Jessica Watson wishes all a Happy New Year as she sails towards Cape Horn

by Ray Pendleton

Jessica Watson, the 16-year-old Australian girl who cast off 75 days ago from Sydney Harbor on her planned non-stop, 23,000-mile solo voyage around the world, celebrated New Years at latitude 55 degrees south in what she has so far called “the not-so Fearsome Fifties.”

The wind and sea conditions in the Southern Ocean are often fierce due to the lack of any major landmass to block the prevailing westerly winds circling the globe at that latitude. And Watson had to battle winds up to 44 knots and waves of 15 feet or more for a time two days ago.

“Ella’s Pink Lady (her S&S 34-foot sloop) and I came through beautifully and I learned a lot about how she handles when the sea’s up, “ Watson wrote on Thursday. “There’s a good chance that we’ll see worse somewhere along the line, but apart form a bit of fast surfing (a bit too fast for comfort!), everything went really smoothly this time.”

But as she celebrated the first day of 2010 she was treated to not only somewhat warmer and calmer weather, but with a bag of treats that had been stowed aboard by her mother.

“I’ve had a very different day again,” she blogged. “We’ve spent the day almost becalmed. But the novelty of having a clear sky, sunshine, slightly warmer temperature and the company of two Albatrosses that kept me from getting too frustrated.”

As the New Year approached she wrote, “There’s quite a wild party planned out here, all the big names from miles around are attending!

“Happy New Year everyone and thanks so much again for all your support.”

Examiner.com

Ray Pendleton