Solo sailing grandmother nears dry land

A 70-year-old British grandmother is due to sail back in Victoria, British Columbia within several days after spending over 245 days at sea alone.

Jeanne Socrates in her 38ft yacht, Nereida, will be officially timed as she passes the Ogden Point breakwater.

It will mark the completion if her non-stop single-handed sailing voyage around the globe - a feat undertaken without the use of the boat's engine for propulsion.

Nereida departed from Victoria Harbour on 22 October 2012.

Jeanne's voyage is being recorded by the World Sailing Speed Record Council. The yacht will be escorted in by a Prince of Whales whale watching boat. After arrival, Nereida will be docked in front of the Empress Hotel, courtesy of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority.

Third time lucky

Jeanne is a remarkable woman who has previously had her hopes of a successful non-stop round the world voyage dashed.

She has written a spirited daily journal throughout her quest, in which she describes the many challenges she has had on her voyages (http://svnereida.com/).

This is her third attempt; the first attempt resulted in the total loss of her boat, and during the second attempt her vessel was knocked down off Cape Horn and Jeanne was forced to put into port for extensive repairs.

Though she completed the circumnavigation, the non-stop challenge eluded her.

Jeanne learned to sail when she was in her late 40s. In 1997 she and her husband commissioned the first Nereida and sailed from the UK across the Atlantic.

After her husband's death from cancer, Jeanne started a steep learning curve that resulted in her deciding to carry on sailing single-handed.

She hopes to raise funds to support the Marie Curie Cancer Foundation by using her sailing to highlight the work it does in providing home care to terminally ill patients.

In 2004, Nereida was trucked from Florida to Vancouver. Her remarkable voyages since then (including the loss of the first Nereida) are documented in detail on her website.

After her laptop computer was damaged, Jeanne has had radio communications with many HAM operators around the globe who have lately been posting her progress reports received by radio.

Ocean Cruising Club

Jeanne Socrates, a member of the Ocean Cruising Club (OCC), is following in the path of another OCC member, Victoria resident Tony Gooch , who completed the same nonstop solo round the world sailing voyage in record time in 2003 aboard the sailing vessel Taonui.

Tony has acted as mentor to Jeanne.  Jeanne is recognized internationally for her sailing achievements, and she is well regarded locally, with friends in Vancouver, Victoria and Port Townsend who have assisted her in many ways and enthusiastically followed her progress toward her goal.

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China's Dalian Wanda to buy Sunseeker International

Luxury yacht manufacturer Sunseeker is to be bought by China's largest premier commercial property and entertainment conglomerate, it has been confirmed today.

The Dalian Wanda Group have announced that it will be investing £320million to acquire a majority shareholding of 91.81% in Sunseeker International Ltd.

The remaining 8.19% of shares are to be acquired by Sunseeker management. The deal is expected to close by mid-August.

The Chinese group said it had entered 'a definitive agreement' with Sunseeker, as part of a significant UK investment program, which also includes a real estate project in Central London and the building of a five-star Wanda hotel.

These two investments in the UK follow Wanda's $2.6billion acquisition of AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. in 2012 and mark significant progress in the company's international development.

What's next for the Sunseeker brand?

Commenting on the Sunseeker acquisition, Wanda chairman Wang Jianlin said: 'Acquiring Sunseeker deepens Wanda's international influence, further enhances our position in the global luxury, entertainment and tourism markets, and represents an important step forward for the overall development of our business.

'With the committed support of Wanda, Sunseeker is well-placed to take full advantage of opportunities in China, one of the world's fastest growing luxury yacht markets.

'We are confident that this will bring Sunseeker's business to the next level.'

He added: 'As a global brand in the luxury motor yacht sector with a rich history, Sunseeker is synonymous with quality and design leadership, and dedication to brand excellence.

'Wanda recognises the importance of Sunseeker's investment in innovation, the quality craftsmanship produced by its skilled workforce and its commitment to using the world's best components. We are committed to long-term investment in the Sunseeker business, its people and its iconic brand.'

Headquartered on the south coast of England, Sunseeker is one of the world's pre-eminent luxury motor yacht manufacturers and one of the few to have maintained consistent sales revenues in recent years

Wanda have pledged that under its ownership, Sunseeker will remain a British company, headquartered in Poole, Dorset, and will maintain its existing production bases in the UK along with its current workforce.

The existing management will remain on the Sunseeker Boards and Robert Braithwaite, the founder of the company, will continue to be involved in the management of the business.

Thrilled

Stewart McIntyre, managing director of Sunseeker International Ltd,said: 'We are thrilled to be joining the Wanda family. Support from Wanda will be instrumental in enabling Sunseeker to unlock the enormous potential of China's rapidly expanding luxury yacht market.

'Combined with Wanda's outstanding track record of entrepreneurship and history of commitment to supporting leading global brands, this investment will provide an excellent foundation for Sunseeker's next phase of growth.

'Wanda's history of managing global brands after acquisition makes clear that it will continue to invest in Sunseeker and support our management team as we take the company to the next stage of development.'

About Wanda Group:

The Dalian Wanda Group was founded in 1988 and operates in four major industries, including commercial properties, luxury hotels, culture & tourism, and department store chain.

The company has assets of 300 billion yuan ($48 billion) and an annual income of 141.7 billion yuan ($23 billion), and pays 20.2 billion yuan ($3.2 billion) in taxes every year. The company now operates 69 Wanda Plazas, 38 five-star hotels, 6,000 cinema screens, 57 department stores and 63 karaoke outlets across the country.

Pictures

(The Sunseeker China Limited edition model on display outside its Poole headquarters. Credit: Laura Kitching.

Wanda chairman Wang Jianlin and Stewart McIntyre, Managing Director of Sunseeker International Ltd. Credit: Dalian Wanda Group)

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JP McCarthy promoted to road product manager at SRAM

CHICAGO, IL (BRAIN) — SRAM has promoted John Paul "JP" McCarthy to road product manager, starting July 1.

McCarthy started at SRAM in 1994 as a tech rep. He has also worked in dealer service, distributor sales and aftermarket sales management. He will report directly to road category manager, Charles Becker and manage the day-to-day execution of SRAM’s road, triathlon and cyclocross product development. 

“JP has been a solid player in his many roles at SRAM, I’m fortunate to have the chance to bring him onboard the road product team; he has intimate knowledge of our entire brand, product lines, and history,” said Becker.

“Beyond my years of racing road, tri', and 'cross, I’ve had an active role in all SRAM product development for the past 15 years. I’m truly excited for the challenge,” said McCarthy.

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Newlyweds are being offered trips with Trinity House

On sale: 23rd May

Coming alongside under sail, how to predict sea states, sailing a Westerly Pentland, plus much, much more...

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Tri conference set for next January

Tri conference set for next January | Bicycle Retailer and Industry News Skip to main content Search form Search Follow Bicycle Retailer

Sections+- Industry NewsNorth AmericaInternationalStudies/ReportsRetail NewsOpinionProductsNew ProductsRecallsArchivesClassifiedsCalendarAdvertiseSubscribeContact You are hereHome » North America Tri conference set for next January Published June 20, 2013 by BRAIN Staff

ORANGE, CA (BRAIN) — Triathlon Business International announced that its annual conference will be earlier next year — January 26-28 — and move to Marina del Rey, California. Going into its fourth year, the annual multisport industry gathering has been held in February and in San Diego since its inception.  

Organizers said Marina del Rey is Los Angeles’ coastal playground and epitomizes the multiport industry and culture. It’s also a short 10-minute drive from the Los Angeles airport. 

A new addition next year is a race director track that will target this segment of attendees, include opportunities for directors to meet and network with peers and become informed on issues and trends facing race producers. 

The Ron Smith Triathletes of the Year awards as well as its multisport retailers and products awards will be presented during a dinner Jan. 27.

TBI’s inaugural global conference will take place Sept. 10-12 in London. 

More information: www.triathlonbusinessintl.com.

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Countdown to Condor Ferries' return to Weymouth

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 Laura KitchingPassengers will be able to sail from Weymouth from 17 July

Dorset-based Condor Ferries is preparing to welcome passengers back to Weymouth port for the first time in more than a year when services resume next month.

Reconstruction work on the ferry berth is almost complete, with just weeks to go before passengers can once again travel on ferry services between Weymouth, the Channel Islands and France.
More than 30,000 passengers have already booked travel to and from Weymouth this summer.

Condor Ferries will be operating sailings from both Weymouth and Poole from Wednesday 17 July, offering passengers the opportunity to select their preferred departure port.

The ferry company temporarily moved out of Weymouth and increased its services from Poole after a fault was discovered in the Weymouth harbourside in March 2012.

The repair costs, being met by the Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, have now reached £4.47million - half a million more than anticipated - due to a previously undiscovered concrete structure beneath the quay.

An economic survey from 2002 cited the ferry service as worth £7.7m a year to the local economy. 

Alicia Andrews, sales and marketing director at Condor Ferries, said: 'We always intended to return to Weymouth, once the ferry port was repaired.

'It's the natural gateway to the Channel Islands, and in the past year we have been active in fostering closer ties between the town and both Channel Islands.

'We are excited that we will be back as planned and know many of our guests are looking forward to being able to travel from Weymouth once more.'

The daily service from Weymouth to Guernsey, Jersey and St Malo gives access to the Channel Islands' stunning scenery and popular attractions, including the Jersey War Tunnels, Durrell Wildlife Park, to Castle Cornet and Victor Hugo's Hauteville House on Guernsey, where the author wrote his most famous work, Les Misérables.

To find out more visit www.condorferries.com 

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