A devastating turn of events for the Macif Santé Prévoyance skipper!
Image: © Jean-Louis Carli - polaRYSE / Nefsea / SAEM Vendée
Leading from the very first night and in control throughout the race, the Franco-British sailor was brought to a sudden halt by a dreadful windless patch just before the finish. In the final hours of the race, despite his selfless effort, he ceded first place to Ambrogio Beccaria and crossed the line 1 hour, 15 minutes and 3 seconds behind the Italian. Despite the turnaround and the frustration that came with it, Sam delivered a near-flawless performance and has established himself among the best IMOCA skippers of the moment.
HIS RACE IN FIGURES
Finished on Monday 16 June 2026 at 04:22:53
Race time: 8 days 15 hours 20 minutes 53 seconds
Distance covered: 3,219.86 miles
Average speed: 15.5 knots
HIS RACE IN BRIEF
Sam Goodchild arrived at the Vendée Arctique as the favourite and never made any secret of it. Quite the contrary: the Franco-British sailor said he was determined to use this pressure to “meet the expectations that come with it”, as he explained at the start. An outsider when he raced under the colours of Vulnérable, Sam Goodchild has therefore changed status by becoming skipper of MACIF Santé Prévoyance this season.
Unchallenged dominance...
Right from the start of the race, Sam did what he does best: mastering every aspect of performance and giving his all. Already among the frontrunners at the start, he took the lead on the very first night. The sailor never relinquished it. Sam first had to contend with the challenge from Corentin Horeau (MACSF), who was eventually forced to retire.
Right from the start of the race, Sam did what he does best: mastering every aspect of his performance and giving it his all. Already among the frontrunners at the start, he took the lead on the very first night. The sailor never relinquished it. Sam first had to contend with the challenge posed by Corentin Horeau (MACSF), who was eventually forced to retire.
Next, it was Élodie Bonafous (Association Petits Princes - Quéguiner) who tried to stay in his wake, sailing aboard a sister ship to his own (built from the same moulds). But Sam extended his lead, setting the pace and dictating the strategic choices. After reaching the Arctic Circle, his descent is rapid. He dares to take a bold route between Ireland and England, via the North Channel, reminiscent of his years in the Figaro Beneteau class.
... Before such a frustrating end to the race
What followed felt like an ordeal, predictable given the weather reports of the past few days, yet as brutal as it was ungrateful in light of his overall performance. He was, in fact, the first to be trapped by this vast area of calm that suddenly blocked their path and reshuffled the deck in an unlikely turn of events. At around 6 pm on Monday, Sam ceded first place to Ambrogio Beccaria and was never able to catch up with him.
Beyond the intense frustration he feels, the skipper has added another prestigious result to his IMOCA record. The Franco-British sailor finished third in the Transat Jacques Vabre and Retour à la Base in 2023, before winning the Course des Caps and The Ocean Race Europe last year. His dedication, composure and talent are recognised by all. There is no doubt that he will return to racing with renewed motivation to battle the elements and, this time, withstand the vagaries of fate.
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