I stopped paying attention to publicity stunts a long time ago. Could someone please tell me what was the point of this voyage. I have read accounts of single handed sailors circumnavigation the world from 3 decades back. So evidently she was not the first. I have read accounts of the smallest boat to cross the Atlantic or the pacific or whatever. Her boat was neither the smallest or the fastest. The list goes on. On the subject of risk taking. It makes sense when it truly represent a step forward for mankind such as first flight but < VBG> first fight in space? I missed that. one. Was it Russians versus American on the international Space station? Space flight period. that's different. Free flight seems to have been imbedded in the human psyche since the days of Icarus. Only a shrink could explain the reasoning behind that one. First heart transplant? It was based on countless surgeries and a lot of preparation. It was a very carefully prepared for experiment. But a publicity stunt? Give me a break. We have too much of that Hollywood crap already! After their fifteen minutes of media fame who remembers or cares. Tania who?? I seem to recall that name in connection with sailing but exactly when and why is lost in the mists of time. Did she make the world a better place? Donald Crowhurst. Another victim of publicity pressure and for what? Columbus . . . . well he was motivated by greed for gold. As a purely secondary benefit it encouraged other sailors to also circumnavigate the world. Never mind sailing single handed violates the international conventions regarding watch keeping. Such niceties as obeying the laws that govern us all apparently does not apply as long as the violations are done in the name of publicity. Somehow such seekers of fame are exempt from ordinary laws. What exactly was the point? Arild ----- Original Message ----- From: <passagemaking-under-power-request@lists.samurai.com> To: <passagemaking-under-power@lists.samurai.com> Sent: Monday, April 12, 2010 9:00 PM Subject: Passagemaking-Under-Power Digest, Vol 65, Issue 3 > Send Passagemaking-Under-Power mailing list submissions to > passagemaking-under-power@lists.samurai.com > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/passagemaking-under-power > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > passagemaking-under-power-request@lists.samurai.com > > You can reach the person managing the list at > passagemaking-under-power-owner@lists.samurai.com > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Passagemaking-Under-Power digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Jessica Watson youngest ever circumnavigator - just about > (Peter Sheppard) > 2. Jessica Watson youngest ever circumnavigator - just about > (hannu venermo) > 3. Jessica Watson (Rick MacClure) > 4. Jessica Watson (Rick MacClure) > 5. Re: Jessica Watson youngest ever circumnavigator - just about > (Ross Anderson) > 6. Re: Jessica Watson (Ron Rogers) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:28:16 +1000 > From: "Peter Sheppard" <Peter@petersheppard.com.au> > To: <passagemaking-under-power@lists.samurai.com> > Subject: [PUP] Jessica Watson youngest ever circumnavigator - just > about > Message-ID: <D045C5F90D4F4B4EB8D0200BC2CD77755FD100@server1> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > I for one was highly skeptical about this young Aussie girl making it > around the world after hitting a ship on her shakedown cruise. I take it > all back now as she has it almost wrapped up. > This is a credit to a young persons need to dream, have the courage, and > the perseverance to pull it off. A sure testament to her character, and > the understanding and belief from of her oft slated parents. > Notice she underplayed Cape Horn against crossing the Great Australian > Bight. When I crossed it last year I had the chance to stay in Port > until the weather was right. This young lady has to take what is dished > out at the time. > God speed to her. > Regards, > Peter > > > http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/jessica-watson-on-home-surf/story-e6frf > 7jo-1225852224544 > > > _______________________________________________ > Passagemaking-Under-Power Mailing List > > End of Passagemaking-Under-Power Digest, Vol 65, Issue 2 > ******************************************************** > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:24:30 +0200 > From: hannu venermo <hanermo@amorco.net> > To: passagemaking-under-power@lists.samurai.com > Subject: [PUP] Jessica Watson youngest ever circumnavigator - just > about > Message-ID: <4BC2F4DE.6090307@amorco.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > Risky, unnecessary, silly stunt. > > What did she do to advance the art of sailing ? > A: NOTHING. > > She made it, and well done. Good for her. > I am sure she is a good sailor - and so what ? > > Did she finance, plan and execute the whole thing ? > A: NO. > > What was the purpose of the trip ? > Publicity. > > Just because a stunt succeeds, does not mean that it should have been > attempted in the first place. > It4s like people diving (racing, flyint, driving etc..) and taking silly > unnecessary risks. Contemptible. > > Just because you can (or have) (once) cross a busy intersection at > 100mph against a red light without slowing, should not mean that it is > either advisable, smart, respectable or something to brag about. > > I am all for adventure (and have lived a life with more of it than most) > and travel. > Respect, mitigation of risks and ability to learn, train and measure > situations are all a part of the responsibilities one assumes with the > ability and choice of doing the above. > > Calling it a silly, risky and unnecessary stunt in no way takes away > from her (very real) abilities. > It4s a good accomplishment, that should not have been done, imo. > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2010 22:19:36 +1000 > From: Rick MacClure <r-mack@bigpond.com> > To: <passagemaking-under-power@lists.samurai.com> > Subject: [PUP] Jessica Watson > Message-ID: <C7E94CF8.7FD%r-mack@bigpond.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" > > You wrote - (Just because a stunt succeeds, does not mean that it should > have been > attempted in the first place. > It4s like people diving (racing, flyint, driving etc..) and taking silly > unnecessary risks. Contemptible.) > That would have to be the stupidest comment I have ever read, If humans > had > never taken risks then where would we be today, there would be no planes, > no > submarines, no high rise buildings, no fights into space, no heart > operations, the list is endless and there would be no one living the > passage > making dream unless they had trained for say 20, 30, perhaps 40 years does > that time frame sound reasonable and safe to you. > As a film Stunt Coordinator, Stunt Performer, Cave Diver, Commercial > Diver, > Parachutist, Motor Cycle racer and much much more, I take risks all the > time > (all be it as calculated as possible) as much as walking across the road > or > driving on the highway we all take risks, I believe it to be your OPINION > that it is/was unnecessary, some people I'm sure believe that travelling > across an ocean in a small boat is unnecessary and a stupid risk why not > fly > instead, but some people believe flying is an unnecessary risk. I have on > occasions met small uninformed minded people such as yourself and find > them > to be always knocking other peoples achievements from a far and the safety > of there cosy arm chair, just because at her age some people are probably > still squeezing pimples and not out taking risks. > I guess there are people that take risks and achieve great things and > others > just follow at a safe distance. > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2010 23:36:50 +1000 > From: Rick MacClure <r-mack@bigpond.com> > To: <passagemaking-under-power@lists.samurai.com> > Subject: [PUP] Jessica Watson > Message-ID: <C7E95F12.803%r-mack@bigpond.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" > > Sorry Hal but I believe one personal attack deserves another especially > when > they can not defend themselves. > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2010 18:04:40 -0400 > From: Ross Anderson <10and2@gmail.com> > To: hannu venermo <hanermo@amorco.net> > Cc: passagemaking-under-power@lists.samurai.com > Subject: Re: [PUP] Jessica Watson youngest ever circumnavigator - just > about > Message-ID: > <n2se6abc54b1004121504x18af29a2tb1b6e1d1e8c45fe2@mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Get a life Hannu!! God Bless - Ross on 10 & 2 > > On Mon, Apr 12, 2010 at 6:24 AM, hannu venermo <hanermo@amorco.net> wrote: > >> Risky, unnecessary, silly stunt. >> >> What did she do to advance the art of sailing ? >> A: NOTHING. >> >> She made it, and well done. Good for her. >> I am sure she is a good sailor - and so what ? >> >> Did she finance, plan and execute the whole thing ? >> A: NO. >> >> What was the purpose of the trip ? >> Publicity. >> >> Just because a stunt succeeds, does not mean that it should have been >> attempted in the first place. >> It4s like people diving (racing, flyint, driving etc..) and taking silly >> unnecessary risks. Contemptible. >> >> Just because you can (or have) (once) cross a busy intersection at 100mph >> against a red light without slowing, should not mean that it is either >> advisable, smart, respectable or something to brag about. >> >> I am all for adventure (and have lived a life with more of it than most) >> and travel. >> Respect, mitigation of risks and ability to learn, train and measure >> situations are all a part of the responsibilities one assumes with the >> ability and choice of doing the above. >> >> Calling it a silly, risky and unnecessary stunt in no way takes away from >> her (very real) abilities. >> It4s a good accomplishment, that should not have been done, imo. >> _______________________________________________ >> http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/passagemaking-under-power >> >> To unsubscribe send email to >> passagemaking-under-power-request@lists.samurai.com with the word >> UNSUBSCRIBE and nothing else in the subject or body of the message. >> >> Passagemaking Under Power and PUP are trademarks of Water World >> Productions. > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 6 > Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2010 20:13:01 -0400 > From: "Ron Rogers" <rcrogers6@gmail.com> > To: "'Rick MacClure'" <r-mack@bigpond.com>, > <passagemaking-under-power@lists.samurai.com> > Subject: Re: [PUP] Jessica Watson > Message-ID: <00fb01cada9e$15f7f4e0$41e7dea0$@com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Two things are highly commendable: her mental fortitude and the > preparation > of the small boat. Anybody remember Donald Crowhurst? Although modern > communications were available to her, she was alone with her stuffed > animal > crew. Very few humans spend a week alone much less an around the world > voyage alone. Let us celebrate her strength of character in doing > something > few could perform. It's true that young people know less fear than older > folks, but they also have less experience in adversity to draw upon. For > an > insight into this issue, examine the origins of the Outward Bound program > and the deaths of young, teenage, torpedoed mariners on the Murmansk Run > while older, fat stokers with families survived. In this regard, she is > remarkable. > > Second, she and her family prepared a modest boat which did not fail her. > Although I did not follow her voyage, the boat is bringing her home and > must > not have failed her in any significant way. When she had the early > collision, I doubted the wisdom of her going. I thought and still think > that > her lack of alertness was attributable to the invulnerability felt by > people > of that age. Then, I just reread the report on the collision of the sub > USS > Hartford and the surface vessel USS New Orleans (no fault found). Adults > with sophisticated sensors can really screw-up worse than a teenager with > rudimentary gear. > > I imagine that there is a big commercial component here, but that cannot > take away from her courage and stability. > > Ron Rogers > (With running an Outward Bound program and US Special Forces as some > background.) > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > Passagemaking-Under-Power Mailing List > > End of Passagemaking-Under-Power Digest, Vol 65, Issue 3 > ********************************************************