A HISTORY-MAKING Hampshire grandmother who became the oldest woman ever to sail across the Atlantic has died aged 92.

Record-breaking Helen Tew made headlines around the world in 2001 when, aged 89, she completed the gruelling transatlantic crossing in a 26ft yacht designed by her late husband 60 years earlier.

She had just reached another milestone - seeing her memories of the trip published in a book - when she was taken ill and died on Tuesday at Southampton General Hospital.

Today tributes poured in to the woman who won the Help The Aged award for Achievement In Sport in 2002 as well as finishing runner-up in two categories at the British Nautical Awards in the same year.

Now her third son, Edward, revealed he would be honouring his mother's wishes by embarking on his own transatlantic voyage next week, just days after her funeral.

Born in Southsea, Mrs Tew grew up near Bridgwater in Somerset. She became a teacher before marrying husband John in 1936 and sailing around Britain and northern Europe.

The couple, and their children, lived in Lilliput, Dorset, during the war and in 1950 moved to Beaulieu after a year in Brockenhurst.

After raising five children, Mrs Tew embarked on the ten-month voyage that would make her famous. When she sailed back into the Solent, Mrs Tew basked in the glory with a special crewman - eldest son Donald who had accompanied her on the journey aboard the Mary Helen.

It was a lifelong ambition of the grandmother of 11 - one she set her sights on after her famous yachtsman father, Commander Douglas Graham, refused to take her on a similar Atlantic trip in 1932.

Such was the respect for Mrs Tew that round-the-world yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur sank to her knees to present her with a bottle of champagne to honour her achievement.

Son Donald said today: "She was a remarkable woman. Her whole attitude to life was grab a chance and you won't be sorry about what might have been. Her drive came from her own mother who insisted that you should put up with what you've got."

Mrs Tew formed the Ladies Life-boat Guild in Lymington and was a leading light in the Lymington Play-ers amateur dramatics group and South Baddesley Women's Institute.

In addition she was president of a national yachting association, the British 4/20, and taught sailing at Beaulieu River Sailing Club.

Mrs Tew's private funeral will be held at Southampton Crematorium next Tuesday before a memorial service is held at Beaulieu Abbey on Thursday, December 16.