I think 15 may be a tad young.

CAJUNLAWYER

CAJUNLAWYER

Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2005
Messages
19,143
Reaction score
63,305
Location
On da Bayou Teche
I've been offshore sailing in the Gulf of Mexico for the last 35 years-I've never yet figured out how one runs into a 63000 tonne bulk carrier :rolleyes:
Sailor Jessica Watson hits bulk carrier before solo round the world voyage - news - LIVENEWS.com.au

Next thing you know we'll have 10 year old trying to be the youngest to climb Mt. Everest. What in the wide world of sports are these kids parents thinking??????? Heck-she's be better off staying home and getting pregnant if she can't avoid a 63000 tonne (gawd I love how you Aussies spell words down there) freighter. Sheesh!!!!!!!!
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
Sorry about that

After I posted this, I remembered monkey boy's admonition regarding posting news links and I tried to delete the post but somehow I couldn't. Sorry Lee
 
With tracking and communication systems confirmed as second to none, I think its time to work on the radar!
 
On a long solo cruise it wouldn't be too hard to catch a little sleep at just the wrong time.
 
Big Boats

In John McPhee's book Uncommon Carriers, There is a chapter about the school in France that trains Sea Captains on scaled down freighters and tankers. This should be required reading for any sailor who ventures near a major ship channel. The displacement and currents created by these behemoths can suck a sailboat right in. The message is plain.....KEEP CLEAR.
 
Well, I've lived aboard and cruised sailboats the bulk of my adult life. My son is a solo sailor. Most solo sailors catnap for 30 minutes max and then get up for a look around. Not perfect maybe but usually works. Now, I have lost count of the unmanned bridges I have seen on large freighters in violation of international law at sea.

As to her age boat kids grow up very fast compared to land kids. If her background is cruising while growing she's a better decision maker and more mature than land kids 5 years her senior. My son certainly was. They have duties aboard that can mean life itself as they grow and it makes a very positive influence in their maturity.

Go girl!
 
But don't you love flacks "They came together at sea", the P R guy makes it sound as though they met and fell in love.

I remember a guy I knew who, when sailing a Star, wanted to argue right-of way with a car ferry. A bulk tanker has the de facto right of way regardless of circumstance.
 
CAJUNLAWYER said:
... tonne (gawd I love how you Aussies spell words down there) ...
Click to expand...


Oh boy! A chance to be pedantic!

It's not just orthography -- there's a real difference. One tonne is a metric measure -- 2200 pounds. The English system ton is a wispy 2000.

I'm still working on short tons and long tons. If I ever figure it out I'll make a thread out of it.

J'aime les nombres précis.
 
Hitting the barge really does not surprise me at all.

As an amateur radio operator when i lived on the west coast I used to work the Pacific Maritime Net, all sorts of sailboats going all sorts of places.

Had a blind young man go from USA to Austrailia....YES...he made it.

Had a pair of Japanese men, no sailing experience at all, start from Korea to the USA. Were presumed lost and sighted south of Hawail. Only about 3,000 miles off course. Were due in San Francisco, wound up at Marina Del Ray in Los Angeles. Had no idea where they were, just knew they were on DRY land again. They were delivering a boat for a guy from Boston. Their map(s) or charts, a world radio map from Yaesu Radio that came with the transmitter they had that quit about day two.

Some are darn good....and...some are darn lucky....and some are darn dumb, IMO.

Lots of strange things happen on the ocean when you least expect it.
 
elcruisr said:
Well, I've lived aboard and cruised sailboats the bulk of my adult life. My son is a solo sailor. Most solo sailors catnap for 30 minutes max and then get up for a look around. Not perfect maybe but usually works. Now, I have lost count of the unmanned bridges I have seen on large freighters in violation of international law at sea.

As to her age boat kids grow up very fast compared to land kids. If her background is cruising while growing she's a better decision maker and more mature than land kids 5 years her senior. My son certainly was. They have duties aboard that can mean life itself as they grow and it makes a very positive influence in their maturity.

Go girl!
Click to expand...


Agree with you 100% have 3 kids (now young adults) who were sailing competively at age 10. Made them mature far beyond their years. Would trust any of tham at age 15 over most adults regrding boat handling. But I still think 15 is a bit young for a solo world criuse.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top