Vendée Arctique: Goodchild leads at the halfway stage – and has Dalin in mind

When Sam Goodchild crossed the Arctic Circle on 11 June, shortly before news of Charlie Dalin’s death reached him, and had begun his return journey, the British man living in Brittany was looking forward to heading home: “I’m heading home!” He was also aware of the extraordinary situation in the Vendée Arctique. Goodchild said: “There are very few people who experience this. And even fewer on their own. It reminds us that we are doing something quite extraordinary.”

“Vendée Arctique”: Sam Goodchild on the death of Charlie Dalin

A short while later, he received the sad news of Dali’s death. Then the news kept coming. It has been a year since Sam Goodchild joined Team Macif Santé Prévoayance to follow in Charlie Dalin’s huge footsteps. He knew, of course, “that Charlie would surely have preferred it to be different”, and often expressed his gratitude for the trust and support shown by Dalin, whose health no longer allowed him to compete actively.

Sam Goodchild immediately repaid the faith placed in him, won with the Course des Caps his first race on Dalin’s Vendée Globe-winning yacht, flying the colours of the Macif Santé Prévoyance team. Most recently, the 2025 Imoca champion won this year’s 1000 Race. News of Dali’s death has now reached the Bristol-born Briton in the middle of the race. Sam Goodchild said: “It’s very sad, devastating for his family, his son and Team Macif, who have shared some very special moments with him. It’s hard to comprehend that it should end like this.”

Life can be cruel. I’m thinking of you, Charlie!” Sam Goodchild

Goodchild, who grew up on a boat with his family until the age of seven and has been living in France for around a decade and a half, reflects during the current Vendée Arctique on “the moments with Charlie in my career, in our lives, during our first Figaro together, and also a little on the times we sailed together on various boats.” Speaking about his current campaign, Sam Goodchild says: “Now I find myself back on the boat, that he knew so well, with which he won the Vendée Globe.”

Goodchild remains in the lead

The midday broadcast of the Vendée Arctique on 12 June was still dominated by the news of Charlie Dalin’s death the previous day. At the same time, the race continued. Charlie Dalin would certainly have wanted it no other way. Click here for the live tracker for the Vendée Arctique. Sam Goodchild remains in the lead as the pacemaker. On the afternoon of 12 June, Élodie Bonafous (“Association Petits Princes - Queguiner”) and Violette Dorange (“Initiatives Cœur”) were battling it out for second place as the closest pursuers, separated by just seven nautical miles.

In third place, Ambrogio Beccaria continues his comeback after the risky dives to free the keel of “Allagrande Mapei” from a fishing buoy. Most recently, he was less than ten nautical miles behind Violette Dorange. Francesca Clapcich (“11th Hour Racing”) followed her compatriot in fifth place, a further 20 nautical miles behind.

Whilst Nico d’Estais (“Café Joyeux”), sailing the fleet’s only non-foiler, reached the Arctic Circle on Friday afternoon and is now heading south again towards the start and finish port of Les Sables-d’Olonne, Arnaud Boissières (“April Marine – Recherche Co-Partenaire”) and Manu Cousin (“Coup de Pouce”) still had around 100 and just under 250 nautical miles to go to reach the halfway line.

The Vendée Arctique is an adventure

The Vendée Arctique is also a natural experience for its competitors. Ambrogio Beccaria described it as follows: “Life is pretty good at the moment. I’ve just caught a glimpse of Iceland. It lasted only a few moments, a brief bright spot amidst two grey days, but I could make out the snow-capped mountains. It was beautiful. The race itself, however, remains extremely intense. We’re on a constant adventure.”

After five days at sea – impressions from the 3rd Vendée Arctique on 12 June: