Jessica Watson becalmed approaching Horn! - but lots of company...

2:08 AM Sun 10 Jan 2010 GMT

'Crowded Horn - artist’s impression only based on information provided - not navigationally accurate' .

In an area of the Southern Ocean legendary for its high winds and huge seas 16-year-old Sunshine Coast solo sailor Jessica Watson is becalmed, just days away from her rounding Cape Horn, enabling Jessica to get some good sleep before the next front arrives.

With the seas lower than usual, and almost no wind, Jessica has nevertheless been assisted by a good following current of around two knots. This is to be expected in the area as the seas, driven by the (normally) constant winds in the Southern Ocean, are forced between the comparatively narrow passage of around 450nm between the tip of South America and Antarctica.

Dilip Donde - .. .

Some 90 nautical miles behind Jessica is Dilip Donde , a commander in the Indian Navy, who is on a Navy-sponsored solo circumnavigation, which will be a first for an Indian National if he succeeds. Dilip and Jessica have been in constant communication, and Dilip reports that he has received a flood of messages of goodwill since his proximity to Jessica was divulged on her blog.

Isabelle Autissier at the helm of Ada 2 - .. .

Just departed on a scientific and adventure mission is famed French sailor Isabelle Autissier on an expedition sailing yacht called Ada 2 (See Sail-World story ). Unless Jessica's wind picks up, it expected that the Ada 2, a much faster yacht, will be long gone to sail along the coast of Antarctica to 1st Peter Island before Jessica crosses their path.

John Bankart - Jessica’s former boss - .. .

Similarly, Jessica's former boss, veteran sailor John Bankart , owner of Sunshine Sailing Australia, also left Ushuaia on 6th January, and, unless the Spirit of Sydney, on a 26 day excursion with less than a dozen people on board, changes their itinerary, they will be well past Jessica's expected crossing point before she arrives.

The vessels, if they choose, will be able to communicate by HF radio as Dilip and Jessica have already been doing. In fact, it could become the most southerly 'sched' in the world!

It's not only sailing boats that Jessica is likely to see. For instance, cruise line Holland America's expedition ship the MS Veendam will be leaving the Falkland Islands on 19th January, and a sighting is possible as the cruise ship will be on its way south to Antarctica before returning via Cape Horn and Drake's Passage to Ushuaia.

Much more likely, however, is a sighting of her loyal parents, Roger and Julie Watson , who have flown to South America and will over-fly Jessica as she rounds the Horn - no matter what date.

...as long as the weather allows...

by Nancy Knudsen