Jeanne Socrates - solo round the world yachtswoman

Amazing woman. She said the 'wind gods' weren't with her!!
I've been in some pretty bad weather in the North Sea and the channel myself so the thought of a cyclone is terrifying.

I'm not sure she's that amazing. Heard her on the Today programme this morning. She obviously comes from a privileged background, speaks with a posh accent. Probably been sailing all her life. If it's something she wants to do, good for her.

Yep. sailing round the world alone is a feat most GNrs wouldn't want to do. But we all do our own things.

Everyone is different.

been sailing since she was in her forties actually

Good that she's raised money for the RNLI.

(Why do people always choose charities that they might themselves benefit from one day?)

I agree Riverwalk she is amazing, what a feat!
Whilst most of us are staring gloomily out of the window wondering if we really want to go out in the wind and rain to the shops/walk the dog/ etc, at 77 she is doing something we could never imagine doing in a million years ( and it doesn’t matter if she is: posh, been sailing all her life and so on....) however experienced a sailor, it was a dangerous and daring
Venture.

gonegirl that seems a strange statement to me - don't we all donate to charities which we feel an affinity towards. Cancer charities for those who have personal experience, lifeboat charities for those whose friends have been helped, animal charities for those with a love of all creatures?

I used to live on an island - I still give to the RNLI - yes, maybe I will benefit from them one day, but maybe so will you.

So Oxfam and other charities for starving kids is off your books is it?

That is exactly what I mean.

Uncharacteristicly sour of you GG at 09.22

She’s the oldest person, man or woman, to achieve this, and she’s a grandmother!

I know. I just feel people do these things because they want to, and have the means.

I'll bet there are grans on here soldiering on every day with difficulties we don't know about. I think that's more heroic.

But yes. It is a remarkable thing. I expect sour grapes comes into my response somewhere. Take no notice of me.

And Wildswan you are right. It does make sense to support charities you might one day need yourself.

I admired Francis Chichester greatly, so I have no idea why I'm so down on this woman.

Maybe I feel she's let the side down. ie I'm pretty knackered at the same age so she should be too.

Just reading up on Chichester - he was a mere 65 AND had a stop in Sydney!!

This woman didn't even make the front pages - when Richard Branson and other grown men with big toys go ballooning/space rides/microlighting, whatever, they get live TV coverage.

I think it's an astounding feat, and I don't believe that "a posh accent" would be any kind of support during the many serious challenges faced by a 77 year old alone for hundreds of days in a ten year old boat that'd already been round the world twice!

Why can't we just celebrate true achievement? Think of the legions of talentless individuals who achieve "celebrity" by a presence online or on reality tv shows. There is no comparison!

Blimey! That's all I can say. She must be quite a girl, posh accent or not.

Thanks for posting this Riverwalk, would have known nothing about her otherwise. Now curious to learn more and get off my butt and into the water.

She obviously comes from a privileged background, speaks with a posh accent. Probably been sailing all her life.

So what? I fail to see the relevance of the above remarks. Perhaps GG could return and explain them.

Priviliged background etc probably = money

Which says it all really.

(Would have thought that was self explanatory but nevertheless always happy to oblige)

She did it because she wanted to. Fair enough. Her choice. Don't expect rounds of applause from me.
I give to all sorts of charities. I don't need anyone to jump through self indulgent hoops to earn my donations.

Sorry GG, what has money got to do with it, apart from paying it? How many women of any age achieve the feat she has achieved?

When on other threads we are talking about inspirational women and women of achievement, why do you feel the need to knock someone who has achieved something at the age of 77 because she has money?

If someone gave you all the money would you be prepared to take on a project like this or something similar? If not, why not?

My sailing has never gone beyond sailing dinghies, but I have friends who have taken on sailing journeys, much less arduous and talked about some of the weather conditions and disasters they faced. To face the storms, repairs and experiences she has faced you need to be exceptional, whether you have money or not.

Oh for heaven's sake! Read what I have already posted. I'm not bothering with a fight with you.

And no. Surprisingly enough, I would not want to sail single-handedly - or any number of handedlys - round the word today or any other day.

Why does everything have to be made combatitive on GN.

How many women of any age achieve the feat she has achieved?



How many would want to? (sorry to laugh)

Deep pockets do matter. It can instil confidence, provide a host of opportunities, experiences, and in being able to pick and choose regarding adventures, if that’s your thing.

I agree she’s adventurous, blessed with good health, and crazy enough to attempt such a voyage. Good for her, but she has had good winds of fortune to bring her to this decision. I expect she will have substantial back up one way or another.

Sigh!

But many round the world sailors do not have money. Ellen MacArthur for one and many more who have depended on sponsorship in every form.

In fact most adventurers you read about whether on land or sea, climbing mountains walking though Arctic and Antartic regions are almost entirely dependent on funding from elsewhere, as they do ot have it themselves. It is this lack of money and their determination to overcome it and fulfill their ambitions come what may that makes many of them so successful.

I would say this lady is the exception in having the money to finance herself.

Either way regardless of finance this journey is a remarkable feat and I think we should be cel;ebrating her success in showing the world what older people can do.

We are surrounded by negative stereotpes of old age, we are ill and needy and a drag on society. Let us celebrate every older person who defies these stereo types wether this lady or the 100 year old lady who chose to go sky-diving for her centenary birthday.