Australian teen sailor starts round-the-world bid
source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091018/ap_on_re_au_an/as_australia_young_sailor
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- cabinettags
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Jessica Watson's plan to make a 23,600-mile (38,000-kilometer) journey through some of the world's most treacherous waters sparked a debate in Australia about whether someone so young should be allowed to try such a potentially dangerous feat.
Watson and her family insist she is an experienced and capable sailor who has studied navigation, electronics and maritime safety procedures. Although she will sail solo and unassisted, she will be in constant contact with her support team via radio, e-mail and a blog.
The teenager did not speak with reporters before she left, and it was her mom who first updated the Internet diary Sunday.
"I know you are all anxious to hear from Jess, but she's a little preoccupied on her first day, so she asked me to post a quick note to let everyone know that the departure went well this morning," Julie Watson wrote on the blog.
"I would like to sincerely thank all those wonderful people who came out on the harbor this morning and down to the marina to wish Jess well," she posted only hours after giving her daughter a tearful hug and saying goodbye.
Watson sailed her pink, 34-foot (10-meter) yacht out of Sydney under gray skies and slightly choppy conditions. She smiled and waved to scores of well-wishers on land and in boats that had gathered on the harbor.
"I think a lot of Australians are nervous for Jessica. I'm nervous for her," Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard told Nine Network television. "But my words at this stage, given that she's determined to go, would be to wish her the best of luck and to urge her to keep safe."
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Peacey
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I seem to remember reading a story about a 16 year old boy sailing around the world by himself. Well, until he hit Africa, he met a chick and they sailed together for the last half.
- 2 years ago
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Peacey
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bertkamp
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If she has the guts to do it. Let he go. Fortune favors the bold.
- 2 years ago
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bertkamp
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larrysnotes
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Nice that she got the chance.
- 2 years ago
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larrysnotes
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chmk
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Braver than I
- 2 years ago
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chmk
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idealist
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hope she brought her pirate repellent. AKA* ak-47 + grenade launcher.
- 2 years ago
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idealist
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NumLock [removed]
- This comment was removed by its owner.
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NumLock [removed]
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bailey78
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NumLock:
But then she will not be doing it by her self and that is her job for now.
- 2 years ago
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bailey78
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kyackr
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good for her and good for her parents who let her do it and boo to all the nay sayers who feel she is too young and her parents should not let her take chances and seek experiences and adventure ..
- 2 years ago
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kyackr
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cabinettags
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For myself, I'm surprised her mom and dad would let her go. A lot of folks will read into that. But 16 is no longer a child and obviously the parents have confidence in her abilities. If they think she can do it, then she probably will.
Go for it, girl !!
- 2 years ago
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cabinettags
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TasteHi
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Wether or not she can navigate a ship is not in question.
It's her naivete that concerns me.....I truely hope everything goes well though, if it does, that means there's still hope for all the other honest people in the world that journey through life.
- 2 years ago
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TasteHi
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Alanisnotcool
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hopefully she will say hello to amelia earheart for us
- 2 years ago
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Alanisnotcool
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frank_runyeon
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Alanisnotcool:
boo... Bad form Alan.
- 2 years ago
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frank_runyeon
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UWAZell
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Alanisnotcool:
Even on current you cannot escape ignorance.
- 2 years ago
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UWAZell
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Alanisnotcool
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Alanisnotcool:
dude, amelia was air, this girl is water, is that the ignorance u were referring to?
- 2 years ago
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Alanisnotcool
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UWAZell
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Alanisnotcool:
AE was lost whilst flying over the Pacific Ocean, so your statement essentially says let's hope this kid disappears while sailing and dies. There is really no other way to understand, 'hopefully she will say hello to amelia earheart for us.'
Therefore, it's pretty ignorant to wish that type of fate on someone, a family, and essentially a country because a lot of people here are invested in this shiela regardless of how they feel about he parents decision to allow her to go.
- 2 years ago
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UWAZell
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Alanisnotcool
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Alanisnotcool:
thats the way you interpreted it and you assume thats the only way that it can be interpreted. do you really think i want her to get lost at sea and die? thats ignorance
- 2 years ago
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Alanisnotcool
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bailey78
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I hope she makes a safe voyage. watashi wa kyo tanjoubi desu
- 2 years ago
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bailey78
