Update from Sam Davies and Roxy

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.

Then in the UK we took loads of people sailing, and I managed to visit some places close to my heart. The first was my old school - Portsmouth High School and Dovercourt - where I went to assembly, then twelve girls came to visit Roxy. I felt a bit intimidated being back at school. The teachers and girls were great though and I was happy to be able to tell them all about the Vendee Globe.

We also got to do a VIP visit around the Gosport Submarine Museum, and the HMS Alliance - the submarine that is there on display. It always makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck to hear the old submariners who volunteer as tour guides tell their tales, and proud of my Granddad Albert George, who was commander of the HMS Ursula at age 26!

At the end of last week we sailed Roxy back to Port La Foret, ready for this weeks training session!

Now, I am collapsed on my sofa, after day one of the Port LaF training! On the water were: Roxy, Foncia, VM Materiaux, Cheminees Poujolat, BT, Delta Dore, Veolia, Generali and Brit Air! 9 boats, 25 knots of wind... SOLO training. On todays agenda were: 2 starts, 2 reaching legs, 1 upwind, 1 downwind, 1 shake out a reef, 2 x roll / unroll headsail, 3 tacks, 1 gennaker hoist, unroll, roll........ TOTALLY knackering, but I sailed quite well and managed to stay in the group (not last!).....

Tomorrow looks even windier, it's going to be great fun!

- Sam Davies