Marine Safety Queensland reports Jessica was probably asleep

by Bw Media Roundup on 26 Sep 2009 It was always a mystery.

Australian 16 year old Jessica Watson wants to become the youngest sailor to circumnavigate the world non-stop and unassisted.

On September 09, her first night at sea on her yacht, Ella's Pink Lady, she collided with a 63,000 tonne Chinese coal carrier, Silver Yang off the southern Queensland coastline at about 2.10am.

The questions were many.

If, as she said, she was awake and calling the ship, why didn't she veer to miss it?
If she was awake, why did she sustain the type of damage that happened to her starboard hull?
If she was awake and was equipped with both AIS and radar(and we know she was so equipped), why didn't either of these warn her in plenty of time? (See Sail-World http://www.sail-world.com/CruisingAus/Jessica-Watson---collision-mystery/61161!story. )

Jessica was not explaining, and, after a few inappropriate statements about the character of the Silver Yang's crew, neither were her parents. Her PR company stated that they couldn't explain because there was an investigation going on. It appeared for a while that the authorities were going to wash their hands of the affair because, 'It happened in international waters and the Australian authorities have no jurisdiction.'

However, according to the News Limited Daily Telegraph, Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) inspectors have now issued a statement which concludes that Jessica is not competent to undertake the journey that she is planning.

Among their assessments, it seems they found that Jessica...

• Most probably dozed off before her vessel hit and was dragged alongside the 63,000-tonne cargo ship.

• Did not turn on a device that would have warned her of a potential collision.

• Could not produce a clear, plotted plan for her journey.

• Had not developed a fatigue management plan.

• Kept a log with 'irregular latitude and longitude entries'.

The report by MSQ was compiled after detailed discussions with Jessica.

The MSQ report found Jessica had set her vessel on autopilot and checked her radar about 2am, noting 'a target at about six nautical miles' and 'determined the vessel was passing to starboard well clear and not in a crossing situation' before going below deck.

'Satisfied there were no immediate dangers, Jessica put her head down for 10 minutes,' the report says.

'The master (Jessica) . . . may have dozed off. The master recollects the roar of a close vessel and went topside as the boat scraped port side to port side.'

According to the Daily Telegraph the report says that after the vessels separated, with Jessica's yacht dismasted, she contacted the skipper of the Silver Yang by radio and received an apology and a pledge to pay for the damages.

It also found Jessica could not produce 'course plots on paper charts or waypoints on the plotter' or a 'fatigue management plan for single-handed conning'.

After this evidence came to light, acting Queensland Premier Paul Lucas last night said Jessica should abandon her attempt to become the youngest person to sail solo non-stop and unassisted around the world. 'We all admire this young woman's spirit, but sailing solo around the world is a demanding and dangerous venture. It's not a task anyone young or old should undertake lightly.'

Ella's Pink Lady has been on the Gold Coast for more than two weeks undergoing repairs from the damage caused, most of which has been done without charge by marine organisations and volunteers.

Jessica's mother Julie confirmed the family had received an official letter from Maritime Safety Queensland but that they would not be deterred.

We have sought further clarifications from the PR company acting on Jessica's behalf and will publish those when they come to hand.
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Letter from Reader:
Sender: Kim Kim

Message: To Roger Watson & wife
How on earth can't you care a bit more about your (beloved?) minor child Jessica?
As she is still minor, you the parents will be held responsible for whatever happen to her during that stupid trip, do you realise that?
If something happen to her imagine how sorry you will feel for yourselves.
You are not supposed to do everything she wants, as she should listen to her wiser parents first and always. But now of course if the parent aren't wise at all....
Are you doing that for fame? Or for money? In this case it would have to be the worse case of child labor I have ever seen.
When somebody is an adult, then it is a very different matter, an adult has his/her life in his/her own hands.
Before somebody becomes an adult, the parents are responsible for any decision regarding the child.
It is still not too late Roger and you still can listen to Acting Queensland Premier Paul Lucas.
Good luck.
Kim
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