Samantha "Sam" Davies (born 23 August 1974 in Portsmouth) is an English yachtswoman.
Personal life
Davies went to school at Portsmouth High School and received a degree in mechanical engineering from St John's College, Cambridge. She now lives in Kerlin (Trégunc), Brittany, France. She has a son, Ruben, whom she shares with her ex-partner, fellow offshore sailor Romain Attanasio.
Biography
Samantha Davies came into the limelight with her 2008-2009 single-handed world circumnavigation in the Vendée Globe race, where she placed fourth. She was the third to cross the finish line, but owed a time allowance of 50 Hr to competitor Marc Guillemot, who crossed the line 48:40' after her. The time allowance was applied following both competitors' diversion to assist injured skipper Yann Eliès, but Marc Guillemot benefited from a larger handicap because of his forward position in the race.British round-the-world yachtswoman leaves race to rescue competitor In 2009 she was awarded Yachtsman of the year by the yachting journalist association.
During the 2020-2021 Vendee Globe, she was forced to retire on day 26 with keel damage following collision with an unidentified floating object. She sailed to Cape Town where the damage was fully accessed and repaired and she continued outside the race and completed her circumnavigation in a time of 109d, 23h, 40m.
Record of achievement
Pos. Year Event Class Boat Time Notes Ref.Round the world races 13 / 40 2025 2024–2025 Vendée Globe IMOCA 60 Initiatives-Cœur (4) 80d 22h 13m 39s DNF 2021 2020–2021 Vendée Globe IMOCA 60 Initiatives-Cœur (3) Collision with UFO but completed course 6 / 7 2015 2014–2015 Volvo Ocean Race Volvo Ocean 65 Team SCA Skipper. Rotated Crew: Corinna Halloran (onboard reporter)Anna-Lena Elled (reserve onboard reporter) Richard Mason (shore manager) DNF 2013 2012–2013 Vendée Globe IMOCA 60 Saveol Dismasted Day 5 4 / 30 2009 2008–2009 Vendée Globe IMOCA 60 Roxy (2) 96d 12h 39m 01s Trans-Atlantic Races 6 / 28 2024 Transat New York Vendée IMOCA 60 Initiatives-Cœur (4) 12d 10h 48min 29s 3 / 33 2024 The Transat CIC IMOCA 60 Initiatives-Cœur (4) 8d 12h 41m 37s 6 / 32 2023 Retour à la base IMOCA 60 Initiatives-Cœur (4) 10d 00h 36m 29s 5 / 40 2023 Transat Jacques Vabre IMOCA 60 Initiatives-Cœur (4) 12d 08h 43m 39s with 5 / 2023 1000 Race IMOCA 60 Initiatives-Cœur (4) 28 / 38 2022 Route du Rhum IMOCA 60 Initiatives-Cœur (4) 16d 06h 35m 17s 5 / 22 2021 Transat Jacques Vabre IMOCA 60 Initiatives-Cœur (3) 20d 17h 30m 10s with 7 / 29 2019 Transat Jacques Vabre IMOCA 60 Initiatives-Cœur (3) 14d 09h 30m 44s with 6 / 13 2017 Transat Jacques Vabre IMOCA 60 Initiatives-Cœur (3) 15d 07h 40m 39s with 5 / 20 2015 Transat Jacques Vabre IMOCA 60 Initiatives-Cœur (2) 18d 07h 09m 14s with 4 / 25 2010 Transat Ag2r Beneteau Figaro 2 SAVEOL 22d 19h 44m 22s with 10 / 14 2009 Transat Jacques Vabre IMOCA 60 Artemis (2) with 5 / 13 2008 The Artemist Transat (OSTAR) IMOCA 60 Roxy (2) 15d 10h 00m 51s 10 2007 Transat Jacques Vabre IMOCA 60 Roxy (2) with 7 / 15 2007 Transat B to B IMOCA 60 Roxy (2) 17d 17h 38m 46s 12 / 28 2006 Transat Ag2r Beneteau Figaro 2 ROXY 20d 06h 52m 45s with 5 / 31 2004 Transat Ag2r Beneteau Figaro 2 TROPHEE BPE SAINT-NAZAIRE - CUBA 20d 18h 40m 52s with 6 / 17 2003 Transat Jacques Vabre IMOCA 60 Team Cowes 18d 19h 57m 35s with 11 2003 Mini Transat Race Mini Transat 6.50 No. 276 - Aberdeen Asset Management Other Races 5 / 18 2024 Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération IMOCA 60 Initiatives-Cœur (4) 1d 20h 25m 41s 5 / 34 2023 Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération IMOCA 60 Initiatives-Cœur (4) 2d 01h 44m 46s with 5 / 25 2023 Rolex Fastnet Race IMOCA 60 Initiatives-Cœur (4) 2d 08h 01m 00s with 7 / 2022 Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération IMOCA 60 Initiatives-Cœur (4) 6 / 2021 Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération IMOCA 60 Initiatives-Cœur (3) 5 / 13 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race IMOCA 60 Initiatives-Cœur (3) 2d 23h 17m 43s with 2 / 2020 Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération IMOCA 60 Initiatives-Cœur (3) 4 / 20 2020 Vendée Arctique - Les Sables d'Olonne IMOCA 60 Initiatives-Cœur (3) 10d 06h 58m 55s 5 / 20 2019 Rolex Fastnet Race IMOCA 60 Initiatives-Cœur 2d 02h 26m 49s with 4 / 9 2017 Rolex Fastnet Race IMOCA 60 Initiatives-Cœur 2d 18h 14m 48s with 5 / 9 2015 Rolex Fastnet Race IMOCA 60 Initiatives-Cœur 3d 02h 33m 42s with 22 2005 Solitaire du Figaro Beneteau Figaro 2 Skandia 19 2004 Solitaire du Figaro Beneteau Figaro 2 Skandia 19 2003 Solitaire du Figaro Beneteau Figaro 2 14 2001 Yngling World Championship Yngling (keelboat) Helm - Bow - 1999 Mumm 30 World Championship Farr 30 1995 Mumm 36 World Championship Mumm 36 1990s Ultra 30 Ultra 30 Hoya Record Attempts 2014 Female Round Britain and Ireland World Record Volvo Ocean 65 SCA 4d 21h 39s + Crew 2009 Female Round Britain and Ireland World Record IMOCA 60 Aviva 6d 11h 30s with DNF 1998 Round the World Record / Jules Verne Trophy Attempt Maxi Cat. Royal Sun Alliance Skippered by
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