Vendee - Cape Horn Beckons for Roxy Skipper Sam Davies

7:56 PM Fri 9 Jan 2009 GMT

'Vendee Globe - Sam Davies on Roxy' Sam Davies &copy Click Here to view large photo

Sam Davies and her bright pink boat Roxy have now passed through the third and final compulsory race Ice Gate, signalling their impending transition from the depths of the Southern Ocean to the home waters of the Atlantic.

Roxy's bow is now firmly pointed towards the major race milestone of Cape Horn and Sam is gearing up for her first experience of rounding the notorious Cape as a solo sailor.

Sam is currently on course to become only the second ever British female - the other being Dame Ellen MacArthur - to finish the Vend?e Globe, consolidating her status as leading British sailor today.

Although currently in fourth place on the water, Sam will be pushing hard in the home waters of the Atlantic to reduce the deficit between Roxy and race leader Foncia, skippered by Michel Desjoyeaux. The gap of 1000 miles between Roxy and nearest British rival, Brian Thompson aboard Bahrain Team Pindar, will also not be relinquished without a fight as Sam heads for home.

'Hello everyone!

I've passed the 60 day mark! That's AMAZING - time goes so quickly! In one sense I can't believe that we have been out here for two months, but at the same time it seems so long ago that day we left the channel of Les Sables d'Olonne! So much has happened since!

Today I have been sleeping, as after my last two days of eating lots, my body has now developed a demand for lots of rest. I think it is trying to tell me something! Luckily the conditions have allowed me the time in my sleeping bag. I have had lots of 60-90 minute sleeps with a few manoeuvres in between, plus some tidying of Roxy, and obviously the important weather and strategy work.

I'm trying to plan a route past Cape Horn that is safe and fast, staying away from the lee shore, the islands and the ice, and dodging a little secondary low that is going to pass over us.

This morning it was great weather yet again, with Roxy flying along effortlessly on some magnificent surfs, in the sunshine. These South Pacific waves are just amazing; Roxy and I are really going to miss this sailing now I have a taste for it! I am definitely making the most of these last two days to save up the memories to last until I come back.

Now, however, it is really grey and rainy as the next low approaches. I have to let you know, as the photos I am sending were sunny ones and I don't want everyone to think it's like that all the time here: most of the time it is grey!

I am a bit worried as I am starting to talk to my Roxy boat. I never thought it would come to this, but today I found myself talking to her, telling her off for going too fast. Oh dear, is this the first sign of madness? Not the first, I hear you say!

It can't be too bad - I even heard that Bilou calls his boat his 'baby'...

S x'

At 14:30 UK time, Sam Davies aboard Roxy was in 4th position on the water, 1,885 miles from race leader Michel Desjoyeaux aboard Foncia.

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Vendee - Cape Horn Beckons for Roxy Skipper Sam Davies

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