ERGET Sponsoring Vendee Globe 2012

SAMANTHA DAVIES - Facing the storm 

Samantha was the only woman taking part in this edition, having previously finished 4th, and was widely recognised as being the revelation of the 2008-2009 Vendée Globe.

Following the dismasting of her monohull on the evening of 15 November 2012, while sailing in very rough seas, the race unfortunately stopped sooner than expected for her but her adventure nonetheless continued.

Refusing to abandon her vessel, Samantha managed to reach Madeira safely where she was able to set up a makeshift mast.

Using this experience to test out a completely new method of using a kite surfing sail as a back-up for yachtsmen who dismast in mid-ocean, she arrived back at Les Sables-d’Olonne on 9 December before a large crowd who had turned out to greet her (15,000 people in the harbour channel).