting better but my attempts to change or add to my Easyfood meals are failing miserably, along with most of my other food experiments.

"There's really not too much new and exciting to report from out here, just that all's well. I'm still loving every moment, enjoying all the little things.

I've been finishing up a few jobs from after the storm and yesterday I made the most of some sunshine to catch up on some washing - the rigging and lifelines make a great washing line!"

SF Boating Examiner