Fiona Jackson's Elicia sank in 27m of water two years ago but mum and child are now back and in fine form.
Fiona Jackson’s Elicia sank in 27m of water two years ago but mum and child are now back and in fine form.
Appropriately recognised by Skandia Life within its sponsored squad as ‘Skandia Commitment’, it has taken the crew of XOD 118 Elicia a lot of hard work and determination to enable them to enter this year’s event.
In many cases the sinking would have spelled an end to the 1960 carvel-built keel boat, but for the affection doted on her by her owner. “I don’t feel that I own Elicia, merely look after her for the next generation,” Fiona explains. It was for this reason that Fiona invested so much time and money over 18 months to salvage and restoring her. “She survived her ordeal quite well as XODs tend to be very well built boats, and although she came back looking a mess it was mainly cosmetic damage; her rig was in three pieces, her boom was in two and all her coamings had perished. It’s been lots of work, but I had help from lots of people, for which I’m very grateful.”
This is the first event that Elicia has been entered since she took her inopportune trip to the bottom. But Fiona believes that she now looks, and sails, better than ever. “I think she’s glad to be back on the water , but we’re in the middle of the fleet and it’s a very competitive class of about 75 boats. So you can imagine it’s not a good place to be when you’re a worried mum fretting about your ‘new’ boat!”
To listen to Fiona live on QuickTime, click here.