Les Sables-d'Olonne (France) (AFP)

Young enthusiast, she discovered the open sea alongside Ellen MacArthur and Tracy Edwards.

Twenty years later, English sailor Samantha Davies embarks with strength and determination in her third Vendée Globe, which she could well finish in the top three.

Even if she does not have a latest generation boat that would have allowed her to win, "Sam" Davies (Initiatives-Cœur) is one of the serious contenders for the podium of the 9th edition of the Vendée Globe, the race around the world in solitary and non-stop, which will leave from Sables-d'Olonne on Sunday.

Since Ellen MacArthur's second place in 2000/2001, no woman has managed to get on the podium in the legendary race.

"I helped Ellen in 1998 when she won the Route du Rhum for the first time (in the 50-foot category). I then brought her boat back", she recalls to AFP.

It was also in 1998 that Samantha Davies left for her first round-the-world trip in search of the Jules-Verne Trophy (crewed round-the-world record).

She was then 24 years old and joined her idol, the Briton Tracy Edwards, to whom she "dared" to send her CV to join this 100% female adventure (11 women on board).

- "Beat Kersauzon" -

"It was to beat Olivier de Kersauzon's record - 71 days - so I think I'll beat it this time! I'm aiming for the same time in the Vendée Globe", launches the forty-something, small stature and blonde hair .

In 1998, the epic had ended prematurely after a dismasting.

"We put together a crew afterwards, but mixed (9 girls, 3 boys), to break records. One of the records was the tour of the British Isles, there were three boats including the one from Kersauzon. And we beat Kersauzon ! ", the embodiment of male domination in the world of sailing, which was not very inclusive for a long time.

"We took him 4 or 6 hours. We took a picture without the + guys + and sent it to him!"

With her enthusiasm, she has not lost anything today and is carrying out her projects with a bang after having experienced everything in ocean racing, from the Vendée Globe to the Volvo Ocean Race, including the mini-transat, the Solitaire du Figaro, the Transat Jacques-Vabre or the Route du Rhum.

Born in the south of England, in Portsmouth, she grew up on a boat.

Her maternal grandfather ran a shipyard and her paternal grandfather was in command of a submarine - she read his stories on her first Vendée Globe in 2008.

She will finish fourth in this edition.

Four years later, she will dismast after 5 days of racing.

- Pilates and hypnosis -

For the 8th edition, she had chosen to breathe and supported her companion for nearly 20 years and father of her son Ruben (9 years old), Romain Attanasio, who in turn embarked on the Vendée Globe.

This year, they will both be on the starting line, each on their own.

Sam Davies has prepared like never before for her third "grand tour", aboard a boat dating from 2010, to which foils have been added to allow her to go faster.

She has been sailing almost every day, practicing yoga and relaxation therapy, a legacy from her brilliant young years as a synchro swimmer.

Addicted to swimming in general - she loves the butterfly - she also does pilates.

"We gain strength and we have more endurance, it's not aggressive as a training. We protect ourselves, we sheath, we are more efficient".

And then, more recently, she introduced hypnosis in her preparation.

"Before I was scared in planes, now I + love it +! I hated oysters and now I love it! You do a session and it's a given for life. Now I do self-hypnosis, just before the races because I have a lot of things to deal with and that helps me, ”says the 46-year-old sailor, who doesn't just live to win the Vendée Globe one day.

"I know that one day I can win if I have the means and that is enough for me. We only live here once. Finishing the Vendée is already enormous".

© 2020 AFP