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Aussie teen battles horrendous condtions

29th April 2010
Aussie teen battles horrendous condtions
Ocean-sailing Aussie teenager Jessica Watsonhas suffered her third  knockdown in a fortnight in her bid to be the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe. The teenager has managed to escape the worst effects of 12m, boat-breaking swells on the way to Tasmania as her global voyage nears its end.

The Sunshine Coast teenager was smashed by 55-knot winds and 7m seas on Wednesday as she sailed towards Tasmania.

Ella's Pink Lady was again thrown over on its side with the mast lying in the water.

But other than dishwashing liquid hitting the roof of her cabin, both she and the boat escaped without a scratch.

While forecast 12m swells failed to appear, it was Jessica's preparations that helped her survive.

The teenager has a crash helmet within reach and straps herself into a chair or bunk when the wind and waves become perilous.

She also used a drogue behind her 34-footer  to slow the yacht to a more manageable pace and to keep the vessel surfing straight down waves.

Watson sailed more than 10,000 nautical miles with highly experienced mariners to gain as much knowledge as she could about the rigours of sailing round the world before setting out.

In the past two weeks Jessica has sailed through some of the worst weather of her six-month voyage.

Having been knocked down four times during a vicious Atlantic storm in January, Jessica suffered her fifth in 50-knot wind and 6m seas off the West Australian coast - which also tore her mainsail - earlier this month.

Last weekend, Ella's Pink Lady was again knocked over on its side by wild winds and big seas in Australian waters.

Despite the inclement conditions at sea, Jessica is still on target to finish her journey in May before her 17th birthday.

 

Check out jessica's official website.

Published in Solo Sailing
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