Sam back from the beach

Skandia skipper gets ready for the Generali Solo

Sam Davies' Skandia Figaro is due to arrive by ship in La Pallice, La Rochelle, France from Cuba this coming Saturday and during the transportation of the boat after the finish of the solo transatlantic Trophée BPE race, Sam took the opportunity to take a break herself: "I am back from a little holiday (the first time I have EVER gone away on a beach package holiday) where I slept for at least 11 hours per day! It is incredible how tired I was after the St Nazaire-Cuba race, and I am still feeling the effects three weeks after finishing. It is surprising how long it takes to recover, and that just shows how hard we push ourselves when we are racing!"

On arrival in La Pallice, Skandia will then be loaded on to a truck and transported to La Grand Motte, in preparation for the start of the Generali Solo event. "I am beginnig to plan for the Generali," said Davies, "and study the weather notes I have on the Mediterranean and the courses and areas where we will be racing. Once she has arrived in La Grande Motte, Erwan will do the little bits and pieces of preparation work on Skandia and we will set her up in 'coastal race' configuration instead of 'transatlantic' configuration." For example, the 100 litre jerry cans for water will be removed as will a lot of extra safety equipment required for the transatlantic. Sam will also race with less spinnakers but will still use most of her transatlantic sails.

Before going back in the water, Skandia will be thoroughly checked by preparateur Erwan Lemeilleur to check she complies with race rules. The keel will need to be faired and re-antifouled but other than that, there is no major work to be done before the start of the Generali.

Although the Solitaire du Figaro in August is seen as the 'main' event of the Figaro season, the Generali is a tough and testing regatta. Two weeks of seven short inshore races and five offshore races. The first race starts in La Grande Motte on 9th June and finishes at Porquerolles, France on 25th June.