The Queensland Maritime Museum has become the home for Ella’s Pink Lady, after the Queensland and Commonwealth governments jointly purchased the yacht. The Pink Lady is part of sailing history after Queenslander Jessica Watson made history as the youngest person to sail solo and unassisted around the world in 2009/10.
Ella’s Pink Lady is a Sparkman & Stephens 34 foot yacht, well respected for her seaworthiness , resilience and track record. The same American design has been used by other solo round-the-world sailors.
Jessica commenced her journey in Sydney and, a week before her 17th birthday, she sailed back into Sydney Harbour. Her journey had taken 210 days and covered 23 000 nautical miles.
Volunteers have built a replica of the cabin of the yacht which visitors may enter to get some feel of what Jessica experienced on her journey.