Lymington grandma becomes oldest person to sail solo round the world

A 77-YEAR-OLD grandmother from Lymington has become the world’s oldest person to complete a solo non-stop sail around the globe.

Jeanne Socrates, who is a member of the Royal Lymington Yacht Club, set the new world record with her 320-day journey which began in October 2018 and came to an end on Saturday in Victoria, Canada.

Avoiding cyclones, bad storms and windless stretches, she beat the previous record holder, Minoru Saito, who was 71 when he completed a 233-day unbroken solo lap of the world in 2005.

Hundreds of well-wishers and a flotilla of boats greeted her upon arrival to the harbour.

Her 38ft vessel Nereida survived the trip with a ripped mainsail, solar panels that fell overboard, and a damaged steering system.

Jeanne already holds the Guinness world record as the oldest woman to carry out the voyage when she completed it in 2013.

She overcame serious injuries when she fell off a ladder broke her neck and ribs whist preparing for another record attempt in 2017.

Speaking to a Canadian news outlet, she said: “The wind gods have not been with me – two cyclones off Hawaii to avoid, and a cyclone off the Indian Ocean to avoid. I wasted a week with that.”

Thanking the public for their support, she said: “They’ve sent me such great messages. I think they like the fact that I’ve persevered and overcome so many problems on the way around, and that I show it can be done.”

Jeanne used her expedition to raise money for the RNLI and managed to exceed her £2,000 target with a total of £2,583 donated to the cause.

Jeanne’s first round-the-world attempt ended in disaster in 2008 when she lost her yacht on a deserted beach north of Acapulco, Mexico, after running aground just before dawn only 12 hours short of completing her circumnavigation.

For more information about Jeanne’s latest voyage visit her website www.svnereida.com.