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Sailor in the Spotlight Interview - Sam Davies

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Boating and Sailing News 01 Jun

One of the top sailors in the world, Sam Davies is infectiously buoyant, remarkably skilled, and well on her way to achieving rock-star status. She's become a darling of the press, the sponsors, and even her competitors. She looks like a swimsuit model, sure, but that doesn't change the fact that she's a solid, world-class competitor. And maybe more than anything else, her exuberance shows that she clearly loves every minute on the water, and truly enjoys racing.

Sam proved she's more than a pretty face again last week, by being the first Brit across the line in the Artemis Transat race. She sustained damage to her older Open 60 after hitting something which may or may not have been whale-ish, slowed down for a while, and then got right back to racing all-out, despite the damage. Hey, what are the chances of hitting TWO whales?

With that truly unsinkable drive, Sam Davies is our latest Sailor in the Spotlight. We caught up to Sam in Marblehead, MA, US.

YP: First of all Sam, congratulations. We're proud of you here at YachtPals.

Sam: Thank you, thank you. That's really kind of you. I was proud of me too [laughing].

YP: I hear you were a cruising kid, is that true?

Sam: Yeah, my Mum and Dad had a cruising boat when I was born, so... I wasn't an excuse for them to stop going sailing. I used to get tagged along with the cushions and my toys. They taught me everything I know. To enjoy it. To make roast beef and yorkshire pudding, while in a force 7 gale blow [laughing].

They had a Contessa 28 at the time. Now my Mum and Dad are living their dream. They sold everything, and now they live on a classic yacht, a 1928 racing schooner. Um, so they're more crazy than I am.

Samantha Davies

YP: What's your favorite sailing memory?

Sam: Crossing the finish line in my first ever single handed transatlantic race - the Mini Transat in 2001 - in Brazil. I didn't care where I placed, I came 11th which wasn't too bad, but I was just ecstatic to have made it across on my own.

All the logistics that go with just even getting to the race, 'cause you do it all on your own pretty much. The boats are small, the budgets are tiny. Just... the feeling of achievement after quite a long hard race - A VERY long hard race.

YP: And you know a lot about races. You have so many achievements in your sailing career, what accomplishment are you most proud of?

Sam: This one! 5th place in the Artemis Transat! Just the fact that I'm going to be at the start line in the Vendée Globe is an amazing accomplishment.

YP: You sound excited about the upcoming Vendée Globe. Are you "in it to win it"?

Sam: Yes, I'm in it to win it, but a victory for me will be finishing, and finishing in a place that I'm proud.

YP: Did you learn anything in the Artemis Transat that you will take with you to the Vendée Globe?

Sam: I learn something every day. There's never a day that I go off and I don't learn something. Sometimes by mistakes, and sometimes by doing things right. I think I got a lot more confidence in sailing the boat hard, and pushing hard. Since my boat is a bit slower, I have to really push all the time.

I learned a few times by my mistakes; I didn't sail a perfect race, even though I did manage to get fifth. I think next time I can be closer to the newer boats, and further away from the guys that are behind me - hopefully.

YP: That brings up a good question Sam. You had one of the older boats in the fleet, and even with damage to your boat, you still managed to come in fifth in the Transat, among some of the top ocean racers in the world. Do you think that your older boat put you at a disadvantage?

Sam: For sure, for sure. On paper now it's impossible to win. The new boats are theoretically unbeatable, and I've seen it because I've trained with them. When we line up together in training, two boat testing, I can never win. So, it's hard to win. But it's almost like now, because of a good group of new boats, and a group of boats my generation, we almost have two races within the race. We call ourselves the Classic Yacht Class [laughing].

YP: There were obviously some tough times during this race, your collision with a whale immediately comes to mind. How do you keep your spirits up when times are tough?

Sam: You say that, but I actually really enjoy it. I wouldn't do it if I didn't enjoy it. Even the tough times are kind of fun, because they are a challenge, and you know you are going to get through them - well, you see how well you get through.

There was just one night [in the Artemis Transat] when I really struggled, after I hit what I thought was a whale - which I think probably wasn't in fact - and I didn't enjoy that night, because I was quite scared. Quite a new thing for me, I'm hardly ever scared. I was a bit worried about hitting something else.

YP: Why do you think you still enjoy sailing?

Sam: I love the sea. It is an adventure, and a challenge. It's amazing - to be out there; especially on a powerful boat on your own. Sailing around the world with just the wind pushing you - it's an amazing thing. I was born there, with the sea in my blood. I would still be out on the sea, even if there wasn't competition. I'd be out exploring, or go to the south pole, or... cruising. When I go on holiday, my boyfriend and I rent a cruising boat, and we go cruising!

Sam Davies YP: Boyfriend? Some of our readers are going to be crushed! Beside the fans, are there any advantages to being a women on the racing scene?

Sam: Mental strength I'd say. I think we're probably better at endurance. Um, although if you write that the guys will all get really cross [laughing], but that's just my feeling from having sailed with guys as well. And also the advantage is there are few of us. We're pretty, and our boat is pretty, so people take more photos of us - we get in the magazines more. The sponsors like us, and it's easier for us to find the sponsors than the guys - at the moment, and I'm making the most of it right now [laughing].

YP: Loick Peyron told us last week about two ways of sailing: The oak way, where you sail the boat hard basically till she breaks, and the bamboo way, where you bend to the situation to ensure a finish. How would you describe your style of ocean racing?

Sam: The second style. You sail with your brain and not with your brute.

Yeah, a lot of people ask me, they say 'so what music do you listen to', and I say actually I don't listen to any music because I listen to my boat. 'Cause it's always the first sign of a problem - noise and vibration. And you're completely right, to win you have to finish, and you have to finish at 100 percent; you know going at 100 percent of its potential, and with these boats nowadays, it's pretty hard to manage to do that.

YP: Who are your sailing heroes?

Sam: Peter Blake. Tracy Edwards - because it's thanks to her that I am were I'm at. She gave me an amazing opportunity, when we sailed around the world when I was only 23. And Michel Desjoyeaux, because he's the guy who.. well, my boat was his baby 8 years ago, and we train in the same squad. He's helped me out quite a lot, and given me some good tips.

YP: As one of the top women in the world of ocean racing, what would you say is the secret to your success?

Sam: Perseverance I think, and lots of practice and experience.

YP: Last thing: any advice for other solo sailors out there who dream of sailing around the world?

Sam: Just do it! DO IT AND ENJOY IT! Don't force yourself to do it if you don't enjoy it, but if you enjoy it, then do it. Go and have fun, and you'll do well.

Sam Davies