A lovely gift for the New Year. In her new logbook for AFP, British sailor Sam Davies, 13th in the Vendée Globe rankings on Monday, looks back on her passage around the famous Cape Horn on January 1 during her eighth week of racing.
“The passage of Cape Horn this year was marked by very beautiful emotions. While everyone was celebrating the New Year, I was focused on navigation. The crossing of the Pacific was tough for me, with a succession of depressions which exhausted me physically and mentally. But as if by magic, December 31st gave me a bright and calm day, a true blessing. I was able to hoist bigger sails, accelerate and enjoy.
To celebrate discreetly, I had set aside a small beer, a symbolic gesture to mark this moment. I also took the time to chat with friends and relatives. Although the atmosphere was festive for them, for me, the priority remained to pass this legendary milestone in complete safety.
This is my fifth passage of Cape Horn, and each one has been unique. This time, crossing it on New Year’s Day, in relatively mild conditions, was a gift. I was a little further offshore than usual due to the wind, but I was able to interact with the lighthouse keepers on the surrounding islands and I even saw a whale!
Compared to my last Vendée Globe, where I did the South Seas outside the race after a collision and abandonment, this experience is much more joyful. This year, I am in the race, my boat is in good condition, and I am enjoying every moment of the fight.
It’s a real feeling of accomplishment, like much of the challenge is behind me. However, the South Atlantic remains a formidable stage. The accumulated fatigue is starting to take its toll, but I am now coping with perfect control of my boat. These 50 days at sea were hard, but they allowed me to still learn as a sailor and I am very proud of myself, even if I did not always make the right decisions.
Mentally, I am fully invested. The race seems to go by almost too quickly and I want to enjoy every moment. The idea of catching up with Clarisse (Crémer) and Benjamin (Dutreux), my close competitors, really motivates me. I feel a little frustrated at not being with the leading group, I am aware that it is the Vendée Globe and that anything can happen, but I also know that it is very unlikely to return to first place. at this stage. I stay the course and concentrate on what I know how to do: sail correctly and with passion. Heading for the North Atlantic with the hope of finishing this great adventure in style.”
Comments collected by François d’Astier
