On Sunday 10 November, 40 sailors will start the world’s toughest solo, non-stop round the world race known as the Vendée Globe, circling the entire planet and skirting Antarctica. Taking nearly three months, the solo skippers will face brutal conditions. Six of the skippers are female and Britain’s Samantha Davies, is ranked one of the race favourites as she embarks on her fourth participation in the race.
No woman has won the race since it began in 1989. The closest to that prize was Britain's Dame Ellen MacArthur in 2000-2001, who finished in second place, and remains the only woman to have made it to the podium. Davies hopes to become the first woman ever to win the race: “There is no difference between a man and a woman in our sport. And we know that one day a woman will win the Vendée Globe,” said Davies. “Our generation has shown that we can lead successful projects in order to aim for the very top step of the podium.”
Born in the UK into a family of sailors, Davies aged 50, went to school in Portsmouth and gained a degree in engineering from Cambridge University. She now lives in France with her young son, Ruben, juggling motherhood and her racing project with the support of her family.
“It's great to be one of the favourites in the race,” said Davies. “For me, it's credit to the team and all the hard work we've done together to finish this boat and optimise her, and get her solid enough to push hard and trust that she'll stay in one piece.” At the helm of her new IMOCA Initiatives-Cœur, built in 2022, Sam uses every race to raise funds for children with heart defects.
Davies is also supported by British sailing clothing company, Musto. Eleven of the 40 skippers in the Vendée Globe will be wearing Musto apparel as they battle the ‘Everest of the Seas’.
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