I am one of those who was fully in favour of Jessica going on, after her accident, before she started. She has shown herself quite capable now, & I wish her luck.

As I said then, there is not much to sailing a good yacht around the world. It becomes a lot more doing it single handed, & becomes a big deal, doing it non stop.

Now she is getting close, she needs a bit of luck. After all the miles she's done, some of her gear is getting a bit tired. She has proven herself so capable, I'm sure she would have changed the gear that is known to wear out, on such a trip. May the gods smile on any little faults she doesn't know about.

Hasbeen,
Glad you posted as, from reading your posts, you have much yatching experience.

The Southern Ocean will be no harbour cruise and as you say some of the gear will be tired. She has mentioned chafing of lines, one of the solar panels has given up and the 'parker' is a bit bent from 'knockdowns'.

Can you tell a landlubber just how one gets a yatch upright again after a 'knockdown' and would she have to wait untill the seas calmed before doing so.

Hasbeen

I second Banjo's request. I know little about yachting and some explaining would really help.

I, too, have always wondered how a yacht is righted after being dumped by a wave.

Also, in my previous incarnation at OLO, I was in favour of Jessica going on this adventure and I think of her frequently out there with nothing but watery horizon as far as she can see around her. I am in complete awe of anyone who can sail; motorbikes being my thing. I am looking forward to her safe return.

The only reason a modern yacht sails upright, is because they are ballasted. They have from perhaps 30% to 50% of their weight in led, bolted onto the botom of the boat. Without this ballast the may float upright, but could not carry any sail.

When that pommy racing yachtman, [Ballymore was it?], got onto trouble in the southern ocean, & had to be rescued, his ballast fell off. The yacht immediately turned upside down.

Most cruising yachts, [as destinct from racing yachts], are built very strong, particularly in the mast, & rigging.

A knockdown is considered to be when the yachts mast is layed flat on the water, & usually only occures in heavy weather, with big seas running. It is the sea which causes it. Fortunately, in these conditions, the cruising yachtsman will be under reduced sail.

The yachy's ballast will bring it upright quite quickly, with no input from the crew. The bigest dangers are,

1/ Damage to the cabin, or deck, that allows water in.

2/ The sails being filled with water. When this happens the boat will be held on it's side, to some extent. This weight of water, acting against the ballast, trying to right the boat, often damages the rig, or breaks the mast. Reduced sail helps reduce these stresses.

3/ The boat can be rolled right over, through 360 degrees. This usually takes the mast out.

You would be a fool to think you could sail around the the world, by the southern ocean route Jessica is taking, [the only way to do it non stop, & unassisted] without getting a few knock downs.

Yachts of her size, around 36 Ft, if well found, & sailed, can handle this type of stuff, unless they get really unlucky. Down in the southern ocean there are seas capable of taking out any smallish yacht, if you get unlucky, but thousands have done it, & not too many disappeared.

The danger is always present. A mate had his 34 Footer rolled, & dismasted, 40 miles of Newcastle, NSW, a case of wrong place, wrong time.

Hasbeen,
Thanks for that info. I am not likely to be using any of it myself but it is interesting never the less.

Jessica, in her blogs, indicated she had a few knockdowns, including one that was upside down. This is what damaged the 'parker' and put a bit of water in the diesel tank, but the fuel filter on the motor eliminates the problem with that, but she drains the water from the filter.

Other than the chaffing of some lines and the one solar panel out the boat seems to be in pretty good shape considering. Hope there are no other weaknesses she has not picked up on as yet.

Guess the Southern Ocean will sort that out.

I want to see her round the Cape and heading home. I'll be checking her website each day.

Hasbeen & Banjo

Thanks for making this a very interesting discussion.

Landlubber that I am, I am unlikely to put any of your information to use Hasbeen - I get seasick, however your explanation is as succinct as it is informative.

I too will continue to track Jessica's progress.

Cheers