1000 Race: In a class of its own - Goodchild wins with Vendée Globe rocket

Sam Goodchild's first pursuer still had almost ten per cent of the course to sail on 8 May, when the 2025 Imoca champion with "Macif Santé Prévoyance" had already crossed the finish line. With Charlie Dalin's winning boat from the Vendée Globe 2024/2025, the Brit had the field under control for long stretches in the 1000 Race from Port-la-Forêt around the Fastnet rocks and back to Concarneau. He celebrated his first solo victory in the Imoca class at the finish harbour.

1000 Race: Goodchild with good strategy and best boat to victory

On the way back from Fastnet Rock, Sam Goodchild dropped back to fifth place in the ranking. However, this was only due to his intensive investment in the south on the approach to the last waypoint, the "Trophée Gallimard", which later allowed him to overtake the others again as the winds became lighter.

In the end, Sam Goodchild came out on top with a time of 4 days, 22 hours, 9 minutes and 56 seconds over 1326.85 nautical miles sailed over ground. He was in maximum fresh water, mostly rather light windy conditions, travelling at an average of 11.2 knots. This made it around one knot faster than its closest rival. When "Macif Santé Prévoyance" crossed the finish line this Friday morningCorentin Horeau still had a little more than 100 nautical miles to go to the line off Concarneau.

Corentin Horeau's performance also comes as no surprise, even though it is his first solo of his new Vendée Globe campaign. Déjà vu: Racing on "Macsf" (Yoann Richomme's ex-"Paprec Arkéa"), Corentin Horeau will probably bring the second-placed Imoca in the Vendée Globe 20242025 to the finish line as the second boat in the 1000 Race too. Behind him, the three female skippers of the race were jostling for position: in third place this morning was Violette Dorange on "Initiatives - Cœur", a good 25 nautical miles behind Horeau.

Will Violette Dorange take the third podium place in the 1000 Race?

Élodie Bonafous followed Violette Dorange with "Association Petits Princes - Quéguiner", only a few nautical miles behind, and could still catch her compatriot in the battle for third place on the podium. At the same time, Élodie Bonafous Frankie Clapcich, who even took the lead in the 1000 Race at one point but has since dropped back to fifth place on "11th Hour Racing" (ex-"Malizia 3") well in check. The tracking for the 1000 Race can be found here.

What does this first showdown say about the Imoca skippers who took part and their boats? Sam Goodchild and "Macif Santé Prévoyance" remain the champion duo to beat this season. The boat continues to impress with its strong all-round qualities. Vendée Globe fourth-placed Jérémie Beyou watched the 1000 Race from land and said: "The boat is simply good in all areas. Perhaps it could be made a little better for downwind courses in medium-plus or stronger winds, but in these conditions it is the best boat in the fleet."

Beyou also noted that the 1000 Race was and is an ideal first race for those four skippers who were testing themselves solo for the first time: Corentin Horeau, Élodie Bonafous, Francesca Clapcich and Nico D'Estais on his non-foiler "Café Joyeux". Beyou said: "They make mistakes and that's normal. But considering the wind conditions, the race was perfect as a season opener, as a first solo. It was different with Sam. If he hadn't won, it would have meant that he had made a big mistake or had no luck."

Imoca season: The big races are still to come

After the 1000 Race is before the big Imoca races of the season, which are fast approaching. The Vendée Arctique Les Sables-d'Olonne starts on 6 July. The Ocean Race Atlantic then starts in the Big Apple on 1 September. It takes its challengers from New York to Lorient. The race for four-person Imoca crews also brings the eagerly awaited regatta premiere for Boris Herrmann's new "Malizia 4".

This will be followed on 15 September in Lorient by the short-distance classic Défi Azimut, which will be contested solo in this even-numbered year. The season will end on 1 November with the Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe from Saint-Malo over 3542 nautical miles to Pointe-à-Pitre.