I couldn't find any post relating to the above (not having looked in other forums which would seem irrelevant) but this is an extract from the latest blog she has created:

('Parker' I think is a navigation device).

I'm wondering if what she encountered was one of those sea temperature measuring devices of which I believe some 10000 have been deployed in the various Nino areas.

Maybe?

But it dosen't sound big enough nor does she appear to be as far north as those shown on here http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/global/global.html

if these are what you are refering to.

Its a great blog and story, however could end up being a short lived record with a younger girl recently leaving California.

^^That other girl stopped in Mexico if I remember correctly, which null and voids her attempt.

Following her voyage with great interest

The last storm sounded horrendous, good on her

I filmed her at Sanctuary cove and also had a chance to talk to her Mum and the Bruce the project manager

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-0Zi2k8qKU

Cheers

Good she's not in the path of the tsunami.

A Tsunami would have little to no effect on anyone that is in the deep ocean. Even people on the shelf would only see minor effects due to currents etc.

I don't know about others here but I hold out for her blog every day and start to panic if she misses a day or two.
I can't help feeling some of the pride her parents must feel and even wish at times that she was my own daughter.

I read it too, though I don't panic; she's obviously incredibly competent and has always pulled through thick and thin before. But one can't help having some concern at least.

I think she gets home in about 5 or 6 weeks.

I like looking up the weather maps to see the synoptic situation where she's located.

Jessica has performed amazingly so far.
I touch wood for her safe return.
Those 5-6 weeks will just fly past.

Homer.

Jessica is doing fine, she will beat that record. AS long as she doesn't come across a low pressure system on the way back.

I think she more than qualifies for a Young Australian of the Year Award..or even an Order of Australia or something similar to it. Trouble is, because she's being sponsored by a cosmetics firm in return for product promotion, maybe that would create an issue. But she deserves it in principle at least.

I think she hs done a great job of a) achieving her goal and b) silencing her critics however Australian and Young Austraian of the Year should not be gifted to people for sporting achievements but rather those that help others to a better life.

Many people her age would never get the opportunity to get near a yacht but spend their time selflessly helping aged and incapacitated individuals. They are the ones worthy of such awards.

As it is she will do extremely well just selling her story. Kudos to her for doing it though and I wish her well. It is a fantastic achievement so I certainly don't wish to sound like I am undermining it.




I reckon they will be the longest 5-6 weeks of her life!

On the latest blog she got a bit of a caning from that 'helicopter low' off the SW WA coast.

yes and the surf forecast for Western Australia has a succession of strong groundswells for most of the next week.

EPIC FAIL!

Yes, quite. She should have sat in her bedroom with her playstation instead. Circumnavigating the globe in a small boat, fail indeed.

No sarcasm at all I see ant lol.

Why is it an 'epic fail', FR?

Its a 'fail' on the part of she most likely won't get the record. Bit of a shame that obviously they did not do the correct calculations but that's what you get if you do not take the time. Not a fail on the part of her doing a very brave and extremely good job in what she has done. Many people are proud of her, deservingly so.

They were never out to 'officially' set a record because the WSSRC stopped recognising age-based records quite a few years back after Jesse Martin. Mere technicalities, I know, but it's still an excellent achievement.

They were still out to do the official requirements set by the GWR and didn't. Unlucky.

Apparently now there is a 13 year old wanting to do it within the next 2 years but can't due to a court order.

I've never seen anything about entering the Guinness Book of Records as being her aim?

Me neither. I was actually one of the people that thought she shouldn't be allowed to go but now am glad she did and happy to bite into the pie.

Regardless of what some toffee, frustrated old seaman says, she has done exceptionally well and deserves the good fortune coming her way. A brave young lady and I'll certainly be one of those getting excited as she nears the finish line in a week or so.

I won't be. She's not a record-holder, she did NOT "sail around the world", she barely made it north of the Equator.

Sorry to say this, but this whole Jessica Watson thing is overrated. There could have been a very expensive rescue operation in the event of her getting into trouble during this voyage.

Also, it shouldn't be centred around Sydney Harbour, the most overrated piece of coastline in the whole of Australia.

It is ridiculous a 13-year-old wants to do this also. The court order is there for a GOOD REASON! Next thing you know you will have 8-year-old children trying to sail the world....

Yeah, its a great effort by this young person. Look forward to hearing the details of her voyage as she does interviews etc. Sydney Harbour is a great place for her to arrive home. It truly is a beautiful part of the Australian coastline.

It's also the most crowded and congested.

Besides (unless you pull the plug out of your television set), you will hardly be able miss it with all the wall-to-wall media coverage this is going to get. No doubt the news will be non-stop Jessica Watson and her famous trip (which we got daily updates about during the trip anyway).

Jessica's head must have swollen to the size of the Earth with all the Qdos she is getting.

Whats the matter? She is 16 and has done something that i would never be able to do. Geez let her have her moment of fame and let her celebrate a great acheievement. Lookin at a map, she sailed across the world wats the problem.

Not quite. If you cross less than the circumference of the Earth, then you have not gone "around the world". According to all the maps, she hardly made it much north of the Equator.

She is getting all the fame she (and her parents) could ever want, with the mass media coverage both during her trip, and when they roll out the red carpet for her arrival at the "beautiful" Sydney Harbour.

Sounds like someone is a little jealous.
I think it is an incredibly brave and courageous acheivement.
Sydney Harbour is a fitting finishing point.

What would you prefer........St Kilda Beach.......the Brisbane River......The Yarra??

Homer

Anywhere but Sydney Harbour or Bondi Beach.

She started there, why not finish there?

She can't finish at Canberra exactly..

With that sort of commentary CW, I'm sorry but you are bordering on the peevish and petty. Is that what you want people to think?

Ahhmmmm.......ok.
Thanks for your input.

Homer

Say what you want Canberras Weather. If thats the way you feel, then so be it. I ignore your posts anyway so it doesent make a difference.

The media hype surrounding this is a little over the top. Sure, she is courageous, she is brave, etc. etc. yeah, yeah, yeah..... but do we really need all this media hype??

My point about Sydney Harbour is that it is treated like the centre of the universe, you'd think it was the ONLY port in the whole of Australia!

Well, most of the port facilities are slowly being removed from Sydney Harbour, so that is a mute description.
If you don't like the press that Jessica will receive when she returns than don't read or listen to it.
You have a choice not to read newspaper articles or watch news items if you choose.
It just seems you have an axe to grind about this issue. You are entitled to your opinion. It just seems a bit unfair.

Homer

lol.

Homer

It isn't exactly fair to trump it up as a world record when in fact it is not, either.

By the way, why is her boat painted in all pink?? What is the PINK symbolising or saying??

The pink is symbolising the name of the boat lol.... 'Pink Lady'

and... unless you have anything constructive to say on this thread I suggest you dont read it.

Seems like it is fairly unanimous then.

CW, your opinion seems quite obsolete.

Homer

Great achievement by Jessica, who cares if she went to the equator or Timbuktu or Yosemite national park, she still would have sailed 38,000 nautical miles and a fair chunk of it through treacherous seas.

Seriously, some people are so bloody grumpy and jealous that they have nothing else to do but make snide remarks. This girl is realising her dream while others are trying to big note themselves on internet forums.

Ah well, great achievement nonetheless.

Canberra weather, have u even been in a boat.

This will make CW happy, I read in todays paper that her return will be a class 1 event, along side the new years eve festivities and mardi gras due to an expected 10,000 people plus lining the shores and 300 plus boats following her in.

Poor girl has just spent umpteen months by herself and is going to get swamped with people. If it was me, I'd keep going to Brisbane cause they don't have a harbour worthy of the name and couldn't organise a fart in a baked bean factory. Yep head straight for Brisbane girl and just sort of slip in unnoticed.

I am not a sailor, but I know media hype when I see it, I know excess and disproportionate news coverage drawing for too long over a period of months on a daily basis when I see it, and I know grotesque ego hyperinflation when I see it. And I do understand what "overrated" means, and I understand what "important news" really is.

So, the turnout will be 10,000 not 10 million ay? Well, looks like it won't be anymore than a lead story on all that night's TV news bulletins after all, right??

If they want to save lonely little Jessica from being swamped by all these people, they should at least tone down the profile instead of propping it up as an Earth-shattering news story giving us up-to-the-minute updates all the time. In this case it doesn't pay to ADVERTISE!!!

well than canberras weather why don't you go and watch abc or sbs news, where they will focus on important ( and boring ) issues such as the budget, politics and in sbs'case - soccer. and don't worry you won't be forced to suffer through any human interest stories or see a puppy being rescued from a hole it fell into. And while you are watching this the rest of us can spend an hour on these forums free from your whinging.

CW,

I can understand the frustration with the media. Their extravagances drive me mad at times. But there's no point jumping on here and carrying on about it. That isn't going to solve the problem. If you can't change the media (who of us can?) then you have to change the way you deal with them.

In any case the media antics have nothing to do with what Jessica has achieved. She has done that regardless of media input, and that is the only thing that should be remembered here.

CW = Constant Whinger?

OK TC that's not going to help.

Back on topic, she will have some large swells to contend with as a result of a deepening Tasman Sea low.

Point taken.

I shall leave this thread alone now.

Seeya.

I just dont get it. Im a 18 year old guy and i dont like even going out to the reef in the boat. [censored] around the world !!!

Well come one then CW, let's stick u in a boat all alone and see how you go through the Southern Ocean and neighbouring seas - could even make a new movie for Castaway 2.

To be bluntly honest though, I don't think there has been anymore than a moderate amount of media attention on her voyage. She has hardly been headline news, can think of many other events that have been given a LOT more coverage currently and in the past. I say well done to her, fantastic achievement, far braver than I could ever be. She deserves whatever kudos she gets.

TS

I seem to remember Tony Bullimore getting much more attention in 1994 when he sailed across the Southern Ocean. He was much further south and the Navy had to rescue him after he capsized. And I think he was required to pay for the rescue costs, or at least people were calling for that. But Jessica had no attention for much of the time she was away.

There's one choice we do have in regard to media 'madness'. We can choose not to be manipulated by it. If more of us did that I think the world would be a better place.

I still think Jess should be honoured in some way for her achievements. If only more people her age set themselves goals like she has, instead of getting besotted with drugs, grog, rave parties and 'doof doof music'.

I think a lot of people her age do set goals for themselves. That's one of the things that they tell my wife quite often, that people think they are all just out there partying etc. Its just that we tend to hear of the ones partying too much, drugging etc because the media knows they make better news stories.

I know plenty of youngsters (hundreds that my wife has taught) that are wonderful kids. Just got an email from one of our former students who is studying violin at the conservatorium now and she practices hours and hours a day and is only nineteen. Used to do a 200k return trip from Bathurst for her lessons too, when my wife taught her. We have another student who wants to study medicine and then work in Africa with vulnerable kids there.

Jessica's efforts are inspiring but no more inspiring to me than the stories of thousands of other young people who are doing great things every day. It will be great to see her get home safely and then move onto the next goal in her life.

I'm not saying the majority of young people get into all that sort of thing but when I see, every day here, P-plate drivers burning rubber on my street, travelling way over the speed limit, in noisy cars that have such loud sub woofers in the boot that the whole house shakes, I really begin to wonder what gets into them.

If it were me, I'd use the same sub woofers to blast the populace with the piano music of Rachmaninov. That would change a few perceptions!

Well said Blizzard. Not taking away much from her huge undertaking, I would measure an inspirational effort or fantastic effort on how many people they help or touch directly. Was any of this trip used to raise support for charity or something? If not then it is for her sole benefit (which can be used to argue that she should not be getting any publicity at all, although that is unfair)and really all it does is make even younger people try to do it which eventually will lead to a tragedy. No doubting that.

Oh and Keith, the noise the sub makes is almost more powerful outside of the car then inside. Been in many a car with subs, you can generally still talk inside the car, whilst on the outside it seems inside there would be a jet engine. Just the nature of the beast.

Or it could be that it is really loud but we are used to it lol.

I have to admire the rich bass sound these things generate (as a musician myself) but from a passing car they sound like the perfect answer to annoying the hell out of your neighbours..oh well..whatever you do, don't let the music make you go deaf! Might be useful for thunderstorm dissipation (just kidding).

Yeah, I can't stand doof doof myself but I did play my AC/DC pretty loud as a lad. Now I tend to sit back and listen to ABC FM!

That's a good point re the charity side of Jessica's journey. I'll have to take more of a squiz around her site.

I wonder if Channel Ten have a multi-million dollar deal going with Jessica, they're claiming exclusives for when all the TV channels flood our screens with live minute-by-minute coverage of her "homecoming" on Saturday and Sunday.

Canberra's Weather why do you keep trolling in here?

Why don't you ring or write and ask them?

Sydney will actually cop its biggest swell of the year on Saturday morning, though Jessica will think nothing of it . She deserves all the respect she gets, it was an awesome effort. Its nice to have good news every now and then.

Very brave girl, the ocean can be a big and sometimes scary thing. She's done well.

I notice she headed out to sea yesterday, presumably because the swells were bigger nearer the coast. And they have been getting bigger still with that deepening complex low pressure.

She's handled 12 metre swells further south so these shouldn't be too much of an issue.
Incredibly competent sailor.

I'm just wondering how she's going to sleep in a stable, non-pitching environment after all that motion in the yacht (is it a yacht, or just a boat?). It will surely take weeks to get the 'land legs' back.

Dunno about $$ figures, But she is sponsered by OneHD... I.e Channel Ten... hence the exclusives and coverage...

I have also been wondering about this. It will be fascinating to read of how she adjusts to land lubbing territory.

Having read South by Shackleton many times, I recall when they made it across South Georgia Island and were greeted by the Grytviken Captain with fresh clothes, blankets, cakes and a warm bed - they didn't sleep at all that night as they were too comfortable. Its a ripper read - sailing in open boats in bitter temps for many weeks. A story that has never been matched, IMO:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Shackleton

I think it will be interesting to see how Jessica handles the attention. Its going to be a life in complete contrast to her sailing endeavors, that may last for many months.

Please honour your word and do the rest of us a favour. You seem full of hatred towards this young lady that has done something I can only just get my head around. She is amazing and deserves the applause. If I lived in Sydney (thank goodness I don't) I'd be down on the harbour cheering her on.

I think all of the knockers out there need to look at the smaller picture which is Jessica herself. I don't think when as a twelve year old she first imagined attempting this amazing feat she thought purely of fame and fortune (if at all), otherwise she could have saved herself the effort and just put a lame video on youtube. This has been her dream for some time and she has put in hours, days, months of preparations, as has her family and support team. You cannot hold her responsible for all the media frenzy (the same media that called for her to abandon her dream no less), but you can surely have some admiration for her guts & determination.

Its amazing how the body adjusts, I went on a 10 night cruise in a big ocean liner, and the first night was hardly a roll or pitch and yet, i got sea sick a little bit and sleeping was terrible... By night 6 we had a tropical low really giving it to us (best night on the boat too, but thats another story) and i slept quite easily... it was only 10 nights but the first night back on land it was so hard to sleep because i didn't have the rock n roll happening....infact the first few nights were hard... and this was only after 10 nights!...

Can't imagine what she'll be going through when back on land, not only the sleep, but the sea legs too...

Simon

hehe well CW better not watch the tv today then. 7,9 and of course 10/ONE will be having a telecast from 11 onwards.

Congrats to Jessica on a fantastic achievement but what an overkill by the networks. Do we need all three main FTA networks covering the same event??

Yeah major overkill but what else would have been on instead, Sat tv is the worst tv possible till some sort of sport comes on.

All ratings-driven. One could say ratings drivel. But someone who has achieved what Jessica has doesn't need ratings. She's at the top of the list as far as I am concerned. The media could learn from her humility.

she definitely has a good head on her shoulders. Her words today at the welcoming were great. A true inspiration for us all, and in particular all those 16 year olds out there!

EXACTLY!!!

It is the biggest waste of media airtime I have seen in quite a long time. Don't they realise the amount of public attention through media is worth $$$$$$$$$$ and they're SPENDING IT LIKE CRAZY!!!!

Yeah, and the boats that were surrounding her as she came in. Couldn't they back off a bit and let her get on land first!?

Here's to you Jessica, what an amazing grounded and very well spoken young lady, an inspiration to us all.

well done to her.

i Couldn't imagine anything worse than spending 7 months at sea and coming back to that!

of course its all ratings driven, also driven by public demand. Look at the reception she got on the harbour and at the Opera House. The networks have spent alot of money pushing this today, very little of it would come back in advertising as their wasnt alot of ads the cost off all the camera's, journo's, choppers, lots and lots of $$$. In a perfect world, Ten/One should have been the sole broadcaster, as they have sponsered her from the start. But you cant stop the other networks from doing the same. Once one does it, the rest follow.
Plus Jessica will be thriving off the attention, her moment in the sun, let her have it.
I will let you know how it all rated tomorrow.

I would be careful as how to judge whether someone is an inspiration to us all. For her self achievement, brilliant, but as for inspiration there are many other young Australians out there touching other peoples lives in remarkable ways. They are the true inspirations.

I'd be careful about suggesting Jessica is not a true inspiration.
Yes there are plenty of others out there that are inspirations to others, but they are all TRUE inspirations, but on different levels of what they have done & achieved.

I would just like to know what sailing around the world has really done to anyone outside of her and her family/crew. I guess it made people get some vitamin D from the sun yesterday out on the harbour.

oh dear... have u been talking to CW?

its not the sailing around the world as much as the guts, determination, and the role model that she is for every other 16 year old in this country.

geeze sometimes I hate this country for its tall poppy syndrome. best country in the world but we wont hesitate to knock a person for doing something extraordinary in their life.

I knew you would take me out of context, haven't I said its a brilliant achievement..........? I can't imagine what 7 months out there would be like. I am not Jessica bashing, I am bashing the hype and hysteria and misuse and overuse of the 'Hero' and 'Inspiration' tags. I know a mate who has gone to Africa with his dad to help with foreign aid projects in a politically and socially insecure region. (he is 18). Will Hugh Rimington be there waiting for him at the airport when they return? I think not.

There are many true inspirations FR, but at the end of the day Jessica is EXACTLY THAT. She is a role models for the young, people who need a guide in their life, need someone to look up to and who better than one of their very own. They feel a place with her. There are a lot of musguided youth out there and what she has done will certainly give them some belief that they can do whatever they put their mind to and be someone. 16 years old and as mature as any adult. Brilliant performance, on the seas and behind the microphone when I'm sure all she wanted to do was collapse in her bedroom back home.

TS

TV ratings for the welcome home -
Rank, Total Audience, Syd, Mel, Bri, Adel, Per

20 SEVEN NEWS SPECIAL Seven 452,000 159,000 138,000 73,000 82,000
23 NINE NEWS SPECIAL Nine 429,000 139,000 120,000 91,000 28,000 50,000
45 JESSICA WATSON: THE HOMECOMING LIVE Ten 229,000 69,000 62,000 57,000 25,000 16,000
66 JESSICA WATSON: THE HOMECOMING LIVE EXTENDED ONE 144,000 30,000 49,000 31,000 24,000 10,000

for some reason one of ch7's markets is missing its audience figures.

So the channel that had 'exclusive rights' didn't even get the same as either 7 or 9 from both Ten and One.

even if its done nothing for anyone outside her family etc, who cares if shes doing it for her self. good on her. IMO opinion that's definitely something that makes someone inspirational (along with other things too), they don't listen to the critics who bag them out, they don't inspire to be stuck in a dead end job or have wasted their life and made no personal achievements and only made achievements for their boss.... woooo.

She encourages people that ANYONE can live their dreams and dont fall into doing what they are told what to do and doing what they want to do.

all her critics are just jealous that deep down they are thinking "when i was 16 i couldn't do that" or "shes only 16 and done something bigger than i have achieved in my 50 years"


Look at what most people are doing at 16.. hate school, and long for the weekend so they can go to party's and drink. she has shown there is more exciting (and rewarding) things in life than partys, drinking, drugs and sex.

All valid points, I guess however I am one that does not live in a fantasy land. Kids that are misguided are going to continue to be misguided unless it is there friends and family that steer them on the right track. Will power means everything. Jessica had very strong will power. At the end of the day, whether you see something on TV or not, it is you yourself that has to get up and act on the things you want to do. The only thing this will really do is encourage younger people to sail. If they want to do that so be it. My only beef is with the amount of unsung heroes out there. To them they would probably like it to stay that way. What sort of financial benefits will Jessica get out of this? I understand she sort out her own sponsors for this which is very good and show maturity as well.

I am not deep down thinking that, I know I will never do anything like that. I am probably 'moody' on this subject more so due to my mate I mentioned above who is in a very unsafe region. There for 6 months and will not get any real recognition at all. To me, that is massively inspirational.

Anyway, whatever. All people to their own.

In part, I agree with some points by everyone. Is she an inspiration to others? YES. Time will tell. I'm sure there will be some other young people who look up to her and say "yeah, I can do it!" Is Jessica a hero? NO she isn't. Leave that term to the diggers out there. The term "hero" is so overused these days. Keep it for people who actually deserve it.

I get sick and tired of people saying anyone who knocks people like Jessica, is simply just jealous. It's got nothing to do with jealously, in my case anyways. I'm not jealous of Jessica and I'm not knocking her. What she did was fantastic. A major achievement. I congratulate her. It's all about perspective and the way society and the media portray individuals. There are loads of people out there with achievements that go well beyond sailing around the world, but these people fail to get recognised or perhaps get a small article in the newspaper devoted to them.

At the end of the day, Jessica will get her 15 mins of fame and then we'll all move on and forget about her, waiting for the next 16 year old to climb Mt. Everest, followed by a ticker-tape parade, a book and a movie based on their events.

I agree with you Flooding Rains. Sure - brilliant achievement. But seriously, what about the 1000's of teenagers who never get mentioned in the 'teenagers are bad' rants, that do amazing things, without recognition - and without a million dollar sponsorship contract.

I fell extremely sorry for all the teenagers who break the standardised expectations of drinking, smoking and partying teenage hooligans - and don't get noticed one bit. These are the kids that willingly sacrifice there leisure time to touch other peoples lives. THESE are the ones that are true heroes, and a true inspiration to us all. Not a a teen who sailed around the world. Let me reiterate - brilliant achievement, and good on her - it must have taken a lot of guts. But NOT someone who we should be necassarily looking up to and modelling our lives after...

Well done to her, congratz!!! When she told Krudd that she was not a "hero" infront of that huge crowd and careas everywere...well.. wow, what an amazing girl. 10/10, If she gets a few mill in deals from this, good on her. She did it.

I would tell Krudd a lot more if I had the chance - does that mean I get a few mil as well?

Maybe I could go around Australia on a lawn mower... Does that count?

I mean, seriously - How many kids get to talk to thousands of people about the PM?

I agree with this view. I personally questioned whether or not someone in this instance should qualify for a young achievement award but upon reflection when you consider the actual achievement and the inspiration to other young people she is as worthy as anyone else that helps teenagers motivate themselves.

I also agree regarding the tall poppy comment. Australians have a habit of knocking the achievements of others. I think perhaps anyone who has never sailed needs to go up "alone" against 10 metre seas to understand what she has just done. Or even moreso just be alone for 7 months.

She is a remarkable young woman.

I can't see much knocking of her achievements in this thread. Why can't people see this? She did a GREAT job. But WHY do you need to sail around the world to be a remarkable young woman or win a young achievement award??

I'd MUCH rather see an award like that go to a young person who had actually done something to influence a persons life. The way that the majority of Australian's (and the media) have reacted to her insuates towards most young people that it doesn't matter how much you help needy people, etc. - it doesn't matter - you have to sail around the world to be seen or appreciated. No wonder teens have become rebellious!!

She did it for herself not some award. Why can't people see this?
She has also influenced a lot of teenagers that have lost direction to follow their dreams .Why can't people see this?

Our teenager isn't rebellious. She is kind ,caring and doing very well at school. She hasn't been spoilt like many little runts that demand the world these days. When they don't get their way they chuck hissy fits becuse they believe they are the centre of the universe. She respects her elders also and has had discipline to become the beautiful individual she has turned into.

Jessica Watson has followed her dream, got off her a$$ and done something that's pretty damned amazing. I can see plenty of knocking of her achievement in this thread. It's on every page!!! Why can't people see that? It seems there is an element of jealousy in some of the posts also. She is set for life and that must frustrate those that believe everything should be handed to them on a silver platter which is an increasingly common trait in our youth..

In every post I have made I've stated that she has done a brilliant job - and she has. She followed her dreams, she did, and good on her. I also never EVER said that all teenagers are rebelling - but a lot of people in todays society think so. There was a study in America where they took two totally random classes - some excelling students, som were falling behind. The teachers were told that one class were students falling behind, and the others were excelling. Even the kids in the excelling class that were falling behind were excelling well beyond normal after a year of high expectations. The excelling kids in the under performing class fell well behind. It is the same with our society. Whether it is true or not, kids today are living up to low expectations.

I didn't say anything about your child - she sounds lovely. Obviously she ahs been brought up well. But what does sailing around the world have to do with people helping other people. Someone sailing around the world didn't benefit or help anyone, except inpire more kids to do things like sailing around the world that don't help anybody.

Again - I am not saying what she did was wrong, or bad, or stupid. She obviously is a very talented young lady. But did it help anyone other than inspire them to do the same sort of things. She didn't even inspire people to help people.

A few people have praised her for standing up to Krudd in front of SO many people. Quite frankly I'd probably be thrown out if I got to talk with Krudd - not becuase I was insulting him, just because I had such contrversial (however unneedingly so) views. What do you have to do to talk to millions of people including the PM? Not help somebody, not benefit somebodys life. But instead sail around the world in a little pink boat. Silly.

Yep I have done the same. READ IT FOR YOURSELVES!

As for set for life CF, I am not worrying about myself wanting things on a silver platter, I worked a full year in my gap year in tough labour jobs (14-16 hours a day) set for people that were twice my age at the time, and consequently have set myself up for a reasonable time at least. Its the people who are doing tons of community work or might be going out of their way to do major things like go to Africa like my friend. Why does a sail around the world allow her to get heaps of money and whatever and someone seeing dead or dying people, helping with aid in a very unsafe area, gets virtually nothing.

Exactly my point FR.

Do you think that applies only to young people?

its not like she took this on a job or as a way of making an easy mil. the only people who are paying her is the media because they make more money out of it, she wouldn't have done this to make money and be famous. if a news paper came to me and paid me 1 million dollars to tell them a story and put my face on a book id do it, im sure anyone would.

if it was the government paying for her trip and paying her to write a book about it it would be a different story.

she cannot be blamed that your friend in Africa isn't being paid enough or not getting enough recognition.
I (and im sure most people) have done a some volunteer work in my life and its rewarding because you done need recognition for it, i dont want a certificate for it or to be paid for it.

its the media who are to blame.

Just heard on news that her manager has got requests from every major news program in the US for interviews and also has gotten requests to cover her birthday tomorrow. She has turned down the birthday coverage.

She turned down $250 000 for brithday coverage. Seriously that makes me extremely angry that the media would even think about that. Next they'll want to get coverage of her eating dinner! What has the world come to?

BINGO!

This is the crux of the issue. This "jealously" term being thrown out because people are being negative is just rubbish. MOST of the negativity is not being aimed at Jessica, but the media for over exaggerating her achievement and using the words such as "hero".

It wasn't the media who described her as a hero. It was the PM for goodness sake!

I'm definitely not jealous - but I'm concerned at the way people are reacting over a sailboat when there are so many people sacrificing their lives into helping people. Can't anyway see that this is horribly backwards? Imagine if these hundreds of thousands of dollars were being spent on world aid, disaster relief, etc?

These articles were using the word hero even before Rudd said it

http://www.socialcritic.net/jessica-watson-almost-half-way-home/

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/he...9-1225867103653

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opini...f-1225856550025

http://www.news.com.au/national/jessica-...r-1225866868298

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1257197/Round-the-world-teen-Watson-set-for-hero-s-welcome

Interesting that you say "most". My issue is with those that have attacked her accomplishment directly. Rather than create confusion in a thread about this girl's achievements, go start a thread about the media . Then you won't be confused with those that are indeed appearing to be jealous of her success.

Yeh Shultz i can totally understand that, its not right, but its all about $$$, and this poor girl is going to get exploited out of it all aswell.

If the media spent all this money on aid they dont get anything out of it. why would they. its horrible and i dont like how it works but they dont care.


a little bit off topic, I remember hearing a while back and i could be wrong so correct me if i am please) that it is illegal for a company owned by share holders to to make an investment willingly knowing that it will not benefit the shareholders.
So if such a company gives money away for free (to charity) they need to be able to prove that doing such a thing will show a return for their shareholders.. if not they can be sued.

It's not that I can't see it. It ain't going to change. So I'd rather focus on the positives of her achievement and there are plenty of them.

I stand by my "most" remark. There have been a few random comments attacking her accomplishment, mainly by the one person, but others have simply been pointing out the overkill in the media coverage. Even these same people have congratulated her.



Again with the jealously remark.

...again with the denial. If it doesn't apply to you then all well and good. However your response appears to show that you believe it does. It certainly applies to some in this thread. If it doesn't apply to you there is no need to reply.

I can't think of any other reason why people would try to dismantle what she has done by using the media as a diversion. I get, the media are over the top but it has been said around a dozen times already. Again, the thread isn't about the media. Go start one about them if you a really passionate about it.

Time to move on and focus on the achievement. I have a daughter the same age and can tell the young amongst you, who by no coincidence are the ones harping on about the media that when you have a daughter the same age that you truly realise just what she has achieved.

This isn't about some cricketer that gave his life to hitting runs. Or some olympic medalist that swam 3 golds. She isn't the youngest Australian to sail around the world. She is the youngest person ever from anywhere to do it. Alone, in the most violent oceans on earth . No olympic swimming pool with ambulance officers at the ready. No hallowed stadium with the protection of a helmet and pads.

So yes, it very much appears that either some of you have no ability to get your head around what she has done or you are somehow envious. Because you simply wouldn't be so pi$$ed about what she might be getting out of it otherwise. She should milk it for every little bit of what it is worth. I would if in her shoes. You're a long time dead.

As already stated by another poster, the tall poppy shoot down is alive and well in this country and in this thread.

ColdFront, I'm two years yonger - I should understand even more than those who have daughters her age. I'm not anggry at what she has done, I'm not jealous, I'm not frustrated. Like others have stated, it is the media overkill that gets my goat, AND the way people have reacted to her when there are so many people out there doing stuff directly helping people lives, not just sailing around the world.

You cannot possible see it from a parent's view . One day you will get it. I knew everything as a teenager too.

"The way people have reacted to her"? Clarity at last . I'm done here. Cheers.

Are you saying that someone 30 years older knows more about a person than someone 2 years younger? Are you also insunating that I know very little? This is the vbery problem of todays society - teenagers are expected to know very little, do very little - be essentially a dead weight to society.

I never said I could see it from a parents view - I said I could understand what she did better because I was her age! I know what it would be like to spend 7 months away from home, from school, from parents, from everything - at that age.

I also - thought - I made it clear that it wasn't her that was the problem, it was the way the media AND society are treating her now.

she risked her life knowing fame & fortune would follow if she made it...same as 16 year old who just made it up Everest without dyin...these types of stories appeal to human ego/interest in general & are $ spinners in the media...becoming a gazillionare for hitting a tiny white ball around nice park land with a stick, is another example of how 'popular' pastimes are real $ makers for everyone involved...'SELF', 'Hero's' & 'Idols' still very popular on planet Earth...starving black fellas dont qualify.

I read from two different articles that it was a 13yo that made it up Everest to be the youngest ever!

TS

13 hey...gotta wonder if most parents would be happy having their 13year old risking their life on a mountain so dangerous.

more info = {16-yr-old boy is youngest Indian to scale Everest
May 22nd, 2010
Arjun Bajpayee a 16-year-old Delhi school boy, on Saturday had a brief tryst with destiny equalling the world record of being the youngest to step atop the world's highest peak 8,848 metre Mt Everest, only to have his feat overturned hours later by a 13-year-old American. Bajpayee, became the youngest Indian to climb Everest early this morning via the
traditional South Col route in Nepal. He equalled the record of a Nepalese Sherpa Temba Tsheri who also climbed the peak when he was sixteen. But a few hours later, a 13-year-old Californian boy Jordan Romero broke his record by
climbing the peak from the tough North Eastern ridge route in Tibet. The Californian is on a quest to climb all the highest peaks in the seven continents. The two youngsters could have had a tryst atop the world's highest summit, but
apparently missed each other by a whisker, as Bajpayee after a short stay atop made his way back for a descent.
Bajpayee climbed the peak at 0633 hours this morning in the company of Apa Sherpa 50, who became the first man to climb the peak for the record 20th times. The world record
for the highest number of climbs on Everest also earlier stood in his name. Along with Bajpayee, also making it to the top was another Indian woman Mamta Sodha who reached the summit at 10:24, four hours after the young Indian.
The feat of the two was conveyed to PTI on phone by Chunu Shrestha of the Asian Trekkers who had organised the expedition. Earlier on May 17, two other Indian climbers had reached the summit}..........................just been reading Apa's website & he says that Global Warming is very evident to him & that the very dangerous 'Ice Fall' section is getting worse.

I want to watch the Sunday Roast! haha. Channel 7 and 9 are having her QLD homecoming. Channel 7 has stopped the coverage at 2 but 9 is still going and the Roast is meant to be coming on.

Oh wow the reporter said it will be a while till we see her so I thought they would stay on but as soon as I pressed submit, the Roast came on. YAY

Understatement of the century. Most parents wouldn't be happy bout their kid getting on a bike.