Something better than Jessica Watson

Admirable - all of the volunteers that is, not just her.
They work with alot more than orphans aswell, which makes it seem like very risky work :eek:
 
There are many genuine heros amongst us who are constantly doing great selfless things, without reward or recognition. Such as the above story, volunteers, carers, CFA, SES, surf life savers, etc. etc, mostly unpaid. The list is endless.

Well done to Jessica, an outstanding acheivment, but..

Keep in mind also that this is a very highly organised money making, publicity event, right from the start. She is now going to pocket millions. With endless lists of cashed up sponsors including media, agent handling everything etc, except the actual sailing. Anyway, I heard that those boats almost sail themselves.

So much huge financial might in her corner from the beginning, I wonder how "solo" this trip really was, in the true sense of the word.

See now if she talks to anyone without a chequebook.
 
Anyway, I heard that those boats almost sail themselves.

I have often wondered that. Now I'm not a sailor, but I've read that her boat had Automatic pilot, multiple GPS, satelite tracking, computer navigation etc etc.

So how hard is it to plot a course and actually sail a boat these days? Plus, i read that when she was rounding the Capes (Horn and Hope), that they had organised spotter planes to keep tabs on her due to the harsh weather in those places. So you'd probably argue that she was assisted at those stages.

Please forgive my ignorance on this - i'm just not a seafaring man.

Also, i do have to question her parents in actually letting her do this by herself. No matter how good of a sailor she was supposed to ahve been. To me, 16 year old girl is not the ideal candidate to be out on the high seas by herself - especially with worldwide coverage and high incidents of pirates etc.

Well done though. But as someone said, she would a better hero if she spoke to people and told her story to those who don't have a chequebook.


g
 
So how hard is it to plot a course and actually sail a boat these days? Plus, i read that when she was rounding the Capes (Horn and Hope), that they had organised spotter planes to keep tabs on her due to the harsh weather in those places. So you'd probably argue that she was assisted at those stages.

In nice calm weather on a flat ocean with a little breeze, boats are quite easy to handle.

It's a very different matter when you've had 5 straight days with bad weather and waves 3 times the hight of the mast.

As to the cost of Jessica's acheivement, it pales in comparison to the tax revenue the government will reap from last weekend's little sail into Sydney habour, due to all the extra tourism money that would have came in. She's created a lot of oppotunities for business and employment on all scales.
 
You say this like it's a bad thing...?

I keep hearing that, but do wonder how exactly. I guess it depends on how long the hysteria around her keeps up. Short of earning a big pay day for her exclusive interview (my wife told me she heard 7 figures was bandied about?), how much is there to make once the hype has died down?

Heard Jesse Martin on the radio this morning and they asked him the same question. A bit coy, but he gave the impression he's didn't exactly rake it in.
 
but I've read that her boat had Automatic pilot, multiple GPS, satelite tracking, computer navigation etc etc.
Prey tell how someone could sail for seven months without an auto-steer device?

Looking at the boat coming into Syd Harb it seemed to have a straight-forward mechanical system which would have been devised long before electronics. Apart from the nav/comms systems it looked like any other boat. Naturally it was carefully designed to be self-righting but there are no rules that say "if you tip over you're dead". :eek::eek:

I was a secepic but it seems what we have is a girl with a dream she fulfilled. Money will come but every successful adventurer tries to capitalise, why not? She would have an interesting story to tell.
 
I keep hearing that, but do wonder how exactly. I guess it depends on how long the hysteria around her keeps up. Short of earning a big pay day for her exclusive interview (my wife told me she heard 7 figures was bandied about?), how much is there to make once the hype has died down?

Heard Jesse Martin on the radio this morning and they asked him the same question. A bit coy, but he gave the impression he's didn't exactly rake it in.
She is a keen sailor and will be able to make that her career as long as she wants. Beats workin!
 
I noted during the celebration, Rudd was throwing around "hero" just as much as Ray Martin was some years back. Good on Jessica for telling him how it is.

I and many others now cringe when we hear this well bashed propagandist's cliche.

I don't need another hero (thx Tina).

I wonder what makes Rudd think we do. Could it be a lack of heroic political leadership?

As much as I admire Jessica's get up and go, at the end of the day, it was a meaningless voyage that added zero to national productivity.

OTOH, if Jessica had been slaving over a hot lab bench for the last 3 years, and made a breakthrough against highly mutant virii, or devised a strategy to reduce the obesity or binge drinking epidemics, I'd be in a genuine state of genuflection.

But rather, the dream her PR team have spruiked to the impressionable young is, wait for a couple of blokes to stroll along, with a loose coupla mill, and concoct a way to make a few bucks out of your beauty and intelligence. But don't wait too long, because then you'll be too old for any unique marketing advantage.

Oh the angst of it all......
 
I've sailed a boat that size in the ocean off Sydney, and it was pretty hairy at times. And that was on nice sunny days. I can't imagine what it would be like at night, miles from a foreign shore, in a storm that had been blowing for a few days already. And then getting knocked down.
What an amazing thing to do. I hope she gets bucket loads of cash.
My only fear for her is that having done something so amazing so young she might have peaked early. I've deliberately kept my peak back. I'm planning to peak at about 70 and then have a relatively short slide down.
Scott
 
As much as I admire Jessica's get up and go, at the end of the day, it was a meaningless voyage that added zero to national productivity.

Having the whole country feel good about her achievement, even if it's just for a day has gotta be worth something. What's the value of showing someone that they can achieve their dreams if they work hard enough - which is the message from her own words.
 
She is a keen sailor and will be able to make that her career as long as she wants. Beats workin!

Absolutely, and good on her as I'm sure that's a life she'd love.

I'm just questioning all the comments I'm hearing around the place, people saying "she'll be an instant millionaire now!" Really? :confused:
 
Having the whole country feel good about her achievement, even if it's just for a day has gotta be worth something.

As long as we're doing something concrete to deal with why we didn't feel as good prior, and Rome isn't burning in the mean time.

What's the value of showing someone that they can achieve their dreams if they work hard enough - which is the message from her own words.

Hey I dreamed of marrying Michelle Pfeiffer when I was young.....and I worked hard.

A guy I used to go to school with worked hard on his dream to make millions out of porn, and he achieved it.

The guys who dreamed up sub prime no doubt worked hard to realize their dream.

come on Pete, the work hard for your dreams thing is a little bit thin and superficial on building character and nations. What I am saying is how about a little more consideration of what one sets as a dream.

Hard work? Work hard? whatever happened to working smarter not harder, and working with discipline and focus?

What is this thing about hard? Jessica looks like she enjoys what she does.....hey, I used to work hard at surfing and windsurfing.....as do a lot of guys on the dole.....maybe the nation can feel good for a day about them too....

As Jessica matures, she'll probably realize, rather than say 'if you work hard enough', she might have said 'if you work with enough intelligence, discipline and focus, on a goal that really counts towards your welfare and that of many others......'


 
I was one of her doubters, and as a parent I wouldnt have let her do it, but I am in awe of her achievement. Of course there will always be people who achieve amazing things, but that doesnt lessen her accomplishment in any way. And as others have pointed out, she did not consider herself to be a hero, nor did she ask for the entry she received into Sydney. You can blame the media. And Politicians, especially desperate ones, for that.
 
I've sailed a boat that size in the ocean off Sydney, and it was pretty hairy at times. And that was on nice sunny days. I can't imagine what it would be like at night, miles from a foreign shore, in a storm that had been blowing for a few days already. And then getting knocked down.
What an amazing thing to do. I hope she gets bucket loads of cash.
My only fear for her is that having done something so amazing so young she might have peaked early. I've deliberately kept my peak back. I'm planning to peak at about 70 and then have a relatively short slide down.
Scott

She needs to set herself up as it is all downhill after you turn 16:D
 
If she was 5ft2in, overweight, short clipped redhead, with nose ring and tramp stamp, I wonder if she'd still be Kevin's hero........more likely Penny Wong's..... :eek:
 
apparently Jessica Watson encourages our "youth" into dangerous endeavours.

well, if your daddy buys you a yacht and partially funds your trip, then you too can sail around the world.

but considering 99.9% of daddy's can't afford a yacht, i guess that argument is dead.

i think she's got guts to go out and try something she wanted to do. i'd buy her a lemonade if i saw her at the local blue light disco.
 
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