A NURSE who braved the waters of the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea to raise money for a charity close to her heart has returned home.
Jacquie Scott, 50, of Flag Walk, Eastcote, spent five weeks on a yacht sailing from Santa Cruz to Jamaica to raise money for St Vincent's Nursing Home, in Wiltshire Lane, Eastcote.
Although Miss Scott has 30 years of experience as a nurse and is one of the directors at the nursing home, she was a complete novice to sailing before this trip.
She said: "After years of focusing on work as a nurse in the NHS I felt I needed a small change of direction and a different kind of challenge from the life I was leading.
"The investment in physical fitness and personal time along with the financial commitment to participate in the race were a challenge in themselves.
"Not being able to communicate with family and friends was difficult at times and I missed the freedom to just talk to them.
"Life on board also makes you appreciate the simple things in life, such as access to drinking water, being able to wash and the food you eat. I have learnt a whole new language and a new way of life and certainly a far greater respect for the sea."
Miss Scott set off from Santa Cruz on April 15 on a leg of the Round the World Yacht Race, in which the 10 yachts in the race set out from
Liverpool to circumnavigate the globe. They are due back in Liverpool next week. The money she raised will go towards paying for a new minibus for St Vincent's.
* Go to www.justgiving.com/stvincentsorthhospital to make a donation.
