cavelamb wrote:

22,000 nautical miles, 7-8 months, one young woman alone, facing all
that the sea and the weather can throw at her. This is the challenge
that Jessica will overcome.

Why?, a whim?, perhaps an adolescent dream?…No, the same quiet
determination and commitment that has seen Jessica achieve and maintain
a solid academic level through distance education while building her
sailing knowledge and experience will see her reach this goal. In her
quest, to reach what is considered the absolute pinnacle of sailing
Jessica will pit herself against mother nature and all she can deliver
including the notorius Southern Ocean as well as the physical and
pyschological demands of eight months alone at sea. In doing so, Jessica
wants to show that even the most gentle among us can achieve great
things and with determination and the support of those around us can
live our dreams. Jessica hopes that her journey can inspire others to
take that first step and be all they want to be.

When Australian Jesse Martin set the current record in 1999, he
celebrated his 18th birthday during the journey. Jessica plans to set
off shortly after her 16th birthday in 2009, returning before she turns
17, taking more than a year off Jesse’s record.

Unless Mike Perham falters much more, he should have her beat before she
gets very far.

Stephen