Jeanne Socrates - solo round the world yachtswoman

I like that. One of my DGSs wants to be a pirate when he grows up. This would be the next best thing.

Also, this is a great way to support the RNLI

Gave my son and GSs a lifelong interest in lifeboats.

If anyone's interested in making a donation to the RNLI to honour Jeanne Socrates' achievement, the link is:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jeanne-socrates2

I'm surprised she's only had 80 donors so far.

Well ladies, I say that staying 388 days alone in the middle of the ocean at 77 years old is no mean feast. Very well done, a strong and courageous woman mentally and physically. There is hope for the over 70s. www.gransnet.com/emo/te/1.gif

Could be. Though Ellen MacArthur hardly lacked publicity.

Perhaps it’s because the news is so dominated by our political shenanigans at the moment

Or perhaps because she is a woman, as other posters have suggested.

There is a man running from Lands End to John o groats , SKY news are following his run.

This woman ? Silence .

What a woman, I am in awe

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

some publicity - should be more publicity.

If it wasn’t for this thread, I wouldn’t have heard of Jeanne Socrates. Perhaps it’s because the news is so dominated by our political shenanigans at the moment, but you’d have thought she would have merited some publicity.

I’m in awe. I love an adventurer.

Interesting, I assumed the person who dismissed her achievement because she was rich had checked her facts before posting.

She was in an orphanage from the age of 5 until 9. She sold her house to fund her voyage.

Jeanna Socrates attended the local state grammar school and then studied at university in the late 50s/60s. Nothing to say she had untold wealth though possibly she inherited the family home when she was orphaned. Local friends here who attended grammar school said they had elocution lessons to ‘improve’ their accents.

Actually Gonegirl I had already posted ‘some words’ earlier up the thread.

Never mind, it’s gone 7pm time for a gin fizz?

still not applauding

Thanks for posting that fact J52 .....perhaps all posters will feel they can applaud her now.

didn't say it was for Monica....

Don't feel like applauding anyone.

So I won't.

#grumpyoldsod

Am quite cheered up thanks Gonegirl and the sigh wasn’t for Monica ( so you got that wrong!)
It was for ffinochio’s comment.......when will poster realise that money doesn’t matter in these cases, it’s having the derring do to actually do this sort of thing.
Ellen McCarthy wasn’t from a privileged background, and if you are crazy about sailing you will find a way to do it. Crewing at first, and working your way up.
What is wrong in just applauding an older woman for a daring exploit?

She was an orphan, never knew her father and was a teacher in a West London School near the river. She only took up sailing as an extracurricular activity for her pupils.

lemongrove

Cheer up for Chatham.

Yep, I take your comments re. sponsorship Monica, and I do celebrate Jeanna Socrates determination and achievement, and at her age.
I still think that the opportunities to carry through such endeavours requires substantial advantages that many do not have. That’s just as life is.
As I said, good for her.

As for the sigh, lemongrove - why?

Not sure where I have actually "knocked" her. But there....

Oh, what exactly does the "sigh" mean *lemongrove"?!

At leastMonica has the nous to actually post some words.

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.