By Rebecca
Last weekend I found interesting news on the internet and preferred to share with you. The title of the report was “Australian teen sailor starts round-the-world bid”, described a 16-year-old Australian, Jessica Watson, sailed her yacht called Ella’s Pink Lady out of Sydney Harbor round-the-world on October, 18th to be the youngest sailor independently without assistance. The term of "Without assistance" means her craft couldn’t have outside help or embark on board any resources. In other words, she must make any repairs by herself without outside equipment during voyage. It is worth to mention that the significant unassisted feature was held by another Australian of 18 years, Jesse Martin in 1999. It is a controversial issue in terms of her age as well as her action.
She planned to make a 23,600-mile (38,000-kilometer) journey from Sydney, passing through the Line Island, the Everest of ocean (dividing the South Pacific with the South Atlantic), South America, South Africa, and got from Western Australia to her home port of Sydney. She said that her route was similar to Kay Cottee’s in 1988. In order to be a successful sailor, she must study the subjects of navigation, electronics and maritime safety procedures and made a lot of preparation. When going sailing, she had a stronger backup to support her, including her family and her team, even Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard concerned via Nine Network television. The first day was under gray skies and slightly choppy conditions, and she started her voyage with a smile and wishes of people who showed up on the harbor and down to the marina. It’s expected to last about eight months in this non-stop trip.
It sounds like an impossible mission for me. When I was at the age of 16, I spent much time playing with my friends and fooling around. I never thought about my ambition and dream in the future. Actually, I was a good follower whom my parents already arranged everything and lived without any attempt. Until graduated from the university, I had made my own decision where to work. Thus, I admired guts of Jessica, planning what she would do and prepared herself automatically. What do you think about? Do you have the similar feeling to mine? If you’d like to know more as the following:
The original news: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091018/ap_on_re_au_an/as_australia_young_sailor
The blog of Jessica: http://www.jessicawatson.com.au/
Hello Rebecca, this is Wataru.
ReplyDeleteHow brave decision she made! Such dynamic trial sounds like Australian. Yes, I also had ordinary high school days when I was sixteen, so it might be impossible challenge for me, too. I hope she can do.
However, whether decision or experience is good or bad doesn’t depend on its scale but what we sense. Traveling alone brings its lesson, and campus life gives its own result. Looking back my high school life, I got precious experience through good meeting and competing each other. And I made many small but important resolutions when I faced with accidents. I guess you also have good remembrances from your school life by overcoming troubles, even though they were trivial, Rebecca? If we awake something from event, it is a worthy experience for ourselves.
hi~it's from greta:
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with Wataru. It is not necessary for everyone to have a "big shock" in order to come to his sense. I believe that a puny thing can be a big deal in our life.
You said "I admired guts of Jessica, planning what she would do and prepared herself automatically..." As I see it, you also did a good job even better than her; because she just planed a sailing but you are considering your career.
In addition, the OZ girl can be the youngest sailor, she must be very interested in sailing and also got a lot of support. Think about it, she doesn't need to finance for living and she can achieve her dream by 18. Don't you agree that how lucky she is?
Hello, this is Mira.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you. I envy her brave. I want to go to a round the world trip. If I win first prize in a lottery, I will start to that at first. However, do you guys have shipsickness? This story reminds me a awful story. I have a bad memory of shipsickness. When I was a middle school student, I visited to Japan by ship. It took about more than 10 hours.
(I don't remember that exactly. It's too old story) Anyway, only thing I remember is a terrible shipsickness. I almost died if there was no beer. Yeh, it was the first drink alcohol in my life. I was only 14 years old at that time. Any way, I hope she will be safe from shipsickness. Also, I look forward to hearing happy ending for her sailing. Thank you for telling me an interestiong story. See you!!
From, Mira Oh