Mt Whitney Zone Forums The Chat Room Jessica

That is okay; at the rate that these sailing records change hands, next year, a four-year-old will probably attempt it, and folks will be saying "Jessica, who??"

Jessica who?

My brother, who is pretty much a neighbor to Jessica, and who got me started on this 20,000+ view topic, sent me this puzzle:

How come Jessica - 100% Oz, completed the trip, while Abby, 1/2 Oz, got halfway round?. He says it is something to do with maths.

Laura has a new post but it's written in Dutch (I suppose)

Babelfish thinks:

"After all upheaval and interest at last underway to Portugal. During this sniffing speed my father still to test the boat even well for the large adventure starts and godfather regulates my matter in the Netherlands. "

"Sailing well only goes terrible we much south west wind therefore has had we cross. Guppy lie to the pace borders in water but I have it a lot to my sense and enjoys the rest and the sea. We are meanwhile at Toulaville in France our rate at present W 286 degrees speed 7 kn and wind is SW 5 bft. I am very terrible glad that I am now at last gone."

> Babelfish thinks:

LOL!

Here is some food for thought in this Wired article.

Looking at the picture, I see:

1) A fabric dodger, which blocks the way forward. Jessica & Abby had hard protection.
2) A wheel. J&A used a tiller, which lets you sit on the side of the boat with an unobstructed view forward. I'm guessing, but I think it's a lot harder to break a tiller.
3) The canvas cockpit cover. Laura looks set for a cruise in the tropics, which is the plan. Still, a knockdown...

There is a chunky wooden object behind her - tiller? self-steering?

New post for L. De radio is kapot.

We needed Babelfish for that? Here is the rest:

"Hello all it goes very well here only radio is unfortunately gone further seems get Guppy more on a dive boat then on a sail boat we thus much water concerning. It can be come on that we many zwerfvuil against and much old pieces fishnet and especially with that last must watch out you, I have, however, seen during my last sniffing to United Kingdom. We have the sail on and the engine assists, we sail now 5.9 knts and wind is south West 4-5 bft our rate is SW 249 degrees. It is not real holiday much rain and it is cold especially s' night, the temperature are degrees now 18. Meanwhile we have already taken off 387 miles and at present sail we middle in English the canal, between Plymouth in United Kingdom and Saint-Pol-de-Leon in France."

Update in English.

wagga:
1) A fabric dodger, which blocks the way forward. Jessica & Abby had hard protection.

As did Zac. Certainly better, but I don't think a deal-killer.

2) A wheel. J&A used a tiller, which lets you sit on the side of the boat with an unobstructed view forward. I'm guessing, but I think it's a lot harder to break a tiller.

Most modern larger boats use wheels. They give a great mechanical advantage, and can be controlled sitting on the side, like a tiller. It is a "system", though, so there is the possibility of parts failure...so as always, increased complexity increases potential failure issues. However, I'd think this would be the way to go.

3) The canvas cockpit cover. Laura looks set for a cruise in the tropics, which is the plan. Still, a knockdown...

Yeah.

There is a chunky wooden object behind her - tiller? self-steering?

Neither. Can't tell what exactly it is, because of the angle. would not be a tiller, on a wheeled boat. The autopilots on these boats are electronic.

Looking at a review of this boat model, which was discontinued in 1980, I don't like this notation: "The boat is not well set up for singlehanded sailing."

The other thing I see in that picture that is disconcerting, is that the winches are not self-tailing. I would think that would be critical in heavy conditions.

L. has posted again, but she's gone back to Dutch.

The Fish has:

"We have best hurried up and now started with cross of the golf of Biskaje. At last it is nicely and the sun seems it is almost calm and we have hoisted the spinaker and have a top speed of, however, 1.9 button haha. The sea is splendid blauw and I have made macaroni for pa ready and he finds it very nice. Also are I glad with groetjes of grandpa and granny with derision goes it fortunately also terrible well further has I also all what done to my school. By means of iridium sateliet tel. I can keep happy contact with the team and my family. We miles now 526 have sailed and the rate is degrees now 190. Doei Laura"

Ken:

Thanks for the comments. Still think that dodger is an obstacle course, if she needs to go forward.

Oh, I was thinking you were talking about the stoutness and protection of the dodger. I can't tell the the exact configuration of that particular dodger from the picture. Some have stout handles on the sides, this appears not.

However, in the the review of the boat I read, it said:

http://www.sailingmagazine.net/boats/6-used-boat-notebook/551-jeanneau-gin-fizz

"The side decks are wide, but there isn't much to hold onto once you leave the cockpit until you can grab the shrouds"

So, potentially, a dodger could give additional handholds (ie, safety), when one goes forward. Personally, I'd never go forward singlehanding without being clipped in, but even so, I hate being outside a cockpit without a solid handhold, and I'm never in the conditions they have to anticipate!

Laura is still chatting in Dutch.

BabelFish:

"What a terrible day today we have still good and I have seen dolphins and a whale really groovy and super seeing cool. We hurry up good and are already wide concerning half in the golf of Biskaje. Even if 685 miles sailed, rate degrees now 235 and speed 3 button. Doei"

Tougher to read than some of those messages out of the wps. But I can still get most of the point.

Any ideas as to what "speed 3 button" translates to? 3 knots??

I can't quite imagine what else it could be. Pretty slow progress

According to this sailing terms xlation site, knot = knoop, and nautical mile is zeemijl.

And according to babelfish, Dutch to English, knoop = button. I suppose actual tied knots might have been used as button-like fasteners way back when the language was evolving.

And for the origin of knots being used as a nautical unit of speed, read this:
    Chip Log on Wikipedia   ...interesting.

I emailed the contact at that site, asking about the meaning of "button".

I don't know if there is any connection, but as of lunchtime, "button" is out & "knoop" is in!.

Laura is sailing & cooking and breaking more equipment.

"Moan that we the guest book must turn off because bores solicit strange letter. With me the terrible good goes and pa is in devours bui he eats my complete stock on, chips, nootjes, biscuits, Coca-Cola, chocolate nothing is safe. We have had since yesterday problems with the salt hydraulic pump which has broken down and also the new gps/radar have kuren, valen zomaar functions. That was, however, cumbersome with in the fog sail because you must pay attention then extra without radar. Fortunately godfather with all new stuff comes to Portugal. Furthermore is weerzien there not much and to do but it is complete nicely here. I with bruinebonen potatoes and also still tomato soup have made. It also quietly therefore I have time for my school book and have a grating have been made I am also still a book for reading. Vanmorgen I have baked fresh rolls and I dofijnen today have seen and also a shark we are already at North Spain (cape Finisterre). All sails stand breed now on 2, sail and the bazaan wind is but strength 2-3 but we obtain nevertheless almost 6 button. to later."

When she refers to the wind strength as 2-3, she is almost certainly referring to the Beaufort scale, just most places out of the US:

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

Laura D. is half-way down the coast of Portugal.

It seems they have fixed the web site so that English is accessible again.

Jessica's book has hit #1 non-fiction/fiction book.

And she's back from Western Australia.

Laura has reached the marina in Portugal. No more detail.

Shame, she'll have an additional half her lifetime so far before she can legally enjoy a vintage Port like a Grahams. And it should be older than her present age.