Teen sailor's yacht badly damaged

By PAUL HARRIS, SMH

JESSICA WATSON: A crash on her first day out of port was not an auspicious start for the youngster's plan to sail solo around the world.

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Damage to Aussie schoolgirl Jessica Watson's yacht is worse than expected, but she still intends to head to Sydney next weekend to prepare for a solo around-the-world trip.

The yacht, Ella's Pink Lady, was damaged in a collision with the 63,000 tonne cargo vessel Silver Yang, off North Stradbroke Island, in the early hours of September 9.

The 16-year-old Queensland schoolgirl was heading to Sydney on a test run before attempting to break the record for the youngest person to sail solo around the world.

While it was initially believed the yacht suffered only minor damage to the rigging, the internal structure of the yacht has been found to be stressed.

As a result, workers at the Gold Coast City Marina have had to cut a hole in the side of the fibreglass structure to make internal repairs.

Jessica's media spokesman Scott Young said that thanks to the "outstanding" repair efforts, it was expected work on the yacht's internal structure would be completed in the next few days.

"Work on the mast and sail will then be conducted, and Jessica is confident she will be heading to Sydney again next weekend," Mr Young said.

Before setting sail to Sydney, however, Mr Young said Jessica would be taking the yacht on several test sails. 

- AAP