Please select your home edition
Edition
Navico AUS Zeus3S LEADERBOARD

Sailor Jeanne Socrates, world's oldest non-stop female circumnavigator

by Nancy Knudsen on 9 Jul 2013
Jeanne shares a glass after her amazing triumph SW
After many days of frustrating drifting, 70-year-old British sailor Jeanne Socrates has made it home to Victoria in triumph, becoming the oldest woman to single-handedly sail non-stop around the world without outside assistance.

Jeanne crossed the finish line in Victoria Monday morning between 2 and 3 am, and she tied up safely in Victoria Harbour.


Jeanne set out from Victoria's Inner Harbour in her 11-metre cruiser Nereida on October 2012, on her third - yes third attempt to achieve a non stop solo circumnavigation.

The pre-dawn arrival ended several days of anticipation as light winds along the west coast of British Columbia stalled her return, which was first expected on July 1st, then July 5th, but the goal became frustratingly elusive as she was becalmed for several days.

Her first circumnavigation attempt ended just 60nm short of crossing the line to complete her circumnavigation when she ended up on a beach and lost her boat - her first Nereida.

Determined not to give up she obtained her current boat, also called Nereida, and began again. This time she suffered a knock-down while trying to round Cape Horn in violent weather and limped in to Ushuaia to repair her boat. While the 'non-stop, unassisted' goal had once more escaped her, she sailed across the Southern Atlantic to Cape Town, realising on the way that, on arrival in Cape Town she had crossed her outbound path and become the oldest female to complete a circumnavigation (with stops).

This still wasn't good enough for this indomitable sailor. She sailed on to Victoria in Canada to prepare her boat once again for the elusive non-stop journey.

The grandmother and retired teacher is raising money for Marie Curie Cancer Care, a British program that provides free home nursing for terminally ill cancer patients.

Congratulations, Jeanne, the sailing world, loving a free spirit as it does, is proud of you.

Pantaenius Sail 2025 AUS FooterAllen SailingB&G Zeus SR AUS

Related Articles

Middle Sea Race set to attract exceptional fleet
Royal Malta YC has 118 entries already At midnight on Friday, 19 September the 46th Rolex Middle Sea Race had amassed a fleet of 118 yachts. The entrants represent 30 countries and territories: from Australia and New Zealand to Finland and Norway, and from the United States to Romania.
Posted today at 6:27 pm
52 Super Series 2025 Porto Cervo day 1
Solid Sled earn early lead in Sardinia Takashi Okura's Sled lead the 52 SUPER SERIES - Porto Cervo - Range Rover regatta after the first two windward leeward races.
Posted today at 6:10 pm
Formula Kite Worlds Quartu Sant'Elena preview
9th Sardinia Grand Slam is the first major step towards Los Angeles 2028 Next September 28th to October 5th, the Poetto beach will host the event that crowns the new World Champions. Among the top contenders: Maeder, Vodišek, and Pianosi in the men's fleet; Nolot, Aldridge, and Kampman among women
Posted today at 5:14 pm
SailGP, TOR Europe, Women's Match Racing Worlds
Good things often happen when preparation meets opportunity Good things often happen when preparation meets opportunity. Such was the case for the Germany SailGP Team presented by Deutsche Bank squad when they notched their first-ever SailGP event win at last weekend's Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix.
Posted today at 5:00 pm
Melges 15 Fittings Guide
A breakdown of the fittings based on a complete Allen Brothers fit-out If you are looking to upgrade or replace the hardware on your Melges 15, it helps to know exactly which fittings you need and what their role is on the boat.
Posted today at 7:30 am
Fortaleza World Sailing Championships announced
Test event in January 2026, and the real thing in January 2027 World Sailing has confirmed the dates for Fortaleza 2027 World Sailing Championships as 22-30 January 2027, with a Test Event being held one year prior.
Posted today at 6:40 am
All set in Trieste for the Melges 24 Worlds
Racing set to begin at Yacht Club Adriaco The countdown is nearly over. In just a few hours, the Yacht Club Adriaco will oversee the start of one of the most eagerly awaited international sailing events of the season.
Posted today at 4:41 am
2025 Six Metre World Championship Day 1
Wind gods fail to deliver in Oyster Bay, NY Sadly day one of the 2025 Six Metre World Championships at the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club (SCYC) proved to be a non-starter as the wind failed to make an appearance.
Posted today at 12:51 am
52 Super Series Porto Cervo practice race
The loss of the last 'dress rehearsal' is something of a disappointment Although there was just enough breeze to execute a couple of meaningful practice starts, the breeze dropped away and thereafter proved insufficient to allow the planned two short official practice races to be sailed today off Porto Cervo.
Posted on 22 Sep
Materials That Make the Difference
Discover the performance fabrics behind the Henri-Lloyd AW25 collection Discover the performance fabrics behind our AW25 collection. This season, Henri-Lloyd has focused on advanced, responsibly sourced materials designed to thrive in demanding coastal conditions.
Posted on 22 Sep