Jeanne faces more gales, storms ... and temptation

Isn't our elder solo circumnavigator, Jeanne Socrates doing well. The gal has reached about the middle of the South Indian Ocean, about midway between South Africa and Australia, two very

tempting destinations.

For a lady who has been on her own since 3rd October and facing singlehandedly oceanic threats that such daring entails, most of us would say that the dear gal has earned a G and T by now.

Yet steadfastly, determinedly, she presses on. As I pointed out a little while ago, Jeanne had only to steer a little to her left to find herself surrounded by the best of company in Cape Town.

Showing off her stronger stuff, she ignored temptation and kept going

Dumped upside down

When I sailed the waters she plies now, my singlehanded yacht, Spirit of Pentax, had been dumped upside down by an angry ocean and her foremast broken.

I had no choice but to aim for Freemantle, which of course, is the outer entry for highly, hospitable Perth.

I don't mean it as a male boast, but more as a sign of the hospitality of West Australians.

Hardly had an hour or two passed in port than a most delectable Australian was offering a most astounding welcome, one I am not likely to forget.

Well, Jeanne was able to display the courage and determination that makes her such an outstanding singlehander as she approached Cape waters, and then passed along the foot of South Africa… Continues on the blogs for my ocean adventuring book, Sailing to Purgatory, at
http://sailingtopurgatory.com/index.php/feeds/361-jeanne-faces-more-gales-storms-and-temptation