BREAKING NEWS - Repairs concluded on Ella's Pink Lady

Repairs to Jessica Watson’s boat Ella’s Pink Lady

are nearing completion, courtesy of the continued support of all the tenants and the team at Gold Coast City Marina (GCCM), following a recent collision with a bulk cargo carrier during a sea trial to Sydney.

GCCM said Joe Akacich of Australian Marine Enterprises carried out all the repairs to the vessel after Ella’s Pink Lady sustained mainly damage to the mast and rigging in the early morning encounter with the ship earlier this month. The incident has not stopped the 16-year-old’s forthcoming attempt to be the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe unassisted.

The GCCM team has repaired the damage to the hull, deck and chainplate and finalised repainting the damaged areas. They have also replaced and repaired the damaged stanchions, lifelines, bowroller and replated damaged navigation lights, while sponsor logs have been refitted to the starboard side.

The final step in getting Watson on the water is fitting the new mast and replacement rigging, courtesy of David Lambourne, who anticipates fitting the rig by Friday.

The team at GCCM is hosting a function this Friday at the Waterlife restaurant at 3.30pm where the vessel will be officially relaunched.

Jessica will be making a thankyou speech to the many tradesmen and business owners who have contributed to getting Ella’s Pink Lady back on the water so quickly.

Further testing of Ella’s Pink Lady will take place over the weekend, before she heads off to Sydney.

Despite the slight setback, Jessica’s direction is positive and determined. “She is in high spirits and anxious to get to Sydney where she can commence her around-the-world voyage,” said a GCCM press release.