The official announcement of the new Vendée Globe double attack came from French racing team TR Racing: "The TR Racing offshore team of Thomas Ruyant, winner of the last Transat Jacques Vabre and the Route du Rhum, is stepping up its development and launching a double sailing and technology challenge in 2023." Thomas Ruyant's team is expanding its pool of sailors with the addition of Brit Sam Goodchild, who is currently competing successfully in The Ocean Race with the leading Swiss team Holcim - PRB. The strengthened team has a lot of winning potential.
Sam Goodchild comes on board at TR Racing
Sam Goodchild joins the team founded by Thomas Ruyant and Alexandre Fayeulle and led by Thomas Gavériaux, based in Lorient. The British skipper will sail Thomas Ruyant's older "LinkedOut" from this year. The Verdier design from 2019 will carry the Brit, who lives in France, around the world in the next Vendée Globe on a solo mission. The 33-year-old Goodchild is bringing his long-standing partners, the international consultancy firm Leyton, into the new sporting partnership. Thomas Ruyant's sponsor Advens, a leading company in the field of cyber security, remains loyal to the team as a founding partner of TR Racing.
Two yachts for the Vendée Globe under one roof
TR Racing is shifting up a few gears and now manages two Imoca programmes under one roof. This applies to both the sporting and technological areas. The team hopes that this will create valuable synergy effects and double its strength. There are also plans to build a new headquarters in the famous sailing harbour La Base in Lorient. It will be built at the foot of the monumental facades of the K4 bunker block in Lorient. The innovative and sustainable building, designed by Bertin Bichet Architectes, is intended to represent the team's values and offer members and partners a completely new working environment.
Sam Goodchild, who is currently competing in the Ocean Race alongside Susann Beucke on Kevin Escoffier's "Holcim - PRB" and is in a commanding lead with the green and blue Imoca after two stage wins, said: "I am delighted to be joining TR Racing with the support of Advens and Leyton. It is a great satisfaction for me to be able to work with this very experienced team on board a very fast foiler that has won both the Transat Jacques Vabre and the Route du Rhum with Thomas. I will benefit from a high level of expertise to learn quickly and start as early as 2024 at the next Vendée Globe. It's a dream that will allow me to take significant steps both technically and athletically."
"We want to put collective intelligence at the centre"
The usually reserved Thomas Ruyant said enthusiastically: "I can hardly wait! With Sam, TR Racing is continuing its development and becoming an important player in offshore sailing. We will support him so that he can develop as quickly as possible on board a very competitive boat. This unique collaboration will enrich and further improve the skills of all our players and the performance of our boats. We will draw on all the experience we have gained in recent years. I am convinced that this group dynamic will give us the means to achieve our sporting goals."
Meanwhile, the new Imoca for top soloist Thomas Ruyant is nearing completion. Ruyant reports: "'Advens 2' is currently in the final construction phase at CDK in Lorient, France. The boat will be the culmination of a long process of thinking and analysing with our design team led by Antoine Koch, Finot Conq and the TR Racing design office. The launch is planned for mid-March." TR Racing's General Director Thomas Gavériaux said: "The addition of Sam Goodchild to the team marks another step in TR Racing's growth. With the support of Advens and Leyton, the team is expanding." Gavériaux pointed out that TR Racing wants to "put collective intelligence at the centre of all endeavours".
Vendée Globe 2024/2025: strong opponents for Boris Herrmann
Since the beginning of the year, 25 experts with different backgrounds have been working for the team with a sporty dual leadership. Gavériaux says: "We have brought together tech players who are dedicated to the maritime industry of tomorrow." The racing team's prominent sailors will be among Boris Herrmann's strongest opponents at the Vendée Globe 2024/2025, when he plans to enter the race with "Malizia - Seaexplorer".
