Jessica Watson Escort Home

[delatbabel]

Boat size & type: .. 40ft (11.8m) steel hulled cruising boat, cutter rigged. Heavy steel construction, full keel. All of the usual safety, electronic and nav equipment -- depth/speed/wind, HF and 2 x VHF radios, liferaft, nav computer and 3 x GPS, flares, bla bla bla -- the full kit. 2 x genoa, main, staysail and storm jib (we have a spinnaker but won't be taking it).

Embark port: .. Sydney

Estimated departure (or join) date: .. Sunday 9th May

Arrival port & ETA (or voyage details): .. Sydney -- return trip, possibly 3-7 days, see below.

Number of other crew aboard (Skipperplus): .. 2. See below.

Crew qualifications required and duties: .. Non-smoker, some sailing experience, willing to stand watch and pitch in. M/F OK, any age 18+ OK.

Cost to join vessel and repatriation is paid by: .. Crew

Estimated equal-share contribution to food/drinks: ($US Per person, per day): zero

Note: NO daily/weekly charge and NO contribution towards ANY other costs (fuel, propane, fees, marinas, etc.) is required from crew.

More info: ..

Well it appears that despite all of the worst the weather can throw at her, Jessica Watson will arrive back in Sydney in the next 2 weeks. She's currently transiting down the W coast of Tasmania according to the news reports, although her online tracplus location still shows her as hove to off the Bass Strait.

Looking at the charts for the next week or so, it appears that she's going to face a tough couple of days, then a reasonably good tailwind as she rounds the southern tip of Tasmania before heading north into lightening headwinds. So although the news from her team says she'll be sailing into Sydney next weekend, I am betting it will be at least 3-4 days after that.

Assuming all things go to roughly that plan, I am planning on heading offshore for a few days starting next Sunday, 9th May, to see if we can find her and follow her into Sydney harbour. If we get an idea of her position from coast guard we'll head that way, otherwise we may pick a likely transit point and hove to. Currently I have myself and one other crew, both experienced offshore sailors, and we could perhaps use a third for watch rotation. This is not going to be a fun tropical pleasure cruise, Sydney weather at that time of year can be unpredictable at best (recently it's been delightful but the inevitable southerly busters will soon hit). I'm after an experienced crew, preferably with some offshore experience, and prepared to stand watch in what may be reasonably disgusting and variable weather.

The crew:

Me: 45yo, professional, non-smoker, casual drinker. Regular ocean sailor and navigator.

Crew 1: late 30s, regular ocean sailor and race crew.

Crew 2: ship's cat, 13yo, doesn't do much sailing but keeps the boat free of mice and rats. Likes to sleep in your favourite spot, so you need to be OK with cats.

We have no idea how long we'll be gone for, probably only a few days but maybe up to a week, but will be in regular VHF/HF contact with coastguard & coast radio and have wireless internet and VOIP phone on board if we're reasonably close in shore.

No financial contribution required, but if you want to have your favourite snacks or beverage available to you off shore then bring them along with you. Preferably, BYO wet weather gear and sleeping bag/blankets/etc.