Sam Goodchild and Aymeric Chappellier for the Transat Jacques Vabre

The 15^th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre will start on November 7^th, and head to Fort-de-France in Martinique. Sam Goodchild, Leyton’ skipper, chose to embark his team manager Aymeric Chappellier as co-skipper for this transatlantic. The duo will be at the start of the new route du café on the Ocean Fifty.

© Martin Viezzer / Leyton Sailing Team

During the last edition in 2019, Sam Goodchild et Aymeric Chappellier had a great fight on the Atlantic. The British skipper, with Fabien Delahaye on the Leyton Class40, had crossed the finish line in 2^nd position ahead of Aymeric Chappellier and Pierre Leboucher, 3^rd in Salvador de Bahia. “It’s true we started as rivals before sailing together on Leyton. During the last Jacques Vabre, we sailed side by side for a long time, we were head to head until the finish line. It’s extremely motivating to now be on the same boat as Sam, he’s a very good sailor.” confided Aymeric.

This year, Sam and Aymeric will cross the Atlantic on a multihull,  the Leyton Ocean Fifty. A new and radically different experience than on a monohull, but the Leyton trimaran is a boat they know well and they’ve been having great results so far on the Pro Sailing Tour. Leyton’s Team Manager since January, Aymeric Chappellier is also a crew member. A diverse role that allows him to have a global vision of the project. “Aymeric started sailing on the Ocean Fifty last year, he knows the boat extremely well and we work really well together. He’s a versatile sailor who can adapt and react quickly. It’s a real strength for me to do this transatlantic with someone who knows the boat and the project so well”, says Sam.

“Sam and I are complementary and both extremely motivated! We have a fast and sound boat perfect for big races like the Transat Jacques Vabre. In my opinion it’s one of the fleet’s best boats today. It’s up to us now to get the most out of it. We’re going to do everything to get that win.” adds Aymeric, determined to compete in november.

United and extremely motivated, the duo will have their first double-handed sailing  session on Saturday, leaving la Trinité-Sur-Mer to go to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to do their qualification run.

“Our course has been validated by Francis Le Goff, the race director. It’s a bit like the beginning of the Transat Jacques Vabre. It’s not the same weather system, but going down the Portuguese coasts and looking for the trade winds can look like the beginning of a transatlantic. It’s not just a qualification run, it’s also good practice for us to see how the two of us are on the boat for 4 to 5 days. We’ll be in “performance mode”, explains Sam.

Sam and Aymeric will be joined by the rest of the crew in Las Palmas for the 3^rd episode of the Pro Sailing Tour. The Leyton team is currently leading the championship after winning the first two episodes in Brest and La Rochelle.

Declaration

Caroline Villecroze, Marketing and Communication director of the Leyton Group:

“Aymeric knows the Ocean FIfty inside out, he’s been sailing with the Leyton Team since 2020. He’s found his place within the tea, Sam and him are a very promising duo.Leyton’s collaborators will follow this important race of the season  eagerly!”.