Pink yacht used by Australian sailor Jessica Watson to sail the world solo is left to rot with mould
The pink yacht used by Jessica Watson to become the youngest person to sail solo and nonstop around the world ten years ago has been abandoned and left to rot.
Ella's Pink Lady, the yacht the then-16-year-old used to complete the 210-day journey in 2009, was sold to the Queensland Maritime Museum for $300,000.
It is now worth a fraction of the price paid by the State and Federal Governments as it is covered in mould and has started leaking.
Ella's Pink Lady, the yacht the then-16-year-old used to complete the 210-day journey in 2009, was sold to the Queensland Maritime Museum for $300,000 in 2011
Eerie pictures show the bright pink vessel left abandoned outside the museum after it was moved from an undercover shed
Jessica Watson is pictured at 16 years old in April 2010 during her journey holding a squid that jumped onto her boat
Eerie pictures show the bright pink vessel left abandoned outside the museum after it was moved from an undercover shed.
A replica cabin that was built by volunteers has also been mothballed, The Sunday Mail reported.
Director of Marine Auctions and Valuations Adrian Seiffert said the Pink Lady was no longer worth $300,000 as it had been out of the water for years.
'I believe the vessel could be in poor condition, and not worth a lot of money in its present condition,' he said.
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Share'I do not think that there would be any potential buyers, even as the vessel was sailed around the world by Jessica Watson, who would be prepared to pay a premium for the yacht.'
Ms Watson famously became the youngest person to sail around the world completely alone at age 16.
The now-27-year-old management consultant spent a total of 210 days - or close to seven months - alone when she circumnavigated the globe on a boat, using all sorts of coping mechanisms to get through her day-to-day life.
Jessica Watson is seen being escorted by well wishers as she headed off on the solo global circumnavigation from Sydney's Middle Harbour on October 18, 2009
Ms Watson was named the Young Australian of the Year in 2011 and became the youngest person to sail from Sydney to Hobart in the race
Solo sailor Jessica Watson onboard her yacht Ella's Pink Lady with brother Tom in 2010
Ms Watson told Daily Mail Australia one of the hardest things about being isolated for a lengthy period wasn't so much being by herself, but adjusting back into normal life afterwards.
'I hadn't seen another person's face in seven months, I'd seen land just a handful of times,' she said.
'Even just seeing Australia again was overwhelming.'
Ms Watson said she was thrown back into normal life at speed - meeting the Prime Minister, TV stations and all sorts of people who wanted to shake the hand of the talented sailor.
Ms Watson famously became the youngest person to sail around the world completely alone at age 16. Pictured is a webgrab she posted on April 11, 2010 during the journey
Teen sailor Jessica Watson sails into Sydney Harbour aboard her yacht, Ella's Pink Lady, on May 15 2010
'To be able to even have a bath was a sensory overload,' she said.
'Hearing sounds and people's voices was really vivid.'
Ms Watson was named the Young Australian of the Year in 2011 and became the youngest person to sail from Sydney to Hobart in the race.
She has since graduated from university and became a management consultant.
'It might sound funny to other people that the girl who ran away from school and studying to sail around the world ended up studying but management consultancy is something I did always want to do,' Ms Watson said.
Ms Watson told Daily Mail Australia one of the hardest things about being isolated for a lengthy period wasn't so much being by herself, but adjusting back into normal life afterwards. Pictured is Ms Watson in 2010 during Stakes Day at Flemington
'I always try to put myself out of my comfort zone. I'd given my body a workout with the sailing; now I wanted to give my brain a workout too.'
And while she is happy behind a desk for now, Jessica said she does still harbour dreams of sailing again in the future.
'I'd love to sail around the world again one day, but this time I'd like to stop at some places and enjoy it!' she laughed.
Jessica has authored a book called Indigo Blue inspired by her love of adventure and sailing, and also feels she has more novel writing in her.
WHO IS JESSICA WATSON?
The 16-year-old embarked on her solo, unassisted and non-stop journey around the world on October 18, 2009.
She navigated some of the world's most remote oceans, travelling 23,000 nautical miles over 210 days.
Jessica's parents were widely criticised for allowing their daughter, who had been sailing since she was eight years old, to attempt the solo journey.
But the teenager proved the naysayers wrong when she returned to Sydney Harbour on May 15, 2010.
Jessica was welcomed by more than 75,000 people as she steered into Sydney, including then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
'I'm completely overwhelmed. I just don't know what to think and what to say at the moment,' Jessica said as she arrived.
The teenager ventured through the Pacific, across the equator, past Cape Horn in South America, across the Atlantic, past the Cape of Good Hope and through the Indian Ocean.
Mr Rudd said she did the nation proud, adding she was a 'hero for young Australians'.
But Jessica said she didn't consider herself a hero.
'I'm an ordinary girl who had a dream. You just have to have a dream and set your mind to it,' she told the then Australian leader.
Jessica, who was awarded Young Australian of the Year 2011, then turned her attention to literature and has written two novels.
In 'True Spirit' she recalls her seven-month journey at sea and how she navigated her 34-foot boat back to Australia.
Last year, Jessica rleased a children's adventure book called Indigo Blue.
Jessica says books have had a big impact on her and candidly recalls her struggles with dyslexia.
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