Vendée Globe: "Solo missions prohibited" - Dalin fights, Goodchild sails
Tatjana Pokorny
· 30.01.2026
Charlie Dalin's decision was not an easy one. The 41-year-old Winner of the 1st Vendée Globe 2024/2025 has cancelled his participation in the Route du Rhum, which starts on 1 November, and will also have to and will largely miss the 2026 season. Sam Goodchild will continue to sail the Vendée Globe winner "Macif Santé Prévoyance" for the Maestro. This also applies in particular to the annual highlight of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe. The Brit had already shone for his new team last season, winning the Imoca Championship on the Dalin boat.
Charlie Dalin: his biggest fight is on land
Charlie Dalin said that he had made his decision after intensive consideration and in consultation with his medical team. As a result, he decided not to take part in the Imoca season and to "concentrate fully on his recovery". His bowel cancer Dalin had made public in October 2025 after the Vendée Globe triumph. He had already been diagnosed in 2023, but kept the diagnosis a secret throughout the race that he had contested so formidably.
Charlie Dalin remains fully integrated and committed to Team Macif. Born in Le Havre, the successful sailor will continue his advisory role for the design team responsible for the design and construction of Sam Goodchild's future IMOCA in 2026. The launch of the new Imoca for the 2028/2029 Vendée Globe and the races along the way are scheduled for next year.
Charlie Dalin is one of Imoca's most successful drivers, both as a sailor on the water and as a design mastermind on land. According to the team, his expertise, which he has acquired over the course of numerous campaigns at the highest level, will "enrich the daily performance of the project as well as the technical decisions and strategic directions for the future".
Dalin remains on board as a consultant on the Vendée Globe course
Charlie Dalin himself said: "Not competing this season is a difficult but necessary decision in order to focus on my health and recovery. I am currently banned from sailing solo, but I am allowed to continue sailing in a crew, which I will be doing alongside Sam Goodchild in particular."
I remain deeply committed to the Macif Santé Prévoyance project and its future." Charlie Dalin
The 41-year-old star of the Imoca world, who was born in Le Havre and lives with his family in Concarneau, continued: "My commitment to Sam and the technical team remains unchanged. Together, we will continue to write the story of this boat and prepare the next one, with the same high standards and passion that have always driven me."
The 36-year-old Sam Goodchild is in demand in the role of skipper, who is himself aiming high. Born in Bristol, the Brit has long lived and worked in France, is deeply immersed in the Imoca world and has long been one of the top players. An even better result than ninth place at his Vendée Globe premiere in 2024/2025 was prevented for Thomas Ruyant's former racing team colleague by the mainsail tearing in the final phase.
A strong Vendée Globe project for Goodchild
Last year, the popular figure had already stood in for Charlie Dalin in Team Macif and won the Course de Caps on "Macif Santé Prévoyance" in July. Goodchild was also successful alongside Paul Meilhat with Team Biotherm in winning the Ocean Race Europe. Sam Goodchild's response to Charlie Dalin's far-reaching cancellation for the season: "Taking the helm of the Imoca 'Macif Santé Prévoyance' is an honour and a great responsibility, because Charlie has built up a strong project."
Sam Goodchild's promise to Dalin and his team: "I will do everything I can to continue this momentum. Thanks to the experience I gained in Team 2025 and his expert guidance, I'm ready to take on the challenges of the upcoming races to keep the Macif colours flying high." The project partners announced the continuation of their programme until 2030 back in October. Sam Goodchild was chosen as the successor and "Macif" skipper because Charlie Dalin proposed the Briton himself last May.
