Roxy - Sam Davies

Am I going mad? Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:33:46 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

I’ve passed the 60 day mark! That’s AMAZING - time goes so quickly! In one sense I can't believe that we have been out here for two months, but at the same time it seems so long ago that day we left the channel of Les Sables d'Olonne! So much has happened since!

Roxy - Sam Davies

Anxious hours waiting to hear about King Jean - Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:33:09 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

I think today has been a hard day for everyone out here. One of my fellow race competitors, Jean Le Cam aboard VM Materiaux, became trapped under his boat after losing the bulb of his keel and capsizing. He was completely uncontactable, trapped in a pocket of air with the two escape hatches on the underside of his boat also submerged. His friend and fellow Vendée Globe skipper, Vincent Riou, diverted his course and eventually managed to rescue Jean from the freezing waters off Cape Horn by hauling him on board with a rescue line.

Roxy - Sam Davies

Vendee Globe Week 9 - Sailing Around the Horn

YachtPals — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:59:20 +0000

YachtPals.com 05 Jan
Vendee Globe Week 9 - Sailing Around the Horn

At the start of both Vendee Globe week nine and the new year, we find the leaders of the fleet sailing around the most feared and famous navigational landmark in the world: Cape Horn. Michel Desjoyeaux, currently in the lead, was the first around that wicked dagger of land at 0310 GMT this morning, with Roland Jourdain close behind and keeping up the pressure.

Aviva

Sailing Noises - Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:49:49 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

Hello everyone! I hope it's not too hard getting back to work after the Christmas holidays! Today is a quiet day on board Roxy as we are flirting with another ridge of high pressure that is located around the next ice gate. Our new occupation seems to be to find all the parts of the Pacific with light wind - there is another one right here!

Roxy - Sam Davies

Onboard Roxy in the Vendée Globe - Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 18:38:56 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

Yesterday I passed a special mark in my personal voyage around the globe. Eleven years ago, Royal and SunAlliance was dismasted at 52S 129W during our Trophee Jules Verne record attempt.

Vendee Globe

Sailing the South Pacific - Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 07:35:30 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

AAaaaarrrgghhhh!!! I've got NO wind! Or very little!

To be honest, with my solid little Roxy boat, I'd rather have too much wind than not enough.

Roxy - Sam Davies

Happy New Year Video - Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 19:40:07 +0000

Vendee Globe

New Year's Resolutions - Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:13:03 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

My New Year's Resolutions

Sail around the world
Take a photo of Cape Horn

Roxy - Sam Davies

Vendee Globe Week 8 - Down, Out, and Sailing Through Storms

YachtPals — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:15:11 +0000

YachtPals.com 29 Dec
Vendee Globe Week 8 - Down, Out, and Sailing Through Storms

The brutality of sailing the Southern Oceans, though often the subject of stories, is easy to underestimate. The same is true of the difficulty of solo racing, with its associated sleep deprivation and physical and emotional stress. Combine these two issues, and throw in the added problems associated with running new and cutting edge technologies, and you have the formula of the Vendee Globe, as well as an explanation as to why almost half the fleet has now retired. This is simply as tough as it gets, in any sport.

Aviva

Sailing in the Southern Ocean - Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 18:00:03 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

Hello everyone! I've just been out on deck, having taken a reef. Roxy is reaching in 20-25 knots of wind and there's a nice sea. After finishing the reef, I sat up on top of my Fleet 77 dome, and marvelled at my surroundings.

Roxy - Sam Davies

Merry Christmas Yacht Pals! Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 19:10:59 +0000

Merry Christmas!

Roxy Blog: Hello there everyone! Sam Davies

Roxy - Sam Davies

Sam Davies Blog and Video - Roxy Ready for Christmas

Sam Davies — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:44:19 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

Day 43 is finished, and that means that Roxy is halfway through her record time of 87 days!!! I think we are pretty much halfway distance-wise too.... so it might be still be possible to break Roxy's record time from the last race!

Roxy - Sam Davies

Christmas Decorations - Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:40:55 +0000

Christmas decorations for Roxy

Vendee Globe

Rescue of Yann Elies - Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:14:55 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

Hopefully by the time you read this, the warship Arunta will be taking care of Yann. I had a phone call from the Warship early this morning and they explained to me their ETA and procedures.

I "sent it" as fast as safely possible through the night, but as Generali and Safran were drifting quite fast I have not managed to rendez-vous with them. Still, I am staying here nearby until I get the confirmation that Yann is safe.

Then Roxy and I will get back into the race, we've got a bit of catching up to do!!

Roxy - Sam Davies

Sam Davies Video

Sam Davies — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 15:06:13 +0000

Sailing Roxy

Blog and high quality video: Rescue of Yann Elies - Sam Davies

Roxy - Sam Davies

Southern Ocean Sailing Video - Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:32:21 +0000

Southern Ocean sailing on Roxy

Roxy - Sam Davies

Vendée Globe Week 6 - Dropping Like Flies - News and Video

YachtPals — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:50:59 +0000

YachtPals.com 15 Dec
Vendée Globe Week 6 - Dropping Like Flies - News and Video

Southern Ocean - After five weeks, the fleet has entered the toughest waters of the world, in the toughest race in the world. The 2008-2009 Vendée Globe fleet is in the snow and ice, with up to 60 knot winds buffeting the craft and waves that look like giant blackened teeth, ready to chew these boats up, and spit them out. Three more yachts fell out last week, meaning that nearly a third of the fleet has retired from the race, and its less than half over. This is sailing writ large, and it looks like things may get worse before they get better.

Aviva

Sailing Fast - Sam Davies Video

Sam Davies — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:50:56 +0000

Sailing Roxy FAST!

Roxy - Sam Davies

Roxy Sailing Video - Icebergs and Snow

Sam Davies — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:08:47 +0000

Sailing the yacht Roxy around icebergs in the Southern Ocean.

- Sam Davies

Blog: It’s Snowing on the Southern Ocean

Roxy - Sam Davies

It’s Snowing on the Southern Ocean - Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 18:33:19 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

Hello Everyone!

Cold reached a whole new level last night, when it started snowing and now I’m in a nice little freezing snow squall! Brrrrr!

Roxy - Sam Davies

Sailing Roxy in the Vendée Globe - Sam Davies Video

Sam Davies — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:55:46 +0000

Upon waking, I was happy to discover that the weather front was passing over us. The sky is blue, the sun is out and there are still 35 knots of wind, although I have changed back to Solent and Roxy is happy! The scenery out here is amazing, and a sunny sky over an angry sea is a beautiful sight!

Roxy - Sam Davies

Hello from a chilly Roxy - Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:02:23 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

Hello from a chilly Roxy!

Yes, it's getting cold down here now. So much so that I couldn’t work out if the drizzly rain last night was frozen or not. I had a slightly annoying night - just not managing to find the right sails or angle to the waves.

Vendee Globe

Vendée Globe Week Five - "Chasing the Dawn"

YachtPals — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:53:48 +0000

YachtPals.com 08 Dec
Vendée Globe Week Five - "Chasing the Dawn"

The Vendée Globe sailors have made the turn to the East. At the beginning of week five, the fleet is now down to 24 boats, as Unai Basurko aboard Pakea Bizkaia has officially retired from the race with rudder problems. The yachts are in the South, and the trip around the pole has begun. If the first part of the race was the shakedown, and the last part is the sprint, then what the fleet is doing now is running the gauntlet. It's make or break time in the Vendée Globe.

Last week's Vendée Globe highlights:

Aviva

Roxy Sailing Video - Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 17:01:21 +0000

Sailing Roxy in the Vendée Globe

Hello Earthlings!

Here on planet "Grey" (grey skies, grey sea) all is well. There are still 30-35 knots of wind and Roxy is rocketing along!

A funny thing happened last night. I had been struggling to find a safe/comfortable speed and angle, the solent was a bit too much, so I had put the staysail up for the night. Quite rightly, as the waves were a bit "sneaky."

Vendee Globe

Vendée Globe - Week 4

YachtPals — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:43:18 +0000

YachtPals.com 01 Dec
Vendée Globe - Week 4

Three weeks into the Vendée Globe Race, and 25 boats remain from the fleet of thirty. Delta Dore officially joined the ranks of the bruised and battered when Jérémie Beyou resigned from the race with unrepairable damage. The pack is tight, the winds have shifted, and the 2008-2009 Vendée Globe is nearing the Southern Oceans. The first

Aviva

Sailing Roxy - Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:31:26 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

Yesterday I saw some interesting wildlife. In the morning, Roxy was covered in little squids. So I guessed that we had been under attack during the night! Guillaume, one of the Roxy boys, would have had a whole meal out of what was on deck, but eating them raw like that is not my cup of tea! Later on during the day, I saw my first albatross and even a seal! I didn't realise seals swam so far away from land. Nice to have a bit of company anyway.

Roxy - Sam Davies

Video Update from Roxy - Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 19:40:20 +0000

Sailing Roxy in the Vendée Globe

Vendee Globe

Anyone for tea? Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 19:18:23 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

Well, after a day of squalls yesterday, the sun is shining today and the wind seems a bit more consistent (albeit on the nose), which is a good news.

More good news is that the more consistent wind enabled me to sleep LOADS last night, so I am on great form.

Roxy - Sam Davies

Roxy Onboard Video - Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 18:54:21 +0000

Yesterday finished with a "boy shower" up on the bow of ROXY!

Vendee Globe

Vendée Globe Week 3 - Hitting Below the Belt

YachtPals — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 23:30:18 +0000

YachtPals.com 24 Nov
Vendée Globe Week 3 - Hitting Below the Belt

Equatorial Atlantic - Two weeks in, and most boats in the Vendée Globe fleet have now crossed the 0° line, finding themselves solidly in the Southern Hemisphere. Foulies have given way to swimsuits (or birthday suits), Neptune has been appeased with champagne and goodies, Winter is in the wake, and the South Atlantic awaits.

Aviva

Bouncing along upwind - Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 18:56:02 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

Now Roxy and I, like the rest of the fleet, are bouncing along upwind in the South Atlantic Ocean trade winds. Life is now all at a 30 degree angle, on port tack, meaning that my right leg will soon be longer than my left one. It is pretty bumpy too, which makes it feel like you are driving off-road 24 hours a day. Any movement requires care, and I have been likening this to my skiing trips in Avoriaz, when I frequently find myself prostrate across a steep incline!

Roxy - Sam Davies

Crossing the Equator in the Vendée Globe Video - Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:18:19 +0000

Gifts for Neptune while crossing the Equator in the Vendée Globe. Sam Davies

Roxy - Sam Davies

The Doldrums were very kind to us this year! Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:45:48 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

Well, the Doldrums were very kind to us this year! Our little group of boats (Temenos, Pindar, Roxy and Safran) managed to slip through without really slowing down. Now we are careening along upwind in the SE trade winds, just north of the Equator.

The reason that we had no “doldrums” was because I wanted a light patch of wind to re-do a lashing at the top of my mainsail. This meant dropping the sail, working at radar-height in my climbing harness, and then re-hoisting the sail.

Vendee Globe

Sailing Photo of the Week - Samantha Davies in the Vendée Globe

YachtPals — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:59:57 +0000

YachtPals.com 20 Nov
Sailing Photo of the Week - Samantha Davies in the Vendée Globe

The Vendée Globe fleet is currently sailing into the doldrums, and enjoying the abundant sunshine and heat of the equatorial latitudes. Samantha Davies sailing Roxy decided to trade her foulies for a bikini today, and she's not the only one considering a relief to the heat. Loick Peyron, said "It’s currently 32°C [90°F] inside Gitana Eighty and the water temperature is 29°C [84°F]. I’m considering the possibility of having a little dip, especially if the

Roxy - Sam Davies

Got my Roxy bikini out - Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:28:45 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

At last the sun is really shining so I have got my Roxy bikini out!! The trouble is I'm a bit white so I'm piling on the sun cream to protect my skin, and trying to stay in the shade.

Roxy - Sam Davies

Vendée Globe Race - Week Two

YachtPals — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:29:17 +0000

YachtPals.com 17 Nov
Vendée Globe Race - Week Two

Eastern Atlantic - Amazing that it's only one week in, and nearly a third of the boats sailing in the Vendée Globe fleet have had to turn back. Tough storm conditions and bleeding edge boats don't always mix well, and in the rush for last-minute preparations, some of the IMOCA Open 60's simply weren't ready. Luckily, though some of the boats are in bad shape, the injuries reported were mostly in the form of bangs, bruises, wrenched muscles and tired backs.

Aviva

Sailing on Roxy - Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:00:16 +0000

Sailing Roxy in the Vendée Globe. Don't call the fashion police on me :)

Vendee Globe

Sailing in Sunshine - Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:11:14 +0000

Sailing Roxy in the Vendée Globe.

Hello everyone!

Finally, yesterday, I cleaned up the oil! Hooray! It took me 5 hours, three special oil absorber sheets, half a bottle of washing up liquid and a lot of elbow grease - it's still not perfect, but I'm happy. Not too much damage to the spares (except the mess). It's still a bit slippery, but I will be careful.

Roxy - Sam Davies

Sailing Photo of the Week - Girls of the Globe

YachtPals — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:27:20 +0000

YachtPals.com 13 Nov
Sailing Photo of the Week - Girls of the Globe

Two of our most photogenic YachtPals, Sam Davies and Dee Caffari, sailed out in the Vendée Globe yacht race this week, in their quest to sail non-stop alone around the world. This will be Dee's second time alone around the world, but the first time in the right direction. When she completes the Vendée Globe, this will make her the first woman to ever sail around the world non-stop solo in both directions.

Aviva

Onboard Roxy in the Vendée Globe – Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:54:30 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

Hello,

Here is a nice picture of my lucky red socks "breathing" some fresh air under the full moon, after having been subjected to 48 hours non-stop inside ‘Le Chameau’ boots in the stormy weather!

Yes - I admit that I did not remove my boots or oilskins for 48 hours. It was too full-on to take the risk as I needed to be ready to go on deck at any moment.

Vendee Globe

Big Wind on the Vendée Globe - Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:14:03 +0000

Sailing solo in over 35 knots of wind with big seas in the Vendée Globe around the world yacht race.

Roxy - Sam Davies

Vendee Globe 2008-2009 Start with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

YachtPals — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 19:57:24 +0000

YachtPals.com 09 Nov
Vendee Globe 2008-2009 Start with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

Les Sables d'Olone, France - Around Alone: Two words that every sailor understands to be the ultimate challenge. To circumnavigate solo is so difficult that more people have traveled in outer space than have sailed non-stop around the world singlehanded, and far more have climbed Everest. There is no greater test of a person and a boat, and those 30 sailors that set out today on the Vendée Globe race will be racing against themselves as much as each other. As nearly every one of them we spoke to has said, they'll be l

Aviva

Vendée Globe Photo

DuffDuff — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 19:09:01 +0000

Photo at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community 08 Nov
Vendée Globe Photo

Roxy Scrapbook - Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 01:14:37 +0000

YachtPals.com - Online Cruising Guides

Yacht Name: Roxy
Skipper: Sam Davies

Roxy History:

2000 - Launched
2001 - Won the Vendée Globe with Michel Desjoyaux (PRB)
2005 - Won the Vendée Globe with Vincent Riou (PRB)
2005 - Boat named Roxy

Roxy - Sam Davies

Vendee Globe Training at Port La Foret - Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:26:22 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

I've just finished my last training session at Port La Foret Finistere Course au Large, before the Vendee Globe start.
I am totally exhausted, but really pleased with the three days of intense sailing that we have done, in the sort of conditions you would call "challenging!" - 20-30 knots of wind all the time!

The line-up was:
Jean Le Cam - VM
Michel Desjoyeaux - Foncia
Seb Josse - BT
Jeremie Beyou - Delta Dore
Armel Le Cleach - Brit Air
Yann Elies - Generali
Bilou - Veolia
Bernard Stamm - Poujolat

Vendee Globe

Update from Sam Davies and Roxy

Sam Davies — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:59:48 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

Hello everyone! The last ten days has been really busy!

We set off for the UK the weekend before last. The delivery trip was a solo training session, with me and Tanguy on board. It's better to sail in the channel with 2 so that we can keep a proper watch, as there is so much traffic. Also, with Tanguy on board, I work harder on my boat-speed, we work together on all the settings, and we have a good debrief, so I get more out of the trip.

Vendee Globe

Sailing at Cowes Week

Dee Caffari — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:49:31 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

Tuesday saw winds peaking at 23 knots for the Artemis Challenge. Eight boats took to the start line for some really close racing and a true spectacle of how exciting the Open 60 are fully powered up. Ecover 3 and Aviva challenged for the start line and we all sailed hard and fast through the showers towards the Needles.

Aviva

Roxy Jam - Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:52:22 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

Our adventures in the Pays Basque were VERY tiring, but LOTS of fun!

We set off three weeks ago, in a nice Bay of Biscay storm - Westerly wind 30-45 knots! That was another good training session, as we screamed down towards Biarritz at speeds of over 20 knots! 14 hours after leaving Lorient, we swapped our ski-masks and drysuits for shorts and T-shirt as the wind dropped off and the sun came out.

Roxy - Sam Davies

Roxy and the Roxettes Sailing to France - Sam Davies

Sam Davies — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 23:10:08 +0000

Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

Hello everyone!
We are finally starting to dry out on board Roxy as the wind is decreasing. There have been clothes and boots airing everywhere, and we've been "chasing out smells" and cleaning everywhere. Life with the four of us cooped up inside an open 60 that is crashing along at 20 knots with a washing machine effect outside quickly becomes pretty "humid"!

Roxy - Sam Davies

Loïck with Sam and Dee - Photo

Dee Caffari — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:19:05 +0000

Photo at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community 09 Jun
Loïck with Sam and Dee - Photo