TR Racing: two boats for the Vendée Globe

Sam Goodchild © TR Racing

TR Racing, Thomas Ruyant's ocean racing team, winner of the last edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre and the Route du Rhum, is increasing its development and launching a double nautical and technological challenge in 2023.

Sam Goodchild joins TR Racing

Ocean sailor Sam Goodchild joins the Lorient-based structure founded by Thomas Ruyant and Alexandre Fayeulle, and managed by Thomas Gavériaux. The British skipper will sail as of this year Thomas Ruyant's Verdier 2019 design, (former LinkedOut) with the ambition to perform in the next Vendée Globe. Leyton, an international consulting firm and Sam's historical sponsor, also joins TR Racing as a partner alongside Advens, a leader in cybersecurity, and supporter of TR Racing from its inception.

Two yachts for the Vendée Globe, and a "totem" building

TR Racing is shifting gears and will be spearheading the two IMOCA programs, both technical and sailing, convinced that cross-functioning will nourish the team and optimize it's performances at every level.

In addition to this major development, associating two high experienced offshore athletes operating two of the latest generation of foilers, come the construction of a home base for TR Racing. Located at the foot of the monumental and preserved facades of the K4 in Lorient, France, it will stand at the crossroads of the fishing and ocean racing ports. Designed by architectural firm "Bertin-Bichet Architectes", this innovative and sustainable building will embody the values and ambitions of the team, offering a unique working and activation environment for the team and its partners.

Quotes:

Sam Goodchild, currently racing and leading The Ocean Race: "I am delighted to join TR Racing with the support of Advens and Leyton. It is a great satisfaction for me to work with this very experienced team on board a very fast foiler which, with Thomas, has won both the Transat Jacques Vabre and the Route du Rhum. I will benefit from a high level of expertise to learn fast and perform as early as 2023, while aiming the next Vendée Globe. It's a sort of a daydream that will allow me to make significant steps both on technical and sport sides."

Thomas Ruyant: " I can't wait ! With the arrival of Sam, TR Racing pursues its development and becomes a key player in ocean racing. We will support him such that he performs as quickly as possible on board a highly competitive boat. This unique collaboration will enrich and further enhance the skills of all our teams as well as the performance of our boats. We will rely on all of our experience accumulated these last few years, and I am convinced this group dynamic will give us the means to reach our sporting goals. Advens 2 is currently in its final phase of construction at CDK in Lorient, France, and will be the apex of a long thought and analysis process with our design team led by Antoine Koch, the firm Finot Conq, and TR Racing's design office. The launch is scheduled for mid-March."

Thomas Gavériaux, Managing Director of TR Racing: "The arrival of Sam Goodchild marks a further step in the growth of TR Racing. With the support of Advens and Leyton, the team is expanding; the way we operate it evolves and is being rethought with collective intelligence placed at its heart and committed to performance, around and for Thomas and Sam. As of the start of 2023, it is 25 experts that work daily at TR Racing, sharing their know-how and expertise acquired on a large array of projects and programs, all with the same ambition, the same desire to perform and succeed. In the meantime, we have also launched the construction of our future totem building, which will house our team and our 2 IMOCA boats, and will allow us to develop an ecosystem around TR Racing, bringing together tech players devoted to the maritime industry of tomorrow."

The base for TR Racing - photo © TR Racing

Sam Goodchild's record:

2022
1st - Dhream Cup [Ocean Fifty]
1st - 1000 milles des Sables [Ocean Fifty]
2nd - Pro Sailing Tour [Ocean Fifty]
Route du Rhum - withdrawal due to injury [Ocean Fifty]

2021
1st - Pro Sailing Tour [Ocean Fifty]
3rd - Transat Jacques Vabre [Ocean Fifty]

2020
1st - Dhream Cup [Figaro]
2nd - Solo Maître Coq [Figaro]
Jules Verne Trophy attempt with Sodebo [Ultim]

2019
2nd - Transat Jacques Vabre [Class 40]
3rd - Rolex Fastnet Race [Ultim]

2018
2nd - 1000 miles of Les Sables [Class 40]
Route du Rhum - abandonment due to dismasting [Class 40]

2015
7th - Transat Jacques Vabre [IMOCA]