Jeanne Socrates is out of the Southern Ocean, heading north

by Lee Mylchreest on 10 Apr 2013

Jeanne’s route so far SW

She's turn the corner towards warm water! It might have been a small adjustment to the helm but it was a momentous change of direction for the septuagenarian sailor. Jeanne Socrates, 70-year-old solo sailor, who has already passed all of the Great Capes in the Southern Ocean, has now turned her boat north to cross the Pacific to Vancouver in her quest for a solo non-stop and unassisted circumnavigation of the earth. While there are many miles to go, the dreaded Southern Ocean is behind her.

She has already recently recently circumnavigated solo via the five great capes (Cape Horn, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin, SE Cape of Tasmania, SW Cape of New Zealand) but had to stop on the way when she was knocked down close to Cape Horn. This attempt is her third solo circumnavigation of the globe.

SE Cape of Tasmania - she’s passed it again! © SW

With this short but not cryptic message she broadcast the news: 'Passed S of S.E. Cape of Tasmania 9am (local time) Mon 8th April 2013.

She was too far away to photograph it, so referred her followers to the photo she took LAST trip around.

Here is her latest blog report:

Just lost my entire, nearly-complete log report... grrr!!! If I turn off the radio or Pactor modem before I close down the Terminal window, the entire Airmail program hangs up... so anything not yet posted/saved is lost... Without thinking, I turned off modem as not having been needed for some time... so this is a complete (abbreviated!) re-write...

Having sailed SE-SSE all night long, I tacked around, after a lovely sunrise, and was surprised to find us able to make due N and, soon after, just E of N in ENE winds ....Excellent since, having made a little Easting overnight, it meant we cleared Tasman Island by over 20ml eventually, so none of the expected tacking was needed to keep well offshore in safe waters.

We've had a lovely sail today, in seas of only around 1.5m, making 6kt under full canvas a lot of the time while headed N and, around 3pm, under a blue sky, with wind having died a little and backed into NNE , we tacked around when E of Tasman Island and made 4 kt or more on a course of E-ESE, soon to become ENE as the wind backed even more...

A lovely sunset was followed by some dolphins paying a visit as darkness fell - I watched them from the bow & was just able to make out their backs and dorsal fins appearing above the water occasionally, as they played around the boat for a time.

Having to keep an eye on a Low forming well off N. Queensland over the next few days. Hopefully, it will finally track SE towards New Zealand, so as not to cause us a problem, even though it's expected to intensify. In meantime, we'll stay rather more to the W of our planned NE path, until it's clear what track it will follow.

Was forced to remove a fleece layer! Temp is well up - around 19-20C in the cabin and sea is now 18C so boat feels less cold and damp. Starry sky tonight.

Plenty more sociable chats with Aussie and US contacts over the day. Jeremy (Dover Radio) commented on current off E Australian coast as being often very strong and containing eddies - he's checking on up-to-date info for me.

As I finish writing this before getting to my bunk, I see the wind has backed some more - we're heading almost NE - nearly time to ease the sheets.... I expect to be on port tack for quite a time, with light-variable winds followed by NW-SW winds coming soon, as another Cold Front passes over..

D.M.G. over 24hr to 9am LT: 67 n.ml. - actually much more, since sailed S and then back N again over last night and today! Hobart (RYCT) : 87 ml (nearly due E)

To follow her progress, go to her http://www.svnereida.com!website.