The British skipper Samantha Davies and her partner, the French sailor Romain Attanasio are looking forward to the birth of their first child, a boy that is due to be born in September.
At the age of 36, Sam, who was such a star in the last Vendée Globe, finishing in fourth place, is therefore getting ready to face a very different kind of adventure that will be taking her away from the pontoons for a few months. However, the British sailor, now living in Brittany, fully intends to continue towards her main sporting goals and says she is aiming for the podium in the next Vendée Globe.
Samantha Davies: 'It was a great surprise to find out that I was going to become a mother. You go through a whole range of feelings. Over the past ten years, each year I have crossed the Atlantic at least once, but here I am now stuck ashore. At the same time, expecting a baby is really exciting. One thing for certain. I’m more worried about being a good mother than a good sailor.'
Just like other sports personalities, such as her compatriot, the marathon runner, Paula Radcliffe, who is someone that she particularly admires, Sam will be taking some time off before returning to the water early next year.
Meanwhile, together with her team she is continuing to look for the backing required to be there at the start of the next Vendée Globe in November 2012. Sam adds with a touch of humour, 'I’m fully trained to deal with sleepless nights. It’s not going to be that different from aboard the boat (although maybe more tiring!) and I won’t have to worry about getting my boots on when I get up in the middle of the night.'
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