2020 Figaro Circuit

It was Sam Goodchild’s first Figaro race since 2014. After a few seasons with a racing mostly with the Class40, Leyton’s English skipper is back in the game on this demanding circuit. Initially, he was there to “get familiar” the new boats, but his objectives quickly changed as a result of his astounding results.

Highlights of the season

Hot start for the Solo Maitre Coq

The first race of the season for the 2020 French Elite Offshore Racing Championship: the Solo Maître Coq.
Starting from Les Sables-d’Olonne, the competitors circled the Ile de Ré and then Belle-Île in Morbihan before heading back to Vendee — all of this in about 2 days. It was an extremely tight race and no boat properly managed to get the upper hand during the first half of the race. When it was time to tack in Belle-Île, a small group of skippers led by Tom Laperche, including Sam, broke away. Then, the placing got completely disrupted as all the leaders took turns overtaking each other. In the final stretch, Sam finally pulled through and finished second. Hats off for a great start to the season on a new boat, as well as his return to the circuit.

Sam’s perspective regarding the Solo Maître Coq

Sam asserts himself at the Drheam Cup

After his very strong performance in the previous race, Sam was expected to deliver at the opening of The 2020 Drheam Cup. The course of this multi-class race created in 2016 connects Cherbourg-en-Cotentin to La-Trinité-sur-Mer via southeast England.
After a good start in the top 10, Sam accelerated along the English coast. England, his homeland, provided extra motivation and he took the lead at the South-East buoy to head straight to La Trinité-sur-Mer in Brittany. He finished an almost-perfect race, and nobody was able to catch up to him. Sam Goodchild won in a little over 2 days, ahead of Tom Laperche and Armel Le Cléac’h. It was the first victory for a British skipper on the Figaro circuit. since 1998 and he thus confirmed his good physical condition, to the point of making him one of the favorites for the 2020 Solitaire du Figaro.

Sam’s thoughts on he Drheam Cup

Solitaire du Figaro: a disappointing final result but a positive outcome.

This photo is that of Sam Goodchild, during the night, on his Figaro in the port of Dunkirk. We see him talking with another skipper about this 3rd leg of the Solitaire du Figaro 2020 affected by capricious weather.

7 hours before the finish line, Sam was leading with Yann Eliès, and he started to lead from the start of the 2nd day. He also made strategic choices that allowed him to widen the gap with the majority of the contestants. Before the last leg of the race, Sam set sail to the point of being in pole position to win this 51st edition of the Solitaire du Figaro.
But that was before he found himself sailing with no wind, which benefited his competitors. Almost at a standstill for a long time, Sam, who was exhausted, finished at the 29th place of this leg.

You may already know what happened next: the 4th leg was cancelled due to a lack of wind.

Sam took the 17th place in the general ranking of an edition full of twists and turns that he animated from start to finish. We will especially remember his magnificent 2nd place for the 2nd leg, in between Armel Le Cléac’h and Yann Eliès.

Sam’s perspective on the Solitaire

A few days after the end of the Solitaire du Figaro Sam shared his feelings about the race

I am not going to lie, the pill has been hard to swallow. Even today, I still have difficulties to accept the outcomes. But the overall experience is positive. I came to see if I was able to lead, if I had made progress in the last six years, and I was able to see that is was the case during the pre-season and at every step of the race. It is really disappointing to lose so close to the end, but it’s part of the game, especially as a sailor. It was a great experience that allowed me to boost my confidence.

Sam Goodchild Leyton’s Skipper

Video throwback to Sam’s life aboard his Figaro Bénéteau 3

Imagine yourself alongside our English Skipper aboard Leyton’s Figaro with our series episodes: “Life Onboard”!

Les autres temps forts du Team

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The 2020 Multi50 Circuit

This was the season which saw the rise of Arthur and his team of experts (Aymeric Chappellier, Christophe Espagnon, Jean-Baptiste Le Vaillant, Quentin Ponroy) all the way to their magnificent victory in the Brest Grand Prix!

Transat Jacques Vabre 2019

The Franco/English duo of Sam Goodchild and Fabien Delahaye achieved a magnificent 2nd place on our Class40 for this transatlantic race between Le Havre (France) and Salvador de Bahia (Brasil).

Route du Rhum 2018

We were delighted with 4th place for Arthur Le Vaillant’s 1st Route du Rhum – what a performance!

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