Sam Davies, the young British sailor, who finished fourth in the last edition of the Vendée Globe, has never hidden her desire to return in 2012 aboard a boat that is capable of winning the race.

As soon as she finished the last event in Les Sables d’Olonne, she set about trying to entice new sponsors to back her, as although Roxy was over the moon with the coverage that the blonde sailor had attracted, the firm does not have the funds to finance this new challenge and build a new boat.

The former PRB, which won the solo round the world race twice, before finishing in style in the hands of Sam Davies in the last Vendée Globe, is up for sale. While awaiting a buyer, Sam is continuing to sail her for PR operations.

Recently, Sam was chosen by the OC team to race in the Transat Jacques Vabre with Sydney Gavignet. Mark Turner, the manager of OC, is in charge of the 60-foot Artemis project with the goal of making the best use of her to persuade her owner and sponsor to continue IMOCA racing in the coming years. We can add that this very powerful Rogers designed boat benefits from a ‘grandfather clause’ and is now a potentially competitive racer in comparison to the newer boats, which are subject to the modified IMOCA rules.

Samantha is determined to prepare well for the next TJV and this may begin with the Fastnet in early August, but that has not yet been confirmed. She knows she does not have that much time if she wants to get going on her new project, which is likely to be a Finot Group design, as well as writing a book due to be published in France by Grasset next year as the 2010 Route du Rhum gets underway.

For more, visit www.vendeeglobe.org .