A still-smiling Sam Davies was a guest of the Vendée Globe web TV show – live from the Paris Boat Show – for the first time since her unfortunate dismasting. She told us more about her Vendée Globe experience, what it feels like for her to be back on dry land and her future.
Her state of mind
« I’m glad I finally managed to bring back Savéol. I hope I’ll never have to go from Madeira to France on an engine-driven boat again. It was a very long journey, I’m very tired and I caught a cold… I’m both happy and sad to be here, because obviously I’d love to be fighting with the other Vendée Globe skippers and sailing at 21 knots in the Southern Ocean. But I’m optimistic, I know I’ll have another chance and I’ve already started thinking about the future. As far as next year’s projects are concerned, I now have two extra months to prepare! I’ll be able to prepare physically, practice and get organized with the Savéol team. We’re looking for solutions to finance the mast, build the future and come up with the right timing to put the boat back at sea. There’s a lot to do and it’s definitely keeping me busy. »
Lessons to learn
« Obviously it’s a huge disappointment but a quick look at the history and the statistics of the race is enough to realise you don’t have 100% of the starting skippers at the finish. When you cross the start line, you never know what is going to happen or how the race will end for you. I’m glad I could bring my boat back because really, a dismasting in such a strong wind and a rough sea is tough. I’m also lucky I wasn’t injured. Our project started at the beginning of last year, which is quite a late start. We developed beautiful things with various partners who don’t want the project to stop. This is neither a failure nor the end of an adventure. It’s more like the beginning of something new.
I was so happy to finish fourth last time but now, I’m truly realising what a performance that was, and it makes me even prouder. It just makes me want to go back. So what happened is actually more positive than negative… »
Her future
« Let’s first say that 2013 will be a great year with, among other things, the Transat Jacques Vabre, whose route has just been unveiled. It’s a really good one, I love Brazil. And keeping the Vendée Globe in mind, it’s also a perfect practice opportunity as the route is quite similar to the first three weeks of the Vendée Globe. I will compete in other races, too, like the Rolex Fastet Race or the Trophée Azimut. We’ve already thought about what can be done about the boat. I need to train, practice ad get back in shape too. This year, I’ve been a bit in a rush. »
Repairing Savéol
« We don’t have a precise repairs schedule yet because we first have to secure the funding. I’m still waiting for answers but I know I have partners willing to support me. I have no doubt it will happen. But since nothing has been confirmed, we just can’t place an order yet. We’re preparing and getting everything ready so we can start repairing as soon as we have the green light. »
Coming back to Les Sables d’Olonne
« It was a big shock, I was really surprised. And I felt a little ashamed, too, because you come back but you haven’t finished the Vendee Globe, you haven’t even crossed the Equator! You sort of have your tail between your legs because you haven’t done much, really, so it’s mixed emotions. And you see so many people gathered to welcome and cheer for you, it’s so heart-warming. First, you want to cry but then you realise that if so many people have come, it’s because you’ve achieved something anyway. They want to see you face new challenges and it’s a real morale booster that makes you feel better about coming back without finishing the race. »
Support messages
« I’ve received very nice messages. I was extremely upset about my dismasting but I do remember Domique Wavre’s call, right after the dismasting, it was nice of him. He managed to find the right words to comfort me, maybe because it had happened to him before. He really made me feel better. I also got messages from Alessandro, Tanguy, François and Jérémie, too, who was one of the first. I sent him a message after we both retired from the race to tell him that we were going to race to Les Sables d’Olonne, and wondering who the winner was going to be! He had a longer distance to cover but he had a mast, which I didn’t! And eventually, we got there at the same time. I’m still receiving messages from skippers, and I’m definitely staying in touch with my Vendée Globe friends… »
Speaking to Jérémie Beyou
« Third Time Lucky », that’s what Jérémie and I told each other, as we have both competed in the Vendée Globe twice. He had to retire from the race on his first two attempts and next time, we’ll both be at the start again and I think one of us will win. That’s what we talked about. »
The Vendée Globe
« Now I get to follow the race because of course, when I was still on the boat, I only had my satellite terminal and I just couldn’t afford to surf the internet regularly. All I did was download the skippers’ positions every day. Now that I’m back on dry land, I’ll follow the race much more closely, which is also a kind of practice because I download the weather files, I work on routing and I come up with strategies as if I were still in the race. »
Other skippers’ performances
« It’s incredible, I think it’s just great, congratulations to them. The new boats are so efficient, they’re fast as bullets. But that’s not the only reason. Skippers and teams are doing an amazing job, they have prepared everything so boat scan be pushed hard ad go very fast. The whole effort is impressive. What an achievement! I just can’t wait to go that fast next time. »
Who’s your favourite?
« As I’ve always said, I’m representing Great Britain and I do have a favourite: Alex Thomson. I’ve always known he could surprise everybody and look at him now! He doesn’t have a new boat so it’s tough but he’s still doing great in terms of rankings for him and he’s sailing great. He’s still Alex Thomson, of course, but he’s calmed down a bit now. He’s my favourite, I’m not saying he’s going to win, but I’m a big fan. »
