A new life for Tanguy de Lamotte
It is at the end of the Transat Jacques Vabre 2017, which he will be racing alongside Samantha Davies, that Tanguy de Lamotte will hang up his foulies. The skipper, who has just welcomed little Tao - his second son - and now intends to devote himself to his family and to his first profession - naval architect - which he would like to do again. For this new family project, the de Lamotte's will be setting down their suitcases abroad, no doubt in San Francisco, without forgetting the passion for the open sea that has been driving Tanguy for years.
The Heart Initiatives Project continues
Since 2004, Tanguy has been wearing the colours of Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque on all the ocean races in which he participates. In fact, 127 children have been operated on thanks to his commitment, including 51 during the last Vendée Globe. Similarly, the Heart Initiatives project (patron of Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque) plays an important role in the skipper's life. It was therefore important for him to hand over to someone he could trust. And it was thanks to his last participation in the Transat Jacques-Vabre with Samantha Davies, in 2015, that he was able to make this decision.
Sam Davies was quickly adopted by the Heart Initiatives family, and quickly became a co-ambassador for the cause, even agreeing to attend open-heart surgery on one of the children saved through the project.
Samantha Davies takes the helm of Heart Initiatives
The partners Initiatives and K-LINE would like the project to continue and be embodied by a skipper who is part of the large Initiatives-Coeur community. They feel both a great friendship and gratitude for Tanguy's unfailing commitment and also welcome with great enthusiasm the arrival of Sam at the helm of the boat and as flag bearer of the project.
"I take the helm, I don't leave the ship. It's got to be a big chunk of my life that I'm leaving behind. But we've got a great relay, great stories will continue to be written with Sam." explains Tanguy de Lamotte.
The yachtswoman was able to win them over with her generosity and commitment during the Transat Jacques Vabre 2015. They have the same primary ambition: to save as many children as possible, while allowing Sam to express her sporting qualities on a competitive hydrofoil boat. As a result, after the 2017 Transat Jacques Vabre, in which she will be taking part as co-skipper, Samantha will take the helm of the IMOCA Initiatives-C?ur for the Route du Rhum 2018 and the Vendée Globe 2020.
An excellent competitor, 4th in the 2008-2009 Vendée Globe, skipper in the last Volvo Ocean Race, a confirmed Figaro sailor, Sam also likes to share her passion with as many people as possible, as her onboard videos made an impression on the public during the Vendée Globe. Tanguy couldn't have imagined a better relay to succeed him at the helm of Initiatives-C?ur.
"It's a dream scenario to know right now that I'll be at the start of the 2020 Vendée Globe with a high-performance boat and team that I already know. During the 2015 Transat Jacques Vabre, I fell in love with the association Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque and the sponsor-sponsors Initiatives and K.Line. Running for children gives an extra meaning to my job as a sailor. It's an honour to succeed Tanguy, but it's also a big pressure to live up to what he has achieved. I know that he will not abandon me and will support me in this challenge" said the navigator.
Tanguy will also closely follow all the developments of the project and will bring his support and precious advice to the navigator. She will also be surrounded by Tanguy's current team until the 2020 Vendée Globe.
