Jeanne Socrates
The Oldest Female Solo Circumnavigator
Jeanne Socrates is an admirable sailor! She gives inspiration to so many who see her as the embodiment of pursuing dreams, regardless of age. She is outstanding! And in my view, a hero.
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From her website:
Jeanne Socrates, aboard S/V Nereida, successfully completed a nonstop, single-handed, unassisted sail around the world at 2:26 a.m. on Monday 8th July 2013, when she passed Ogden Point at the entrance to Victoria Harbour, 259 days after leaving Victoria in October 2012.
She became the first woman to sail solo nonstop around the world from North America and the oldest woman to sail solo nonstop around the world (a
record noted in the Guinness Book of Records)
This was her third attempt to circumnavigate solo, nonstop and unassisted - eastabout via Cape Horn and the Southern Ocean - all attempts made without the help of a shore-based support team .... "My team is simply 'Nereida' and me!"
She received the Ocean Cruising Club's Special
Award on landfall and, in April 2014, their Barton Cup. On 7th March 2014, she was presented with the
Cruising Club of America's 'Blue
Water Medal' and, in April, with the Royal Cruising Club's 'Seamanship Medal'. She was short-listed both for the 'Yachtsman of the Year Award' (U.K.) and also for the 'Yachtworld Hero of the Year Award' (U.S.A.).
Previous awards received have been the "Duchess of Kent Trophy" (January 2012, from the Cruising Association) and the
Award of Merit (2011) and Rose Medal (2009) (both from the Ocean Cruising Club).
In August 2012, she became the oldest woman to have circumnavigated solo via the Five Great Capes of the Southern Ocean and she had previously, March 2007- June 2008, circumnavigated westabout via the
Panama Canal (although unfortunately finishing 60 miles short of her starting point in
Mexico - see below).
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From News Articles:
Daily Mail:
'I've enjoyed the many birds keeping me company - many different albatross, both juvenile and adult, have come close to the boat as well as petrels, prions and shearwaters.
'I've also enjoyed the many contacts I've made by
radio with people in different countries - all of whom have been very supportive and encouraging.'
Her epic journey from
Canada took in several southern capes, including those in
Chile,
South Africa and Western
Australia.
Mrs Socrates's first attempt in November 2009 ended in
South Africa when she was forced to stop in
Cape Town for an
engine replacement.
Her second in October 2010 was halted when her boat was damaged in a bad knockdown over 100 miles west of Cape Horn on Day 72.
She arrived back at Victoria's Inner Harbour just before 3am on Monday morning - completing her third attempt.
The pre-dawn arrival ended several days of anticipation as light winds along the
west coast of
British Columbia stalled her return, which was expected on July 5.
John Franklin, from the Ocean
Cruising Club (OCC), said: 'Jeanne is one of our most accomplished sailing members in recent years.
'Your friends at OCC are most proud of you, Jeanne.'
Mrs Socrates, whose husband George died of cancer in 2003, is fundraising for Marie Curie Cancer Care."
Read more:
Jeanne Socrates, 70, becomes oldest woman to sail solo round world non-stop | Daily Mail Online
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Profile Article in Cruising World Magazine (2010):
Profile of Jeanne Socrates | Cruising World