Woman's bid for sailing record

A 69-year-old woman from Ealing is on the 'last leg' of her record attempt to become the first woman to sail around the world alone, nonstop and unassisted.

Now on day 183 of her journey, Jeanne Socrates left Victoria in Canada on 22nd October 2012.

This is her third attempt to complete the journey. On her return to Victoria, she will become the oldest person to sail nonstop on her own around the world.

Jeanne's yacht Nereida is said to be 'battle-scarred' after severe weather caused damage to the vessel. However an emergency stop has so far been averted as she has managed to successfully carry out the repairs herself.

You can follow Jeanne on her record attempt here as her position is transmitted.

Aiden McGivern from the Met Office says that sailing round the Cape of Good Hope can be extremely dangerous.

Jeanne is now heading on towards the Indian Ocean, after a 35-day crossing of the South Atlantic from Cape Horn - the southern tip of Chile.

The next Great Cape on the list will be Cape Leeuwin , south of Perth in Western Australia.

Daily updates on her progress can be found on her website: www.svnereida.com

The 70-year-old is putting a brave face on a host of technical issues, having had problems with wind instruments, her electronic compass and the autopilot rudder reference unit.

"Anything screwed or bolted tries to come undone with the constant motion," she said, admitting that - at times - she was "sailing by the seat of her pants".

She is judging the wind strength according to the traditional Beaufort Scale, a system that estimates wind speeds based on the conditions at sea, and dealing with her sails according to the boat's behaviour.

She said: "If we're heeling too much, it's time to reef down - simple! Telling the wind direction is no problem in daylight - I can read the ripples on the water - not a problem!"

A 70-year-old from Ealing, who's attempting to become the first woman to sail around the world alone, nonstop and unassisted, has passed the Cape of Good Hope.

Reaching the rocky headland on the coast of South Africa is a major milestone for Jeanne Socrates, who is 115 days into her third attempt at the record.

She set off from Victoria in Canada's British Columbia in October and hopes to complete her circumnavigation in early June.