© Jean Marie Liot/DPPI/Roxy
Sam trained at the prestigious school for offshore sailors in Port La Foret, where she was the only British sailor ever to have been awarded a place in their elite team of sailors.
Learning from the experts has been key to her progression - the training has already paid dividends as her performances in the 2004 season have been impressive - a 5th place in the two-handed transatlantic AG2R and 10th place in the overall Championships for the year.
She has raced in everything from Olympic campaigns with Shirley Robertson (who won Gold in Athens), to giant maxi-catamarans the size of 4 tennis courts such as in Tracy Edwards' ill-fated Jules Verne round the world record attempt which following a dismasting left Sam and her team thousands of miles from land, mid Southern Ocean, dream over.
Sam has sailed her whole life and while attending Cambridge University, she worked her way up the UK's male dominated professional crew circuit as a top 'bowman', taking part in several big events including the Fastnet Race, the Mumm36 World Championships and the Women's Keelboat Worlds.
In 2001, Davies competed in the slightly 'crazy' single-handed Mini-Transat race across the Atlantic, finishing 11th out of 65 tiny 21 foot boats, and was the first female competitor to reach Brazil. Previously from a fully crewed background, from that moment on her ambitions lay with solo sailing and following an invitation to join Ellen's team in 2003, Sam is now competing in the top solo circuit in France. Sailing a Figaro is not a 'cruise' - each 3 to 4 day leg usually allows a maximum of an hour or two of sleep in total, taken in 5 minute naps, such is the level of competition!
Sam has future round the world objectives as well as progressing further up the Figaro fleet, but by far her greatest aim is to always enjoy sailing and achieve the best she can in whatever project she takes part in.
Born 23:08:74
SAILING EXPERIENCE:
2007 Skipper of Open 60 yacht "Roxy" – project Vendee Globe 2008
Open 60 - 4500 nm solo qualification passage
2006 Transat AG2R – 12th position in Figaro
La Solitaire Afflelou le Figaro – 25th
SNSM – 5th onboard Roxy in the Open 60 class
Guadeloupe to Lorient onboard Roxy
2005 Trophee BPE St
Nazaire to Cuba – 5th
Generali Solo in Figaro
La Solitaire Afflelou le Figaro – 22nd
Tour de Bretagne
Route du Ponant – 4th
Vendee Defi – Outright Record Holder
2004 Member of the team at Pole Finistere Course au Large
Championnat de France – 10th and first girl ever in top ten!
AG2R (double-handed Lorient – St Barts with Jeanne Gregoire – 5th
Generali Solo – 12th
La Solitaire Affelou du Figaro – 19th
La Course des Falaises – 13th
2003 Transat Jacques Vabre – Team Cowes Open 60 – 6th
Tour de Bretagne – 18th
Generali Mediterranee – 24th
La Solitaire Afflelou de Figaro – 19th, 2nd Bizuth
La Route du Ponant
And many more ....
