Extreme danger? Jeanne gives it the cold shoulder

Courageous Jeanne Socrates approaches one of the most dangerous sea areas in her bid for international seafaring stardom down there in the Southern Ocean, now south of West Australia, and

closing on the notorious Great Australian Bight.

And yet as she closes in on this highly tempestuous and moody part of the great Southern Ocean, the 76-year-old ignores danger all around.

Instead she muses on problems with communications.

She apologised for not being able to keep some assigned schedules.

Gusting over 45 knots

At 11:30am yesterday, she added, ‘Just got back down below after lowering trysail and stowing/tying it down ready for deploying a drogue later today.

‘Winds are expected to be over 35 knots, gusting over 45 knots, from later today through to Tuesday, with six metre seas - seven for a time, as well. I decided to be safe, although I was really hoping to be able to keep going...'

I’ve been in almost exactly the same position in that horrendously risky part of a highly risky Southern Ocean and marvel that the likely danger doesn’t dominate her thoughts.

My first visit was in childhood when the family migrated after the war to New Zealand on board the good ship, Orontes.

Raging storm

She was a huge ship, 20,000 tons, yet the raging storm in the Great Australian Bight seemed – to the very wide eyes of a child – to be almost lain on her side.

My next time was during my singlehanded Cape Horner voyage in the rather eccentric schooner, Spirit of Pentax. Continues here ....
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