Sam Goodchild, a 33-year-old skipper with Leyton since 2019, specializes in ocean racing, adept in both multihull and monohull formats, solo or with a crew. With extensive experience and a solid background in sailing, he now competes on the Ocean Fifty, a powerful trimaran. Goodchild’s passion for sailing was cultivated from a young age, living on a boat until he was 10 before moving to France in 2011 to pursue ocean racing professionally.
At 42, Aymeric leads Team Leyton as its manager. His background as an engineer and naval architect complements his skills as a seasoned sailor and racer. Starting in the Mini circuit, he transitioned to Class40, gaining extensive experience in Ocean Fifty races. Aymeric has also participated as a crew member in the Pro Sailing Tour and co-skippered in the Transat Jacques Vabre, showcasing his versatility and leadership in competitive sailing.
Leyton’s sailing success is bolstered by a dedicated team including a Team Manager, a logistics manager, a trainer, and skilled crew members. Their collective expertise and coordination make the team’s achievements possible.
Sam Goodchild and his team launched the Ocean Fifty Leyton in Lorient after a two-month refit, introducing major optimizations. The team aims to defend its title in the upcoming Pro Sailing Tour season, with Sam also participating in the singlehanded Route du Rhum in November, marking a significant challenge for the season.
Sam Goodchild and Aymeric Chapellier made a notable comeback in the Transat Jacques Vabre race to Fort de France, Martinique, aboard Leyton. The Anglo-French duo overcame a significant deficit, closing a 283-mile gap from the leaders near the Cape Verde islands, navigating a new route in this 15th edition of the race.
The Leyton Sailing Team achieved a remarkable victory in the first season of the Pro Sailing Tour, securing wins in Brest, La Rochelle, and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, culminating in triumph in the Final Rush. This marks an impressive feat for British skipper Sam Goodchild’s debut year in the Ocean50 class.
In July 2021, Marseille hosted the 2nd Sustainable Organisations Summit, where Leyton gathered stakeholders to discuss sustainable development topics. The event also celebrated and showcased winning startups from the Sustainable Innovation Challenge, highlighting their projects.
Arthur Le Vaillant’s debut in the Route du Rhum securing 4th place was a remarkable achievement, showcasing exceptional performance and sailing skill.
The Leyton Sailing Team’s initiatives align with Leyton Group’s core values of solidarity, excellence, and environmental conservation. Their sailing project serves as a platform for promoting sustainable practices and collaborative efforts towards a more sustainable world, embodying the group’s commitment to positive global impact.
The team benefits from a supportive network of financial and technical partners, contributing significantly to its success and initiatives.