Sam Davies completes The Artemis Transat
On May 27, 2008
“The Artemis Transat ‘08 - Roxy becalmed - photo Sam Davies” © Uk female solo seaman Sam Davies, sponsored by Roxy, the leading boardriding brand for women, during the night crossed the finish line of The Artemis Transat just off Boston, United States.
She accomplished the single handed regatta aboard 60 foot racing boat Roxy in 15 days & 10 hours. In finishing The Artemis Transat, Sam Davies has just accomplished her 15th transatlantic regatta & the sixth onboard her pink yacht seeing that being assigned captain at the end of ‘06.
From the dockside in Boston, Sam commented. “Numerous aspects of the regatta were wholly unexpected. I had fun & enjoyed some good boating but at times got truly frustrated. I guess this is what you approach to anticipate being an offshore seaman! I feel like I’ve sailed skilled regatta & I’m proud of my tactical choices, & my sailboat-handling. I’ve had such fine time & learnt more & more around Roxy. I feel perfectly at home onboard & I’m looking forward with eagerness to the Vendee Globe….I’m unhappy that this regatta is so short cause I could’ve fortunately carried on boating but I’m looking forward to enjoying pleasant meal, hot bath & soft pillow tonight!”
Like thousands of people following Sam’s progress, on the South shore of England, Mr Robin Knox Johnston has been an avid supporter of the Uk women & commented on her regatta. “Sam has shown her real ability in The Artemis Transat. She doesn’t have new sailboat but has been keeping up as if she had. she has done her reputation no harm & others will value that her dogged determination is threat whenever she’s racing.”
Just over month ago, Sam Davies was one of six Uk captains entered in the oldest solo boating regatta. Notwithstanding, only three, Sam & fellow racers Dee Caffari & Steve Snow-White, made it to the start line. Leaving Plymouth on 11th April amongst French-dominated flotilla of 13 sailing boats, Sam started the regatta encountering difficulties with one of the furlers at the front of Roxy. Focussed on fixing it, she gone few crucial hours that saw the flotilla sail away & split into two distinct packs. Back on track, Roxy impressively overtook five sailboats in just few hours, joining Safran at the front of the 2nd pack.
With the flotilla experiencing surprisingly kind conditions in the 1st week, The Artemis Transat hasn’t lived up to its reputation of being one of the toughest regattas in boating. The light breezes & calms made Sam feel at her wits end as Roxy was making small progress in massive swell. Manoeuvring in the fickle wind & irritating to find the best combination of sails from the wardrobe was hard work with the trailing racers working on gaining dear kilometers.
With the unhappy news of the retirements of three French crews, Sam gained few places touching up to fifth position, still at the of potent brand new yachts such as Aviva with captain Dee Caffari. The last thousand kilometres of the regatta brought heavier, unstable conditions & an unexpected shock. Five days to the finish, Roxy hit whale which damaged one of the daggerboard. She then got stuck in breeze hole, allowing two rivals to overtake her. The final fight was on for Sam who went from being the hunted to the hunter. She ultimately finished the regatta in commendable & well merited fifth place.
Sam’s Davies will now pay out few days in Boston with her crew, resting & getting Roxy ready for her voyage back to France. The sailboat will have refit during the summer to ensure she’s at her full potential for the Vendee Globe. The Vendee is one of the toughest sporting trophies in history, solo non-stop round the world regatta, starting from France in October.
Sam Davies & Roxy facts around The Artemis Transat ‘08:
- 15 days 10 hours, 0 minutes & 51 seconds at the normal speed of 8.04 kts
- Top speed of the sailboat: 30 kts (35 mph)
- Normal sleep per day: four hours, in ten 40 minutes naps
- Water onboard Roxy at the start: 54 litres
- Freeze dry meals onboard Roxy at the start: 28 (two weeks) + porridge for breakfast
- Treat onboard: four tablets of chocolate
- Normal amount of calories consumed per day: ‘tween 3000 & 4000
- Couple of socks: six
- Sea water bucket showers: two
- Climb of the main-mast (one-half way to reach the fragmented radar): one
- Sails onboard Roxy: 8, including 150 kg headsail & 60kg Spinnaker
- Overall length of rope onboard Roxy: one kilometre
- Vessels seen during the regatta: 10
- Wild life seen during the regatta: four whales (1 hit!) & school of dolphins
- In March, 17 participants were entered in the Open 60 category of The Artemis Transat, including six Uk
- 13 racers on the start line on the 11th of April, including three Uk
To follow Roxy & Sam Davies progress: or
by Justine Ozoux