Jeanne Socrates sailed for 259 days

Jeanne Socrates sailed for 259 days

Jeanne Socrates sailed for 259 days, Jeanne Socrates sailed into the history books yesterday morning after 259 days alone at sea.

The 70-year-old British grandmother successfully completed her third attempt at a solo non-stop global circumnavigation in Victoria, British Columbia.

Jeanne Socrates arrived dockside at Victoria Harbour n her 38ft yacht, Nereida, just before dawn and managed to get some sleep before customs were due to arrive at 8am.

Jeanne said: 'I was on a high, despite little sleep during previous night spent drifting between shore and shipping lanes, and I felt fine - both then and over the succeeding days when lots of friendly, supportive people kept coming by to meet up with me in Victoria.'

She added: 'People here have been exceedingly kind and welcoming and, combined with
lovely sunny weather, it's been a highly enjoyable landfall.

'Although I have now hauled out - I'm getting down to a lot of repairs and hard work... Nereida is in need of plenty of TLC!'
Light winds delayed Jeanne's triumphant return by several days.

Jeanne left Victoria Harbour, B.C. Canada on 22 October 2012 and travelled more than 25,000 nautical miles to become the world's oldest female solo nonstop unassisted circumnavigator.

She is also the first female solo nonstop circumnavigator to start from North America.
Third time lucky
Jeanne's achievement was recorded by the World Sailing Speed Record Council. The official time will be published later.

This was her third attempt; the first attempt resulted in the total loss of her boat, and during the second attempt her vessel was knocked down off Cape Horn and Jeanne was forced to put into port for extensive repairs.
Though she completed the circumnavigation, the non-stop challenge eluded her.

Jeanne learned to sail when she was in her late 40s. In 1997 she and her husband commissioned the first Nereida and sailed from the UK across the Atlantic.

After her husband's death from cancer, Jeanne decided to carry on sailing single-handed.
Jeanne is raising funds to support the Marie Curie Cancer Foundation by using her sailing to highlight the work it does in providing home care to terminally ill patients.