Take a look at Jeanne’s log at Sailing Yacht Nereida on Livejournal. Amazing. She’s back to rounding Cape Horn. From her log ….

“Wednesday 5th January…. Slowly we righted and soon after I looked to see what damage there was – clearly there was some – no instruments, for a start!.. but I could not budge the hatch to open it – try as might…! I had to climb out of the aft cabin hatch to access the cockpit – which I’d already seen enough of to realize the boom was broken in half and the canopy/dodger over the companionway was missing, along with its framework ….. there was safety glass everywhere. I soon realized why the hatch wouldn’t slide open – the halyard bag full of heavy wet lines, was lying on top and was soon removed along with several lines lying loose… Going down below, I noticed the perspex hatch was cracked in half vertically – a worry if we should ever get pooped. Next, I got the instruments working – a connection in the aft cabin had been hit by flying/sliding objects…”

(more…)

After lying broadside under bare poles and experiencing a second knockdown, NEREIDA is currently under tow (90nm) in 6-metre swell and breaking waves by the fishing vessel MAGELLENUS 3. She hopefully will be towed to Cook Bay Chile where the tow will be handed over to the Chilean Navy who will take her on to Porto William Argentina (54° 56.052’S 67° 36.518’W). The first knockdown is reported to have left her with a broken boom, the hard dodger gone, the hatch boards smashed, water inside the boat and the furling line wrapped around the prop shaft.

Jeanne Socrates is one tough sailor. And here’s to the fishing fleets of the world who are the only other people crazy enough to be out in those conditions.