SHOOTIN’ THE BREEZE

We catch up with Sam Goodchild, fresh from racing on board Leyton in November’s Transat Jacques Vabre.

Sam and Aymeric were third in the Ocean Fifty class in the 2021 Transat Jacques Vabre

The only non-French sailor in the Ocean Fifty class in the 2021 Transat Jacques Vabre, Sam Goodchild took third place on board Leyton, 3 hours 48 minutes and 29 seconds behind class winner Primonial. With co-skipper Aymeric Chappellier, Sam completed the TJV course from Le Havre to Martinique in 15 days 17 hours 15 minutes and 43 seconds.

QHOW DID YOU FIRST GET INTO SAILING AND WHAT WAS YOUR ROUTE TO THE TRANSAT JACQUES VABRE? SG: I got into sailing by living on a boat with my parents - they decided to go on a world tour when I was a baby. It became a lifestyle for us so I grew up on a boat.

I realised I could make a living sailing through my introduction to The British Keelboat Academy, which had Alex Thompson racing, as well as Hugo Boss and 5 Degrees West. I did a Transat and a trip across the pacific with them when I was 17, and then a few days after my A-Levels they asked me to help their technical team with odd jobs. It was those experiences that made me want to pursue sailing as a career.

My first experience with the Transat Jacques Vabre was in 2011, and I have been trying to get as much experience as I can ever since. My big break came when I met Leyton three years ago; I have gone from being the co-skipper to the skipper of their small Figaro to the skipper of the 50ft trimaran.

QWHAT WERE YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES IN THE TRANSAT JACQUES VABRE? SG: The biggest challenge we had was the first 12 - 24 hours. It was our first shorthanded Transat on a multihull and, while there are similarities to sailing shorthanded on a monohull or fully crewed on a multihull, there were a few differences we needed to iron out. Unfortunately it was a race where the first 24 hours were crucial and the 10 - 15 miles we lost then widened when we got past Portugal and we spent the next two weeks trying to catch up. We also had to find a mode of sailing that was safe and fast and was not too high maintenance in terms of trimming. The other challenge was getting used to working with a navigator on land. It was a new experience for me and that relationship of decision making and discussion was something we had to develop throughout the race. Q CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THE WEATHER YOU ENCOUNTERED AFFECTED YOUR TACTICS AND THE BOAT HANDLING? SG: When you set off from the English channel in November you expect storms. We ended up drifting around for 24 – 36 hours in the Bay of Biscay. So it was not exactly as expected, but it proved to be a key point in the race.

The biggest difficulty was finding out where to go tactically because once we got into trade winds the sail changes were fairly simple. In terms of manoeuvres, it was a fairly mild Transat Jacques Vabre. Q TELL US ABOUT THE BOAT YOU RACED AND HOW YOU WORKED WITH YOUR CO-SKIPPER AYMERIC CHAPPELLIER. SG: The boat is a 50ft trimaran; it is light and fast but also more stable upside down than the right way up. The sailing part is like all other sailing boats but you cannot take as much risk because the price for overstepping the line is game over. If you get caught out by a squall or too much wind you are in danger of capsizing. When the wind gets above 18 knots the safety element is more important.

Aymeric is an experienced shorthanded sailor and came second in the Route du Rhum. His engineering background means his technical knowledge is second to none. He is also the team manager of our sailing team so he really knows the boat. It was not just race preparation, we built the whole 2021 project together so it is a relationship we have had for a long time. We are both all-round sailors, so our relationship is complementary and we share a lot of the same ambitions and desires.

QWHICH SAILORS HAVE INSPIRED YOU (PAST OR PRESENT)? SG: When I was younger, Alex Thompson and Mike Golding. Once I moved to France and started learning about offshore racing, watching fellow Musto ambassador Jeremie Beyou dominate the Figaro was inspiring. There are so many legends in the sport and I try to look at every sailor and learn all I can from them. Q WHAT WERE YOUR CONSIDERATIONS WHEN CHOOSING YOUR KIT? SG: When we packed our bags and got to the start line we were not sure if we would go south in shorts or head hard west - we needed to be ready for all weather conditions. I ended up taking Musto HPX Gear - the Gore Tex fabric is really durable and breathable, so it keeps you warm in foul weather but stops you sweating in the heat.

Sam has a busy 2022 coming up including the Route du Rhum and Pro Sailing Tour Q WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE COMPETITIVE RACE SO FAR IN YOUR CAREER AND WHAT RACE(S) DO YOU STILL WANT TO TAKE ON? SG: I enjoy the Figaro the most, especially last year. It did not end particularly well for me but I had three very competitive legs and had a great race. I felt like I had the boat speed and the tactics to stay in the game. My biggest aim is the Vendée Globe, but I am focusing on the Route du Rhum right now.

QWHAT IS COMING UP FOR YOU IN 2022? SG: We are doing another season in the Ocean Fifty, with four grand prix events for the Pro Sailing Tour. We are also doing the Dream Cup, a single-handed 1,000 mile race in July. The Route du Rhum is our overarching focus for the year though.

My work with the Magenta Project is also ongoing. We had a successful year, and had great feedback from the women and girls who came sailing with us. I hope we can keep helping people who do not have the opportunities I had when I started my sailing career.

Sam Goodchild is a Musto ambassador. For more information visit www.musto.com.