Jessica Watson's damaging storm - EPIRB set off

6:03 AM Sun 24 Jan 2010 GMT

'First storm on the way' .

Four knock-downs and a 70+ knot gale have damaged Ella's Pink Lady, and set off the EPIRB to give the support team and her family some worrying moments before she called to say she was okay.

The tough little boat has survived its worst storm so far, but suffered some significant damage.

In the worst of the storm, Jessica reported that the yacht was 'picked up, thrown down a wave, then forced under a mountain of breaking water and violently turned upside down.'

Targa damage from Ella’s Pink Lady’s first serious storm - .. .

As usual with any kind of storm, it was the rogue wave breaking from the side that did the damage. The solid frame of the targa, which supports the solar panels was bent out of shape in the knock-down, the wind vane is now bent sideways but still working, the mainsail has some tears and one of the stanchions is bent.

As with any knock-down, below decks is a mess, with various equipment not working, including the metholated spirits stove.

Jessica has admitted to suffering bruises during the storm, and now feels like a 'giant marshmallow', but has nothing but praise for those who prepared the boat for her journey.

by Nancy Knudsen

Click on thumbnails to enlarge and find more photos:

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Jessica Watson's damaging storm - EPIRB set off

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