Jessica went upside down in the South Atlantic

by Laird Durham

In conditions worse than the deadly Sydney to Hobart race in 1998, Jessica Watson's 34-foot sloop was turned upside down by a rogue wave Saturday, January 23, 2010 in the South Atlantic, giving a new meaning to "down under" for the Aussie teen.

In the second of four knockdowns, Jessica writes that "Ella's Pink Lady was picked up, thrown down a wave, then forced under a mountain of breaking water and violently turned upside down." The beating bent the one-inch steel frame that supports the solar panels.

"It was certainly one of those times when you start questioning exactly why you're doing this, but at no point could I not answer my own question with a long list of reasons why the tough times like that aren't totally worth it! I feel like I have aged ten years, but I am back to normal and in good spirits as we approach the half way mark."

Jessica has passed Cape Horn, and is on her way to the Cape of Good Hope on her circumnavigation from her home in Australia.

The biggest scare of the pounding was the phone call Jessica's mother received from the
Australian Rescue Coordination Center (RCC), telling her that one of Jessica's EPIRBs (emergency signaling devices) had been activated in one of the knockdowns. Luckily Jessica had called in a few minutes later so her parents were spared a lot of panic..

"I was pretty annoyed at the stupid thing for going off and giving everyone such a scare," said Jessica.

Jessica gives credit to her rigger, David Lambourne, for the mast still standing and in working condition. She reports also that the electronic autopilot continued to work during the storm, keeping the boat on a downwind heading.

Evidence of her spirit is her report that when the wind had "finally calmed down, I was treated to a pretty incredible sunset and as I was clearing things up on deck, a couple of dolphins stopped by just as if they were checking that we were all OK."

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