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À bord d'Initiatives Coeur.

Sharing the experience Davies and Dorange

IMOCA
Départs  |  20 October 2025 - 17h20
Their bond has developed quickly and easily, between the experienced sailor (51 years old) and the young skipper (24 years old). They have done well in this season's races together, finishing in the top 5 in the Rolex Fastnet Race (4th), the Initiatives-Cœur duo Sam Davies and Violette Dorange will be among the outsiders worth keeping an eye on in the IMOCA, well capable of springing a surprise podium.

This new partnership between Davies and Dorange, announced just days after their arrival in the Vendée Globe, has always looked promising. On one side, Davies, 51 is a key figure in the IMOCA who first did this TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR Le havre Normandie race in 2003. She is well accustomed to fighting in the lead group and finished 3rd in The Transat CIC last year. Dorange, 24, whose fresh vitality and open frankness sparked an incredible wave of popularity during the Vendée Globe. The story really began for Violette at the age of 7 when she had a T-shirt signed by "Sam," who was already at the top of the sport.

 

"WE MISSED A LONG RACE!"

Since the beginning of the year, the two women have taken the time to get to know each other. "We spent a lot of time together this season not only on the water, but also on shore," smiles Davies. Together, they met sponsors, spoke to the media, and participated in several events together. In July they met up to watch a stage of the Tour de France. At sea, the duo bonded over sailing and crewed races. They competed in the Course de Caps (7th) and then the Rolex Fastnet Race (4th) before sailing on the Défi Azimut (6th).

À bord d'Initiatives Coeur.

Now is their pinnacle race for the season, The TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR, 4,350 miles (8,056 km), which is attracting a lot of attention. "It's the longest race, the one that will take us the furthest this season, and that's been missing since the finish of the Vendée Globe," smiles Violette.

"Violette loves the boat, the competition, she realizes how lucky she is to be here, and it's really enjoyable," remarks Davies . The younger skipper returns the compliment: "Sam has a lot of experience and a very keen understanding of the conditions, the lows, the trade winds... It's great to learn alongside her!"

 

Davies has so much experienced and is committed to passing on what she has learned, not least from the different approaches of the co-skippers she has sailed with, among them Paul Meilhat, Yann Eliès, Damien Seguin, and Nicolas Lunven, "I've often partnered with skippers who went on to be rivals on the next, subsequent races. This is not the case now.

“Our only goal is to shine at the TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR." Violette says the same thing: "It's our big goal for the year, and we can't wait to achieve it.”

 

The duo - Initiatives cœur

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