Samantha Davies, a skipper with a big heart

Sam Davies

Sam was born on 23rd August 1974 in Portsmouth, England, into a seafaring family. Her grandfather was a submarine commander. She took her first steps on her parents' boat. An engineering graduate from the University of Cambridge, Sam began her career in competition sailing at the age of 24 with her first round-the-world crewed race (Jules Verne Trophy, 1998).

Enthusiastic and communicative, Sam loves sharing her passion for the sea with the public. She has one child and lives in Brittany.

Achievements :

4 participations in the Vendée Globe

28 Transatlantic

4 complete round the world races

2024-2025 in Initiatives-coeur

13^th - Vendée Globe

6^th - New York Vendée - Les Sables d'Olonne

3^rd - The Transat CIC

2023 in Initiatives-coeur

6^th - Retour à la Base

5^th - Transat Jacques Vabre with Jack Bouttell

5^th - Défi Azimut

5^th - Rolex Fastnet Race

2022 in Initiatives-coeur

28^th - Route du Rhum

7^th - Défi Azimut

2021 in Initiatives-coeur

5^th - Transat Jacques Vabre with Nicolas Lunven

6^th - Défi Azimut

5^th - Rolex Fastnet Race

2020-21 in Initiatives-coeur

Vendée Globe - finished out of the race following collision with a UFO

2^nd - Défi Azimut

4^th - Vendée-Arctique - Les Sables d'Olonne

2019 in Initiatives-coeur

7^th - Transat Jacques Vabre with Paul Meilhat

7^th - Défi Azimut

5^th - Rolex Fastnet Race

4^th - Bermudes 1000 Race

2018 in Initiatives-coeur

Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe - abandoned

1^st - Drheam Cup

2^nd - Bermudes 1000 Race

1^st - Tour de Belle île

2017 in Initiatives-coeur

6^th - Transat Jacques Vabre with Tanguy de Lamotte

2015 in Initiatives-coeur

5^th - Transat Jacques Vabre with Tanguy de Lamotte

2014-15 in Team SCA

6^th - Volvo Ocean Race (round the world race with a female crew)

2011-12 in Saveol

Vendée Globe - retirement due to dismasting.

2011 in Artemis

10^th - Transat Jacques Vabre with Sidney Gavignet

2010 in Saveol

4^th - Transat Ag2r with Romain Attanasio

2008-09 in Roxy

5^th - Transat Anglaise

4^th - Vendée Globe

2007

10^th - Transat Jacques Vabre with Jeanne Grégoire

7^th - Transat Eco vert

2005

5^th - BPE Trophée Saint-Nazaire - Dakar

2004

5^th - Transat Ag2r avec Jeanne Grégoire

2002

6^th - Transat Jacques Vabre with Nick Moloney

2001

11^th - Mini-Transat

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Violette Dorange

Born on April 17, 2001 in Rochefort (Charente Maritime), Violette completed the first crossing of the Channel in an Optimist at the age of 15. She achieved a string of early successes, notably becoming the youngest sailor to cross the Atlantic solo at the age of 18. In 2024, she made history by becoming the youngest skipper to complete the Vendée Globe. A fan of Samantha Davies since childhood, Violette brings her freshness, enthusiasm, and determination to the Initiatives-Cœur project, perfectly embodying the revival of French sailing.

Achievements :

The youngest sailor to complete the Vendée Globe

6 Transatlantic

2-time French Open 420 champion

2024-2025

25^th - Vendée Globe

13^th - Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération

18^th - New York Vendée - Les Sables d'Olonne

18^th - The transat CIC

2023

23^th - Retour à la base

21^th - Transat Jacques Vabre

13^th - Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération

2022

4^th - Sardinha Cup in doubles with Julien Pulvé

10^th - Solitaire du Figaro

2021

19^th - Solitaire du Figaro

9^th - Double-handed Figaro transatlantic race with Alan Roberts

2020

30^th - Solitaire du Figaro

2019

16^th - Mini Transat

2018

3^rd - Open 420 Youth World Championship

2017

2^nd - Open 420 Youth World Championship

1^st - French Open 420 Championship

2016

3^rd - Open 420 Youth World Championship

1^st - French Open 420 Championship

Crossing the Channel in an Optimist between the Isle of Wight and Cherbourg

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Sam Davies & Violette Dorange: a dynamic duo for Initiatives-Cœur

Navigators with big heart

The Initiatives-Coeur team