Round the world sailor drums up support in Plymouth
SAILING supremo Sam Goodchild has arrived in Plymouth to kick-start support for his round-the-world bid.
The yachtsman, who hails from Cornwall but is based in Brittany, wants to win the Vendee Globe solo round-the-world yacht race in 2016.
On Friday he gave a talk at the Royal Western Yacht Club about the challenge.
Sam, 23, said: "Everything I have done in the last two years, and will do in the next few years will be about getting myself to the start line for the next edition of the race in 2016.
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"I was lucky enough to be on the water to see the start of the race in 2012.
"To be amongst the 20 single-handed skippers as they set off was incredible. Next time it will be my turn.
"It's not going to be easy but ultimately I want to win."
To achieve his goal, Sam intends to build on his recent sailing successes.
He won the second leg of the Global Ocean Race from South Africa to New Zealand in 2011.
And last year he won the Normandy Channel Race from France to the East coast of Ireland and back.
Sam has just returned from Antigua, where he won the Class 40 division of the RORC Caribbean 600 race.
As well as winning the race, Sam and the five other crew also broke the course record for their class, finishing the race in two days 20 hours two minutes and 15 seconds – three hours faster than the previous record-holders.
Sam said: "To win and break the course record is always a great bonus when you've had fun along the way.
"I was racing with a fantastic bunch of people. I haven't sailed with more than one other member of crew in a long time.
"It was a wet and windy ride and although it's hot during the day it gets cold at night and so you end up with rashes in places you don't want to know about."
Sam hopes talking about his ambitions at the Royal Western Yacht Club will encourage other young sailors to follow their dreams as well as drum up some corporate support.
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