© http://www.samdavies.com/
Factfile
Name	Samantha Davies
Nation	GBR
Date of Birth	23 August 1974
Place of Birth	Portsmouth, UK
Website	http://www.samdavies.com/

Thirty boats crossed the start line of the 2008-2009 Vendée Globe but only 11 completed the gruelling round the world race. One of those was 34-year-old Sam Davies aboard her IMOCA 60 Roxy. After 95 days, 4 hours, 39 minutes and 1 second, Davies was the third sailor to cross the finish line at Les Sables d'Olonne after sailing an epic 27,420 miles. (Davies missed out on the podium by just over one hour following the time compensation given to Marc Guillemot for diverting to assist in the evacuation of an injured competitor.)

Sam Davies has been deeply involved on the professional offshore sailing scene for many years. Perfectly at ease at sea, she took on her first Vendée Globe with relish and stole the hearts of sailing fans the world over through her daily video, photo and journal reporting. The extreme hardships of the race place enormous demands on the skippers and Davies demonstrated prudence when required but also a steely determination to attack the race course. Davies was one of the few sailors who covered more than 400 miles in one day and on 18 December she diverted her course to go to the aid of fellow competitor Yann Eliès who had suffered a broken leg.

Since finishing the Vendée Globe, Davies has teamed up with rival skipper Dee Caffari and an all girl crew to claim the Round Britain and Ireland monohull record aboard Aviva in 6 days and 11 hours. She has also joined the Artemis Ocean Racing team and faced her first test as skipper in the notorious Rolex Fastnet Race. Leading the IMOCA 60 fleet around the Rock, Davies and crew were narrowly beaten to second place.

IMOCA 60 - Roxy (skipper - solo)

4 - 2008-2009 Vendée Globe - Roxy - 95 days, 4 hours 39 mins and 1 second, average speed 12 knots, distance 27,470.2nm - Nov 2008-Feb 2009

IMOCA 60 - Aviva (crew)

Round Britain and Ireland Record, Monohull, Women - 6 days, 11 hours, 30 minutes & 53 seconds - Aviva skippered by Dee Caffari with 2 other crew - average speed 11.5 knots - distance 1,787 nm - 15-22 Jun 2009

IMOCA 60 - Artemis Ocean Racing (co-skipper, crewed)

4 - Artemis Challenge, Round the Isle of Wight, GBR - Aug 2009
2 - Rolex Fastnet Race, IMOCA 60 fleetGBR - Aug 2009

Q&A

What inspired you to take up sailing?

My parents, my grandparents

What was the first boat you ever sailed and how old were you?

Contessa 28, aged about 3 years

Name your first sailing club

Hayling Island Sailing Club

What are you personal sailing career highlights?

Crew member on Royal&SunAlliance - Trophee Jules Verne attempt 1998
11th - Mini Transat 2001
Crew member on Maiden II - 24 hour record 2002
19th - La Solitaire du Figaro 2003 & 2nd Rookie
5th - Artemis Transat 2008
4th - Vendée Globe 2008
Crew member on Aviva - Round Britain and Ireland Record 2009

What are your future sailing goals?

Win the Vendée Globe : 2012, 2016....and enjoy my sailing

Who has had the greatest impact on your sailing and career and why?

My parents - Paul and Jenny Davies - letting me do it my way and never putting pressure on me, and my Grandads - Albert George Davies and Ernest Freezer - for inspiring me by their own achievements

Who is your sailing hero?

Michel Desjoyeaux and Peter Blake

What other sports do you enjoy?

Swimming (including synchronised), learning to surf, biking, running

What does being nominated for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards mean to you and how would you feel if you were voted the winner?

Incredible - I can't believe it. So proud

If I was voted the winner I would share the victory with my team of Roxy boys who I could not have raced the Vendée Globe without!