Why knocking Jessica is so 2009

paul says:

06:19am | 17/05/10

No, they wrapped her in a PR team instead

Peter Thornton says:

08:40am | 17/05/10

What she did is always going to be overshadowed by what others like to think she did. She had a go, though not without significant moral, financial and emotional support from a wide variety of marketeers who spotted a gravy train and are now riding it all the way to the bank. Hero? Nah. Exceptional? Kinda - sorta. Lucky? In every sense of the word. Next!

Roberts says:

08:52am | 17/05/10

Well there you go Ben, it is amazing what you can learn when you read every now and then. Unlike Retired Soldier, who wallows in his bitterness that someone else is getting some accolades and not him, you at least admit you had no idea what was going on when this 16yo girl spent 210 days sailing solo around the globe… Some people just have a hard time when someone else sets out to do something others considered beyond them, and succeed! ROFL…..Life is such a bitch hey??

Q says:

09:29am | 17/05/10

You almost had me there. Not quite agreeing that is, but understanding your point of view. Until I got to the last line, that is. It’s just the sort of smarmy, nonsense comment that people come out with when they’ve read just enough about human behaviour to throw a few phrases around, but not quite enough to know when it’s appropriate to use them.

Matt says:

09:37am | 17/05/10

Sheesh Reitred Soldier, give the kid a go. And all the other people out there who ‘want her to go away’, you should be ashamed of yourselves. She DID go away, for 210 days, and has come back! I couldn’t sit in a loungechair for 210 let alone a boat!

phil says:

10:03am | 17/05/10

she achived what she wanted to do..good on her for that. Personally, I don’t care what she or hasn’t done.

If you want inspiration go and have a look at some kids in oncology wards, that is inspiration. Sailing around the world is nothing new..been done many times before..all very ho hum in reality.

Pam says:

10:19am | 17/05/10

As an 82 year old, my admiration for Jessica’s acheivment is unbounded. As a girl I read Joshua Slocum’s book and I will put Jessica into the stars with him.
When I was 16 I passed my school cert in wartime Britain, then “hung out” with my friends until my call up was due. Well, they took off compulsory call up for women in mid 1945 so I didn’t get to be called up. But I wasted a year in which Jessica, has acheive fame & fortune. GOOD ON HER, I say. I admire and respect you Jessica, and may you continue to be your charming self- possessed unassuming self, for a long and happy adventurous life.

MarK says:

10:27am | 17/05/10

Brilliant, Absuolutely marvelous,
I had my doubts early on,
didnt like the whole premise,
But when at the end of it when you look at the achievement,
Wow

I take my hat off
Give her PR team an Award!
We have been bombarded with gazillions of articles,
In Hindsight, maybe that whole running into the frieghter was just a cunning ploy, not dangerously neglegent/incompetent sailing.
it realy kick started the campaign.
So many Brilliant moves,
Not follwing the full rules,
after trumpeting about the record in every press release at the begining,
and then falling abck to the oh we explained this on the website from the begining weak excuse,
worked wonders for little extra controversy at the end,
that in itself created a whole flurry of articles and discussion,
The delayed entrance,
and right down to careful coached Jess playing down the hero aspect,
after what must be one of the largest PR campaigns outside of an election.

Leah says:

10:30am | 17/05/10

Thanks for this.

So many people were like “what if she drowns” “what if her boat gets knocked down and she can’t right it” “What if she loses her food/water” “what if her emergency beacons fail” “what if she gets psych problems from being alone for so long” (I honestly had someone say that to me) blah blah blah. The thing is, a lot of things would have had to go wrong at once for her life to be seriously threatened, and those things can happen to a sailor of any age. The boat she used is the most popular model for solo round-world trips because it is so easy for 1 person to operate (as opposed to any other boat) plus it rights itself after knockdowns so well. I heard someone describe it as a cork - it gets knocked down and just pops back up again. Her emergency beacons were in perfect working order - one went off during a kockdown south of Australia (she had to call her team to reassure them it was a false alarm and she was fine). If her fresh water filter failed and she was unable to fix it, I’m sure she would have pulled into a port somewhere and forfeit her attempt rather than risk her life. She learnt from her run-in (excuse the pun) with that tanker off the QLD coast, but even that wasn’t entirely her fault - she set her alarms before she went to bed, but she just slept through them when they went off to warn her of the boat. So she installed a louder one before she left Sydney. I’m not trying to negate the dangers involved in what she did, but the point is, she trained for 3 or 4 years specifically for that attempt. She had contact with a back-up team who could help her fix mechanical problems. Nobody would know better than her sailing mentors and teachers whether she was capable of it, so nobody except them had the right to criticise her parents’ decision to let her go.

Adam says:

10:40am | 17/05/10

a hero huh??? hmmmm…. because she gets to do something she wants to do at the expense of her parents…... yep definate hero….

Australian public are getting more embarrassing everyday….. and the amount of people that turned up to watch her return….. moreso….

Chris says:

11:08am | 17/05/10

“If she doesn’t care what we think, why should we care so much what she chooses to do?”
What form would that caring take. Just ill-informed gossip on a Blog, I think. No wonder she doesn’t care.

Willy K says:

11:58am | 17/05/10

I would feel more confident with that young lady in charge of Australia then I do with that obnoxious liar that we have as our PM.  Jessica Watson is a hard working achiever and good luck to her (and her family/friends) for obtaining sponsorship for this might challenge.  Its things like this that inspire.

Jessica was so correct when she humbly had to correct Rudd’s inane, and second rate ego-driven speech to state that she is NOT a hero just someone average that REALLY wanted to do something.

We need more people like Jessica Watson and her supporters in Australia and less of the sad little knockers and ego driven fakes (like Rudd) trying to cash in on hard work without having a clue about the effort required.

Ziggy says:

12:15pm | 17/05/10

I’m an acerbic old fart now but I have just read that this fine young lass turned down an offer of $250k to have photographers at her 17th birthday party. Assuming it is true, what a balanced, mature lady! Seems all genuine class to me. Best of luck to her and I wish her ther best for the future. True grit.

Amazed says:

12:32pm | 17/05/10

Some of you Australians are really, really strange at the best of times. Having had the unbelievable opportunity to settle in this wonderful country a fair while back, I cannot believe how you guys bag your “good guys and sportsman”. Absolute bloody shame on you!! And without repeating what has been said above, I have also been a soldier and had to fight a really ugly and unnecessary war, but in no way would ever take what this little girl has achieved, away from her. No hero, but what an achievement. Worthy of all the accolades on offer.

Tim says:

12:40pm | 17/05/10

Yes, what a fantastic achievment.
One of the greatest PR efforts this century.
Congratulation$ to all involved.

Tony says:

12:48pm | 17/05/10

To all the knockers, What have you done? Sat on your arse and moaned.

Those that can do, those that can’t criticise.

Vicki PS says:

01:28pm | 17/05/10

How many times does it have to be said?  Opposition to Jessica’s jaunt had nothing to do with knocking Jessica personally:  she has shown herself to be a rather extraordinary young woman.  But have I changed my opinion that her parents and the responsible government agency should not have allowed her to make the trip?  No, I have not! 

For every Jessica Watson, who was skilled, determined and very bloody lucky, there are hundreds of boneheaded teenagers literally dying to take on pointless risks as a “personal challenge”.  Does anyone else remember the 4 teenagers who stole a boat in North Queensland many years ago?  They had equipped themselves with a carton of beer and a carton of baked beans, and were ready to sail around the world.  Fortunately, they hit the dock instead.

If Jessica had decided to spend 7 months playing chicken on the M1, or basejumping off the tallest building in every capital city in the world, would every airhead in Australia be applauding her as a hero because she survived? And compare her trip to Peter Spencer’s bizarre pole-sitting hunger strike—it seemed like the whole world wanted him to come down, and he is an adult, with the right to make his own choices.

Tory, it is quite insulting to people who survived great threats and privation as children to compare their experience with Jessica’s.  Don’t you think that, given choice and hindsight, they would rather have been safe and comfortable?  Bert Facey did what he had to simply to survive: so did the children in the trenches.  What has Jessica Watson achieved?  She has fulfilled a huge personal amibition and successfully completed a major personal challenge, and good on her for that, but I doubt that she was in imminent danger of death had she stayed at home in Mooloolaba.

Sure, children and young people can survive terrible risk and suffering, but I hope as a society we don’t believe they should, even if they think they want to.  To restate what should be obvious, that’s why the law doesn’t recognise minors as having the capacity to make major, binding decisions.

Keep it down naysayers says:

01:33pm | 17/05/10

Love to knock people, don’t we?

Leave the semantics of the hero at home you boring twats and think about what YOU were doing at 16. Squeezing your pimples and bullying others, probably. Now, suck it up, because I dare say a 16 year old girl has acheived more than you will in your lifetime. Yes, a gazillion people have jumped on the bandwagon. Yes, the PM’s chambray shirt, Sandra Sully’s dulcet tones, KK’s asymmetrical ‘do and the Opera House crowds were overwhelming (and not just to the girl who’s spent 7 months at sea). But the girl who sailed around the world, unassisted, seems to be as cool as a cucumber and she’s clearly smart to boot. What’s to knock? Take a look in the mirror before you take your antagonism out on Jessica Watson via your keyboard!

Have a fab day shiny lovely human beans!

Steve says:

01:36pm | 17/05/10

This tale seems to illustrates the knee jerk reaction of public opinion as well as Government policy/regulation. 

If Jess did not make it, what would we all be saying now?  Why weren’t naval regulations tighter? Why didn’t the government intervene to prevent Jess from leaving? Government would presumably be responding with stringent new legislation.

Instead, Jess has a celebrated return from the sea (Australia’s current favourite prodigal daughter?) with no less than the PM and Premier waiting to congratulate her on taking the “risk” to achieve her dream.

At the end of the day, I agree that it IS important to have dreams and to follow up on those dreams.  Yes life rewards risks at times.  But lets not knock the knockers either: there are times when risk is NOT rewarded and where tragedies occur.  The question is: where do we draw the line?

Matt says:

01:54pm | 17/05/10

After spending that long at sea, alone, to then come home to the emotion of seeing your family (let alone the 1000s of others) and be able to speak the level headed and mature way she did is remarkable.

I don’t imagine that you would get much media coaching while sitting in the middle of the Southern Ocean.  Tony Abbott can’t answer questions as well as she seems to be able to and he is the coutry’s alternative Prime Minister. You can imagine how much media coaching and practice he has had. Yes she has been well managed, but from what I saw its mainly her.

If she is really just after the celebrity and money, good on her for being smart and setting herslef up so young (I envy her). We seem to make instant celebrities out of people who do a lot less worthy things. If she is genuine (and I belive she is)  about it just being about the sailing and the challenge, even better, she’s making money from doing something she loves. If all the dreary, bleak cynics were able to get over their own insignificance they might get out and have a go at something themselves.

Dayton says:

02:04pm | 17/05/10

This was not worthy of a 4 channel simulcast. A terrorist explosion in Sydney Harbour wouldn’t get as much attention from the media. Inspirational yes, Hero no.

Andrew says:

02:32pm | 17/05/10

There is a chance your child won’t come home from the corner shop alive, also. P.S. I was with her from the start, and all the way. Eat my shorts, tall poppy cutters!

Justin says:

02:32pm | 17/05/10

When is someone going to build a rocket in their garage & blast themselves in to space? Everest has been done to death, & solo circumnavigations are looking pretty ho-hum now, so it’s time for amateur hour in the final frontier.

6c legs says:

04:06pm | 17/05/10

Re Ms Watsons parents being rich enough to buy her a sail boat; I believe that the yacht belongs to Don and Margie Macintyre, whose name appears under the Ella Bache` logo on Pink Lady.
I’m sure i heard via Macintyre himself on ABC radio, that the yacht had done the trip before.
Don Macintyre is currently off on another of his own pointless -and not even money making adventures - playing ‘lets follow “Bligh” around the top of Oz to see how far we can starve ourselves (or dehydrate) before we need rescuing…’

I think that Ms Watsons real dramas haven’t even started yet, and will make the Southern Ocean upending the yacht seem like a doddle.
Coz if Jesse Martins experience is anything to go by, she will find life on shore much harder to deal with once all the hoopla dies down. (as it always does when the media finds its newest “Jessica”)
Unless of course her mother has been taking lessons from Terri Irwin. . . (then I will really feel sorry for her!)

BTS says:

04:28pm | 17/05/10

Amazing to see Premier Bligh in Qld praise Jessica’s efforts, since she was critical of her departure.  A triple twisting backflip with a perfect landing.

Do these people have no conscious?

gug says:

05:15pm | 17/05/10

You know whats also so 2009?? Climate change & environmentalism. Sooooooo don’t care anymore. Get with the program people!!!! I don’t consider the day even started until I’ve extinguished 10 species from existence. And I’m sooooo tired of hearing about Whales. Forecasts are that there won’t be any fish left in the oceans by the middle of the century, so whhhyyyy spend all that effort worrying? Its like worrying about running out of milk when the fridge is broken. Furthermore, given that theres enough garbage in the oceans to form a continent 3 times the size of the continental USA, and growing everyday, its obvious that worry about these things is just a waste of time. Jessica Watson, HA, in 60 years the record will be who can trek across the now solid oceans of plastic fastest, whilst underneath there be nothun by mud and worms. Full steam into the future!!!!

Crazy Colin says:

05:33pm | 17/05/10

I think Jessica is the new Nicky Webster!

Dick J says:

06:32pm | 17/05/10

She did something very arduous and difficult and beyond her years . It was a great personal acheivement and should remain as such BUT it is how it is going to be used that concerns me. I see Max Markson telling us her media value is $1million etc .

People will soon realise when we get all the trash media buying her ” story’ and sponsorship deals that Jessica sailed for money.

Initially it may have been a dream but that changed when she sold herself to do it.

People will become cynical if she does not manage her media well.

S.L says:

07:19pm | 17/05/10

I’m so happy Jessica made it BUT now she’s back the PR circus has begun. (In fact from about a week out when she could have arrived as soon as last tuesday).
From her stage parents to the manager she won’t get much rest until they suck every last possible buck out of this.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again I wouldn’t let my child at any age try that stunt even if they were decended from Captain Cook!
Lets see what percentage brave Jessica gets out of the royalties from what enterprises the people who put her on that boat have got her in for!

Virginia says:

11:40pm | 17/05/10

I am never likely to sail around the world and I am full of admiration for those who are able to do so.
Well done Jessica. You show us with determination, confidence and lots of hard work you can achieve your dream.

Belinda says:

01:29am | 18/05/10

My god, why are all you doom and gloomers so worried about what another person does and whether they were sponsored?  Hundreds of people get sponsorship for their chosen sporting pursuit, why is Jessica Watson any different.  Oh, wait.  I suppose she has to be an Olympic athlete to be “deserving” of sponsorship.

Australian Geographic is one such organisation that sponsors young adventurers, particularly those who have the dreams and the plans but not the money to carry them through.  Jessica was given sponsorship to fund her trip, you can’t blame her if the likes of Ella Bache and One HD wanted to jump on board, they knew that she would eventually gather huge publicity just as Jesse Martin did for his solo voyage.

I think that anyone who feels the need to diminish her achievementsmust be so miserable with their own lives and are bitterly jealous of hers.  At least she’s not one of these spoilt, snotty nosed teenagers who ends up in a scrag fight on Youtube or throws a party at their parents’ house and trashes it. 

Jessica is a spirited, determined and adventurous young woman who has inspired so many younger kids to follow their dreams, as long as nobody is breaking the law does it really matter how their dreams are achieved?

Peter Wickham says:

07:06am | 18/05/10

Sexism? Racism? Hero? Tall Poppy Syndrome? Media bashing?
Where did all this come from? Obviously young Jessica’s trip has teased out everyone’s imaginations and phobias.
Good on you Jess, and not least of all for your level-headed and self-effacing comments on your adventure. You are an inspiration to us all.

Stephen says:

10:50am | 18/05/10

“we seriously underestimate the abilities and strength of 16-year-olds.”

F’ck off. Just because one, or a few are mentally strong, does not mean all of them are.

jealous but a bit over it all says:

11:18am | 18/05/10

Im sick of hearing about her now, but Im jealous as all hell that she had the gumption to do something that amazing and the fact that she is such a level headed and well spoken young lady. She has a bright gright future ahead of her as long as the media attention doesn’t ruin her life. She will never be a ‘normal’ girl now.

Miona says:

10:04pm | 18/05/10

Whilst not wanting to take away from Jessica’s achievement, I am really surprised her parents ever allowed her to go on this voyage when she is still a child. Luckily it all ended well but it could have gone the other way and Jessica could have been killed. I remember seeing a documentary about that man who rowed in a kayak from Tasmania to New Zealand and tragically never made it because his kayak capsized.  Why all the rush to be “only 16” and do this or that? Would her achievement have been any less if she was 18 or even 20 or older? I think it was very irresponsible of her parents, the authorities and all those sponsors who helped pay for her trip to allow this voyage. A person under 18 is legally a child and I believe it is the parents’ responsibility to look after their child until they are 18 years old. There are laws that mean parents can be charged with an offence if a child under 18 is left in a dangerous situation. I would think going around the world solo in a yacht is a dangerous situation.

richie says:

07:43am | 27/09/10

Jessica Watson achieved something fantastic, and not through Dad’s money, nor for greed, just to prove herself she was able to do it, and the world that young girls were lore able than generally thought.
More, she made her long, exhausting and dangerous trip so gracefully, naturally, that she is now the pride of Australia and of all the world’s young people.
Sure, she had sponsors (that she found and convinced by herself), a PR agent to take care of her new fame: isn’t it just logical?
She is not a hero. She is a gem. A tall poppy, too, huh?
She could make it because she is a keen sailor, and mentally exceptional.
She deserves only admiration.
From France, the Australian inner debate looks so surprising!
(if you don’t want her… many other countries will just love greeting Captain Watson!)