‘Brotherhood of the Sea’ comes to Jessica Watson's aid
by Bob Wonders on 11 Sep 2009
’Ella’s Pink Lady’ in the shed at Australian Marine Enterprises where the major work will be carried out. Bob Wonders
The Australia marine industry has stood up to be counted as clients at the Gold Coast City Marina start work on repairs to ‘Ella’s Pink Lady’, the 34’ Sparkman and Stephens yacht aboard which 16-year-old Jessica Watson hopes to conquer the world.
Despite her collision with a 63,000 tonne container ship off South Stradbroke Island on Wednesday night, Jessica is still focused on becoming the youngest to circumnavigate the world unassisted.
She helmed the boat in herself to the Gold Coast City Marina on Thursday morning after spending the night at a private berth.
Dean Leigh-Smith, director of the marina, immediately put his crew and Travel Lift to work and lifted the damaged craft into the sheds of Joe Akacich’s Australian Marine Enterprises, where most of the repairs will be carried out.
Leigh-Smith described the actions of the companies that stepped forward to assist as being a first class example of 'the Brotherhood of the Sea.'
'When there’s a problem, we stick together,' he explained. 'And this shows also what a great bunch of clients we have here on the marina.'
Primary damage top the yacht stemmed from its main point of impact, about midships on the starboard side, the mast and boom were also smashed, together with some broken staunchions, lifelines and rigging damage.
David Lanbourne, of Yacht Rigging, who stepped and installed the original mast and rigging, is attending to the replacements. And the team at Spraytime Marine Services have promised to have the pink yacht back to its pristine best.
Leigh-Smith estimated a repair bill in the region of $50,000 and a time frame to have the boat finished in the order of five weeks.
'But we’re pulling out all stops to do the job in 10-days and there’ll be no invoices presented to Jessica, 'he added.
'Everyone is full of admiration for her and we just want to get things done as quickly as possible so that she can resume her trip south to Sydney and begin this wonderful adventure.'
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