Jessica heads south in 33+kt southerly buster and 3 metre seas

9:24 PM Sat 3 Oct 2009 GMT

'Jessica - Photo by David Kelly' .

16-year-old Jessica Watson has been met by the southerly change that was forecast for last night, and is currently tacking south well off the NSW coast in 33-plus knot winds and rising seas.

A strong wind warning was current for the entire NSW coastline last night, but this had also been forecast when Jessica left Southport with north-easterly winds behind her. Last night the weather bureau was forecasting swells of three metres and more.

Jessica has passed the halfway mark of her trip from the Gold Coast and yesterday was sailing south from Crescent Head, on the mid northern NSW coast.

Her manager Andrew Fraser told the Courier Mail that Jessica had coped well with strong winds and 2.5m swells overnight Friday.

'They're not easy conditions,' Mr Fraser said. 'We didn't want it to be plain sailing. She's starting to get her sea legs back.'

Mr Fraser said when he spoke to Jessica yesterday she was 'very nonchalant' about the conditions. 'She just loves being out there,' he said.

The good news is that such conditions will be a good test of the repairs that have been rapidly done on the boat since her recent dismasting.

by Nancy Knudsen

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Jessica heads south in 33+kt southerly buster and 3 metre seas

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