Figaro Solo Transatlantic race 2005 15.03.2005 COUNTDOWN TO SAM DAVIES’ FIRST EVER SOLO TRANSATLANTIC FIGARO RACE AT START OF 2005 SEASON... Skandia is a leading provider of long-term savings and pioneer of the highly successful multi-manager investment approach. IN BRIEF: * LESS THAN 3 WEEKS TO GO UNTIL SAM DAVIES’ 2005 FIGARO SEASON KICKS OFF... * FIRST RACE OF 2005 IS A 4,625 MILE SOLO TRANSATLANTIC RACE STARTING ON 3RD APRIL – THE FIRST TIME THE FIGARO FLEET HAVE RACED SOLO ACROSS THE ATLANTIC... * SAM DAVIES NEW WEBSITE NOW ONLINE: http://www.samdavies.com/skandia WITH LATEST NEWS AND RACE INFO ABOUT THE UP AND COMING EVENTS... IN DETAIL: Sam Davies’ 2005 Figaro season onboard her Beneteau2 Skandia boat kicks off in less than three weeks time with the first ever single-handed transatlantic race – a 4265 miles from St.Nazaire to Cuba. Sam has spent the winter training at the elite training school in Port La Forêt where she has been training since the end of the 2003 Figaro season. Sam was chosen as one of the 24 sailors who were selected to train together as a team (16 of which are part of the Figaro circuit). Davies was the first English female sailor to train full time with this elite Figaro team. This training has played a major part in Sam’s rapid improvement in this highly competitive class over since she started competing in 2003. Last year she managed to improve her results on her previous season finishing with a top 10 place in the French Solo Championship (Championnat de France des Solitaires). In 2004 Sam’s indexsail displayed the number 27, in 2005 this number will change to 10, reflecting her position in the Championnat de France. Now taking part in her third Figaro season, Sam has clearly defined her objective for 2005: "To finish in the top ten of the Solitaire du Figaro”. The Solitaire du Figaro is the index event of the Figaro circuit, and this year starts from from Perros Guirec (France) on the 7th August. But before that comes the first of two major races – the Trophée BPE, singlehanded transatlantic race starting on 3rd April from Saint-Nazaire, France – Cuba and then the Générali Solo in June. What’s in store on the Trophée BPE? "I haven’t crossed the Atlantic solo since my Mini Transat in 2001. I can’t wait! It will be a tough race, expected to last around 30 days, in a 32ft boat across thousands of miles. Safety is paramount but I have no doubt the competition will be fierce. " This course of 4265 miles from St Nazaire to Cuba is the first solo transatlantic race in the Beneteau Figaro2 monohull fleet. Organised by Pen Duik, all race information can be found at http://www.trophee-bpe2005.com (French only) or go to www.samdavies.com/skandia and click on Race Info for English information. This week will be Sam’s last week of training before leaving Port La Forêt early next week to deliver Skandia to St.Nazaire in preparation for the prologue on 1st April and the start on 3rd April. New look website: Now on line, Sam’s new website at www.samdavies.com/skandia will have all the latest news for each of the three major events this season plus other fleet news and race information. Latest positions, images, audio, will all be available on the site. To subscribe to Sam’s email updates or SMS service, go to http://www.samdavies.com/updates INTERVIEW WITH SAM What have you been up to since last season? "At the beginning of the winter, my Figaro Skandia was in the boat shed at Port Le Forêt where Erwan, my preparateur, and I worked hard on the re-fit, refining and tuning Skandia. We also spent time learning about every detail of the boat in order to maximize her performance. We carried out some necessary modifications for the first race of the season - our solo transatlantic race from Saint-Nazaire to Cuba. My boat Skandia has never been in a single-handed race across the Atlantic – the whole Figaro fleet have never raced solo across the Atlantic! As well as training as part of the Port La Forêt team, since our last two-handed transatlantic race last year, the AG2R, I have learned a lot about certain things, which will be useful for my next transatlantic race in a few weeks time. We worked on the set up of the boat, fixings, chart table, etc, even the smallest details make a difference! We’ve continued to develop the sails, the mast and the rudders since last winter. The safety requirements onboard are obviously a very important aspect for our transatlantic race, we now need a whole ‘safety kit’ onboard which includes a handheld VHF radio, which allows us to communicate with a plane. I will borrow this from my team mate, Nick Moloney’s, 60ft monohull Skandia, which he will not need while I am racing. I’ve also made modifications onboard Skandia to improve my comfort, in particular with a beanbag which is completely waterproof. I can quite comfortably sleep on this without having to lie down and stretch out. Very practical! Musto provide me with all my clothing, which will help me to keep dry especially in the first two weeks of the race which are likely to be cold and very wet! " How did you feel about being selected as one of the recruits at the prestigious Pôle Finistere Course au Large training programme at Port La Forêt? "I was very fortunate to be selected once again to be part of the team for 2005. I am really happy to be continuing to work with Christian Le Pape and the team at Pôle Finistere Course au Large because, for me, it is the most effective way of training to continue to improve on the Figaro circuit. The training is rigorous and full-time (6 days per week) including both on and off the water work. The team is very motivated and everybody has the same drive to improve. Obviously, it is thanks to Skandia and all my other partners that enable me to sail full time. I learnt so much last year - in two months I gained valuable experience and confidence in my boat handling and speed. I can't wait to get out there racing again! I am one of 5 or 6 skippers who are taking part in the Trophée BPE. The first event for the other skippers is the Générali Solo which I am also doing, but we all training together.” How do you think you compare to your teammates at Port La Forêt and how are you finding the training? "I feel like my sailing and the adjustments I need to make to optimize my performance has really improved during the training this winter. I feel like I’m sailing much faster now than I was last year and I’m finding the handling of Skandia easier. I even beat Vincent Riou two weeks ago!! (winner of the Vendée Globe 2004/05). We have been sailing in pretty tough conditions, including two days of sailing in 30 knots of wind. It’s very tiring! To help us train for racing in these conditions we train hard out of the boat including swimming, running and weight training in the gym. Our on land training also involves spending time in the classroom before and after training on the water. The de-briefings are particularly interesting because we can learn from the experiences of others, for example Vincent Riou had some great tips for sailing under pilot. It is important that we are progressing mentally as well as physically." Aswell as being part of the Port La Forêt team you also form of Offshore Challenges Sailing Team. How do feel being part of this team? "I feel very lucky to be part of the OC Sailing Team. I really benefit from the experiences of Ellen and Nick. I ask them a lot of questions and I learn a lot from them. It is very enriching. We all help and support each other. It is very important psychologically. You feel a lot stronger when you know there is a great team behind you! " What is your objective for your 2005 Figaro season? "I want to finish in the top ten of the Solitaire du Figaro. I want to be in the leading pack. For the Saint-Nazaire-Cuba race (Trophée BPE), my objective is to arrive in Cuba safely on Skandia, in one piece! The level is very high - there are 10 or 11 skippers who could win! But, I will fight hard! " 2004 FIGARO SEASON RESULTS Transat AG2R (doublehanded with Jeanne Gregoire) 5th La Générali Solo 12th La Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro 19th Les Course des Falaises 9th 10th in the French Solo Championship (Championnat de France) 2005 FIGARO PROGRAMME 3 April: Trophée BPE 2005 (St.Nazaire – Cienfuegos, Cuba) 6-25 June: La Generali Solo (Bassin Méditerranéen) 1-28 August: La Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro 2005 PARTNER OF THE DAY : SEEDA/COWES WATERFRONT Offshore Challenges Sailing Team UK Base http://www.samdavies.com/seeda Email powered by Active 24 For more information visit http://www.samdavies.com/skandia or contact : Josie Robinson (English) josie@offshorechallenges.com T: +44(0) 870 063 0210 Caroline Muller (Francais) bienvenue@welcomeonboard.fr T: 00 33 6 80 40 00 24 - NOTES TO EDITORS * Skandia Set Sail aims to offer people more opportunities to participate in the sport on a broader level. Its objectives are to make sailing more accessible, grow the sport’s reach and enrich peoples’ lives through the sport. * Skandia's Set Sail portfolio is divided into three groups: events; teams and athletes. * Events include: the title sponsorships of Skandia Cowes Week, the world’s oldest and largest regatta on the Isle of Wight, UK (title sponsors for 10 years in 2004); Skandia Geelong Week in Victoria, Australia – now twinned with Skandia Cowes Week; the Skandia Brown Cup (the Scottish Schools Sailing Championship) and Skandia Cowes Youth Week, a leading international match racing championship. * Teams include: the Skandia Maxi, Australia’s biggest ocean racing yacht and line-honours winner of the 2003 Sydney-Hobart Race. * Athletes include: Star class yachtsmen Iain Percy and Steve Mitchell and Sam Davies, the up and coming single-handed yachtswoman and her Figaro campaign. * Sail 4 Cancer is the official charity of the Skandia Set Sail programme www.sail4cancer.org * For further information contact www.skandiasetsail.com * Skandia in the UK launched in 1979 and is now one of the UK’s leading financial services groups providing pensions, investment and protection products through intermediaries in the UK and overseas. Creators of the multimanager approach, Skandia has teamed up with the world’s top fund managers to create a range of funds tailored for investors’ individual needs. * Parent company, Skandia Insurance Company Limited, is one of Europe’s oldest insurance companies. It has developed and evolved constantly over the years to reach its present position as one of the world's leading long-term saving companies with operations in over 20 countries and assets under management exceeding £56 billion (as at 31.12.04). For more information on Skandia Insurance Company Limited visit www.skandia.com * For more information on Skandia in the UK visit www.skandia.co.uk Issued by Skandia Life Assurance Company Limited. Registered Number: 1363932 England. Registered Office: Skandia House, Portland Terrace, Southampton, SO14 7EJ Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Copyright © 1996-2016 - SEGEL.DE