Twenty days after the start of the Vendée Globe, the British Samantha Davies (Initiatives Coeur) approached the Cape of Good Hope on Friday, at the southern tip of Africa, considered the gateway to the formidable South Seas.
It is precisely in this area that the sailor hit an unidentified floating object in 2020, ending her race around the world. Between « excitation » et “apprehension”she assures AFP that she is fine “ready for the big dive”.
“I am a few days sailing from Good Hope. It's south of this place where I tapped last time… in the current there are a lot of things swirling around and it's not a very good memory. In 2020 I already knew that I was entering a risk zone, but now even more: I experienced it.
I spend a lot of time on mapping software to anticipate current veins. The idea will be to avoid them and, if that is impossible because of the weather, I will bring in the foils and pay particular attention to myself, I had two broken ribs last time.
It's always a special moment to reach this mark, but I've already been back there since my accident. I took part in The Ocean Race in 2023 (a crewed round-the-world race with stopovers, editor's note) precisely to reconcile myself with the South. It's important to have this experience in your head before tackling it again, to visualize the harshness of the place, the sensations of cold.
This year, the start of the race was special. We had sporty conditions at Cape Finisterre, I was exhausted, and then a soft and long North Atlantic which allowed me to rest and not pull too hard on the boat.
But since the Doldrums, it's a different story with this depression that is pushing us. We didn't have time to breathe! I think I took care of myself quite well. I'm not completely fresh, but rather in a good physical and mental state.
In terms of the ranking, even if I'm quite behind the race leader now, being tenth upon returning to the South is a good thing. It's not just a regatta going to Bonne Espérance, we have to go back to France, lots of things can still happen. I remain competitive.
And above all, I am ready for the big plunge. It's really another stage that begins. In the south, it can be gray and cold for ten days, no sun, extreme conditions, strong winds, heavy seas and, given the distance from land, there is no right to mistake… There is stress and excitement.
We'll be there for around thirty days, we'll have to be able to hold on. In my head, I have already cut out the route to give myself courage: Good Hope, the Kerguelen Islands, the beginning of Australia, Cape Leeuwin, Tasmania…
We're going to see albatross again and they'll all scatter across the map. I would no longer have boats nearby to compare myself to. Finally alone… so much the better because it takes off a little pressure. We are entering the real Vendée Globe! »
Testimony collected by François d'Astier
