Jeanne sails through Captain Cook's discoveries

Is our senior lady circumnavigator enjoying what must count as just about the toughest assignment anyone could embark upon, or is she enjoying a sightseeing study of remote places of the world that very few humans are lucky

enough to experience?

Without a doubt, Jeanne Socrates's look at the world takes enormous courage, and continues to do so.

She sailed away from society 278 days ago to round Cape Horn - the equivalent of the climbing Everest to mariners - and to encircle the world on her own.

Think of what other 76-year-old ladies you know have been up to since the 3rd of November last year - 278 days ago, two days short of 40 weeks.

Brave, determined lady

Another amazing aspect of the amazing voyage is that the brave, determined lady continues to be ignored by the media.

After she left the New Zealand pause in Timaru harbour, a Google Alert in operation has found not one report of her astonishing performance, except an article by Katy Stickland in the excellent Sailing Monthly.

Today Jeanne approaches the island of Mo'orea, next to Tahiti, a stunningly beautiful part of the world that Captain Cook knew well. Is the determined lady planning a spot of sight-seeing?

Jeanne reports, 'Changed course slightly a short while ago to head a bit closer to Mo'orea.'

To see some of the gorgeous scenery - the most beautiful island in the world, says Frommer's travel guide - or to see evidence of the migration to ancient Polynesia?

Single-minded

Seems Jeanne's too single-minded for that. She hopes to use the leeward side of the island to repair a tear high up on the leech of the mainsail.

I based my novel, To Kill a God (Heinemann), on Captain Cook's voyaging to Polynesia, so for me especially it is almost inconceivable that anyone, and most of all a Brit, could be so close to that astonishing seafarer's islands and not have him in mind.

Continues on the blogs for my ocean adventuring book, Sailing to Purgatory, at http://sailingtopurgatory.com/index.php/feeds/414-jeanne-sails-through-captain-cook-s-discoveries