Lady in a red hat meets the knight in red socks

By Suzanne McFadden

There is no mistaking Francine Cousteau - she is the woman in the famous red woollen hat.

It's the beanie made legendary by "the Captain" - her late husband, Jacques-Yves Cousteau.

"I like to wear it when I'm on board the boat. It's my tribute to the Captain," she says.

She is on Antarctic Explorer, docked in the home waters of the new captain of the Cousteau Society, Sir Peter Blake.

Madame Cousteau is in New Zealand for a week to visit Sir Peter. Together the pair plan to resurrect the ideals and dreams of the world-famous French oceanographer.

"I know it's not the time to speak about what we are going to do - I know he's very busy with the America's Cup," she said.

"But it's important for me to understand where he comes from. It's important if we have to work together that I understand his home and his people.

"He really is a person of quality. I know he is a hero and he has done so many extraordinary things.

"He is a courageous man, and a man of ethics. We needed someone like that after the Captain left. We couldn't have found a better man."

Just before Cousteau died in June 1997, aged 87, he asked Sir Peter to skipper the radical new Calypso II exploration boat.

The Cousteaus had been watching television in France six months before, and saw a British sailor rescue a Frenchman from his upturned boat during the Vendee Globe round-the-world race.

"The Captain said we have to have someone like that, with the guts to do what they do," Madame Cousteau said.

"I started scanning and we very quickly realised that Peter Blake was the one. He has a wonderful knowledge of the sea - he knows what he's talking about when he speaks of the oceans, the whales, the birds."

Sir Peter never got to meet Jacques Cousteau before the Captain died. Construction of the Calypso II was put on hold, but the society bought Antarctic Explorer for the New Zealand sailor's scheduled expeditions to the North and South Pole regions in the next five years.

The seas have not been smooth since Cousteau passed on. His estranged son, Jean-Michel, and Madame Cousteau, Jean-Michel's stepmother, had a very public falling-out. Jean-Michel did not agree that Sir Peter was the man for the job.

Last year, Equipe Cousteau in France was reported to be near bankruptcy.

But Madame Cousteau is marching on. The petite, blonde 53-year-old speaks with passion about her ecological plans.

She is off to Wellington to meet Environment Minister Marian Hobbs and present her "Label Cousteau" scheme to clean up the world's shores.

Her idea is to use the unemployed to take care of the edges of rivers, lakes and oceans.

"In many countries, water is considered a dump. Very soon, the edges of the water are going to support 70 per cent of the population," she said.

"To make the waters clean, first you have to clean the receptacles. You wouldn't have a bath in a dirty bathtub.

"I would be very proud if this beautiful country would be an example."

It is all part of the Waters of Peace theme the Cousteau Society has adopted, carrying on the Captain's belief that the world needs to be educated on the fragility of the Earth.

"We are not just going to say he was right. He was the voice - now we have to be the arms.

"Years ago the action was to sign a petition.

"Today we want people to roll up their sleeves and do it."