Press Releases
Queen Mary 2 Connects with Lone Sailor Jessica Watson
23 Mar 2010
Lone Australian sailor, Jessica Watson, has had some „company? on her long voyage around the world, with Queen Mary 2 Captain Nick Bates calling in for a chat as his massive liner sailed near Jessica?s yacht in the Indian Ocean.Aged just 16 when she set out from Sydney last October, Jessica is on the homeward leg across the vast Indian Ocean in her effort to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world.
The connection between Cunard?s grand lady of the seas and Jessica?s yacht, Ella?s Pink Lady, came as Jessica sailed about 600 miles to the south of Queen Mary 2 late last week.
“We had a good connection and a bit of a chat and I was able to play it back over our PA system to all of our guests at my regular noon broadcast,” Captain Bates said. “It went down a storm with our guests, especially the Australians.”
And, in good news for Jessica as she makes her way across the Indian Ocean, Captain Bates reported beautiful weather for Queen Mary 2?s passage on one of the longest legs of her 101-day world voyage.
Jessica was clearly excited at having made contact with Queen Mary 2?s „Captain Nick?, recording it later in her blog.
“I talked to 'Captain Nick' of the Queen Mary 2 over the satellite phone today as they passed well to the north of Ella's Pink Lady,” Jessica reported.
“They were headed from Perth to Mauritius and Nick passed on the best wishes of all the Aussie passengers and left me thinking a little longingly of all the luxuries on board the QM2.”
At 10.23 metres long, Ella?s Pink Lady could comfortably fit on the back pool deck of the 345 metre long Queen Mary 2.
As Captain Bates? satellite phone call from Queen Mary 2 has confirmed, Jessica might be on her own but she is never alone on the sea when other seafarers are looking out for her.
Media contacts:
Libby Moffet/Larissa Kaye
MG Media Communications
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