She was one of only two women to compete in the Artemis Transat solo race from Plymouth to Boston last month and — despite hitting a whale and losing the use of her radar on her first night — came fifth: the first Briton and first female to reach home. Sam will be one of just a few women ever to have attempted the gruelling race in which Dame Ellen MacArthur finished second in Is she the new Dame Ellen? I like sailing with a big smile on my face. Sam is a woman of surprises. With her blond hair and blue eyes, she appears wholesome, humorous and down-to-earth.

Whoa dingy. She has had a slow leak since Hawaii and has been slowly getting worse. Her hypalon tubes have 3 chambers and one has a small leak in it.

With only a few weeks before we begin full time cruising, we have some final business to attend to:. The process of going from house dweller to sailboat livaboard is a huge life change. And then getting used to living in a much smaller living quarters is a challenge for many. The next big step, for many who dream of sailing the islands or evven around the world, is the simple task of cutting ties with land life and casting off for good.