Ella Bache products, Jessica Watson and child exploitation

Jessica Watson is in the news. Just do a Google search. She is a sixteen year old about to embark on a solo, unaided, non-stop circumnavigation of the world (22,000 nautical miles over an estimated 240 days) in a 10 meter yacht.

Her website can be found here: http://www.jessicawatson.com.au/ .

Let me wish Jessica Watson a lot of luck. She will need it, even was she not so manifestly lacking the required skills. There is ample evidence that very highly skilled and highly experienced solo sailing seafarers can get into deep trouble and even get killed, as well as jeopardizing other lives, those of their rescuers, in much smaller events than what Jessica is attempting.

Let me say outright that my objections to Jessica attempt has nothing to do with the fact that the sport is dangerous, that lives are likely to be at risk or that she is female. I simply object to children's exploitation. Jessica is sixteen. She is, at

best, an adolescent, and in most jurisdictions is not able to: join the army, vote, drink alcohol, drive a car, attend a night club, etc. Yet, here we have corporations that, motivated by profit, in this instance correlated to media exposure, encouraging a child in a decision the child ought not to be able to make by most reasonable standards.

Now for a bit of recent history about Jessica Watson. On the 8th September 2009, Jessica set out from Brisbane to Sydney, her departure point for her round the world adventure, as a trial solo sail. During this sail, in fact within 14 hours in pitch black darkness, she collided with a 63,000-tonnes, 225-meters, tanker, breaking her mast and forcing her to landfall for extensive repairs. She was criticized about this accident by the maritime authorities following investigation. Special criticism was made of her preparation and planning. Notably she:

* Most probably dozed off before her vessel hit and was dragged alongside the 63,000-tonne cargo ship.
* Could not produce a clear, plotted plan for her journey.
* Had not developed a fatigue management plan.
* Kept a log with "irregular latitude and longitude entries".

I noted yesterday, in the news, that on recommendation from her advisors, Jessica has delayed her departure from Sydney, by a few days, to avoid forecast bad weather?! I categorically say that she will experience much more severe weather, than this Sydney forecast weather, during her planned voyage, when she will be hundreds of miles from shore and not able to simply drop anchor and wait it out. It makes me wonder whether her advisors are getting any benefits from any of her sponsors who may wish for her to experience the first bad weather when it is too late to turn back. That, of course is pure speculation on my part, but it would seem to align with the sponsors venal interests to say the least.

I love yachting and have crewed in a number of blue water races in my time, yet I have a problem with Jessica endeavor. Whilst I have a problem with her endeavor, I think I can understand her motivation in all its romanticism, but I definitely do not accept the behavior of her sponsors. Here you have some corporations, some large ones, exploiting a child in what I feel I must call a perverted way.

I am urging all those who understand the concerns I have expressed here, to boycott the sponsors. This would be the clearest of signal that corporate responsibility does not end with exposure success, especially when the life of a young person, unlikely to be capable of making a rational adult decision, is at stake.

Here is a list of the sponsors, or should I call them child exploiters:

Major Sponsor:
*Ella Bache

Gold Sponsors:
*Hachette Australia
*Panasonic
*One HD
*SatCom Global
*McIntyre Adventure

Silver Sponsors:
*Australian Marine Enterprises Pty Ltd
*Fleming Self Steering
*David Lambourne Yacht Rigging & Consultancy
*BWR Multihulls
*Yanmar
*Simrad
*Musto
*Jeppesen Marine

Official Suppliers:
*Hella Marine
*Gold Coast Marina and Shipyard
*Australian Marine Enterprises Pty Ltd (AME)
*Mooloolaba Marina
*McMurdo Emergency Location Beacons
*Pains Wessex Australia
*Profurl
*Rutland Windcharger
*Precision Wind Technology
*P&W Marine Engineers
*Bias Boating
*International Yachtpaint
*Bainbridge International
*RFD
*Dick Smith
*Ullman Sails
*Boat Names Australia
*Red Lid Advertising and Design

I hope I haven't forgotten anyone.

Lets hit the biggest first and join, hopefully many others, in boycotting Ella Bache, child exploiter out of corporate greed. There are plenty of other companies that sell skin care products and don't feel the need to exploit children to be able to sell their products. Could other companies products be better? Have a try and at the same time do children a favor.

Stop perverted advertising!

End exploitation of those that, by reason of their age, should be protected from self-harm!

Boycott Ella Bache!