A Bristol-born sailor who has adopted France as his racing home, Sam Goodchild is proving that versatility across multiple ocean racing classes can forge a genuinely world-class competitor. At 36, he has raced Figaro Bénéteau boats, Class 40s, Ultims, and Ocean Fifties with equal competence, but his current campaign represents his biggest challenge yet: commanding MACIF Santé Prévoyance in the Vendée Arctique 2026, where he currently leads the fleet.
Goodchild’s ascent to the IMOCA 60 ranks came through genuine apprenticeship rather than shortcut. His ninth-place finish in the 2024 Vendée Globe aboard a previous-generation boat caught the attention of the sport’s establishment, notably Charlie Dalin, who stepped aside to allow Goodchild to take the helm of his cutting-edge MACIF machine through the end of 2026. The boat itself, designed by Guillaume Verdier and built at CDK Technologie, represents the current standard in IMOCA technology—a 18.28-metre weapon optimised for the brutality of solo ocean racing.
What distinguishes Goodchild in a field of single-minded offshore racers is his comfort in both crewed and solo formats. Many ocean racers excel in one domain; he moves between them without losing rhythm. His French base and deep integration into European sailing networks mean he has absorbed the tactical culture of the Med, the Atlantic, and the northern European circuits. For New Zealand sailors studying IMOCA racing, Goodchild offers a model that ocean experience matters as much as specialisation.
The Vendée Arctique route—into Arctic waters and back—demands both speed and patience. Goodchild’s current lead suggests he has grasped the race’s unique demands. Having already survived the 80-day grind of a full Vendée Globe circumnavigation, he possesses the mental hardness required. His trajectory from competent all-rounder to IMOCA front-runner vindicates the belief that offshore racing rewards sailors willing to master different boats and conditions rather than chase single-class celebrity.
