Sam Goodchild second in the Vendée Arctique on board MACIF Santé Prévoyance
by IMOCA MACIF Santé Prévoyance 16 Jun 08:19 UTC
16 June 2026
Sam Goodchild second in the Vendée Arctique on board MACIF Santé Prévoyance © Eloi Stichelbaut - polaRYSE / Nefsea / SAEM Vendée
On Tuesday, June 16th, at 4:22:53 AM, the IMOCA MACIF Santé Prévoyance crossed the finish line of the Vendée Arctique after 3,219.86 nautical miles of an intense race between Les Sables d'Olonne and the Arctic Circle.
After 8 days, 15 hours, and 20 minutes at sea, Sam Goodchild secured a remarkable second place in this third edition of the race, following a thrilling finish against Italian sailor Ambrogio Beccaria. He completed the course at an average speed of 15.5 knots.
This performance holds particular significance for the entire team. Just days after Charlie Dalin's passing, the boat he helped design and develop continues its journey at the highest level. Winner of the previous Vendée Arctique, Charlie left his mark on the race. This new performance MACIF Santé Prévoyance is part of a continuation of a project of which it was one of the main architects.
A race led from the front
From the very first night of the race, southwest of Belle-Île, Sam Goodchild took command of the fleet. Gradually, the gap widened with his pursuers: 20, then 30, 40 and up to 50 miles ahead off the Mizen Peninsula, in southwest Ireland.
In rough seas with waves up to four meters high along the Irish coast, MACIF Santé Prévoyance posted impressive average speeds of nearly 23 knots before skirting the Scottish Hebrides. They then headed for higher latitudes, leaving the Faroe Islands to the east, with a lead of nearly 80 miles before crossing a low-pressure system.
However, as they approached the Arctic Circle, the gaps narrowed. With a lead of around thirty miles, Sam Goodchild crossed latitude 66°33 North on Thursday, June 11, at precisely 9:45 a.m., northeast of Iceland, after only three days and 21 hours of racing.
The return to Les Sables d'Olonne was shaping up to be particularly tactical. Several options were available to the competitors. Sam chose to enter the North Channel, between Scotland and Ireland, before crossing the Irish Sea and then the Saint George's Channel. This bold choice allowed him to maintain his lead despite a significant slowdown off the Wicklow Mountains, where the boat was momentarily trapped in very light winds.
In western Ireland, his pursuers gradually closed the gap. The crossing of the Celtic Sea and then the passage around the Isles of Scilly completely reignited the suspense. As they approached the tip of Brittany, the gaps were now measured in just a few miles.
A true chase ensued, right up to the finish line. Despite accumulated fatigue and a windless zone that moved in with the fleet towards the Vendée region, Sam Goodchild never let up. In the final miles, Ambrogio Beccaria managed to pull ahead after a high-level head-to-head battle. After more than eight days of intense racing, contested at the front of the fleet from start to finish, Sam Goodchild secured a solid second place and confirmed MACIF Santé Prévoyance's competitiveness on the IMOCA circuit.
Sam Goodchild upon his arrival at the pontoon in Les Sables d'Olonne this Tuesday morning: "I fought to the very end, and it was Ambrogio (Beccaria) who was good yesterday. I did my best, but I couldn't catch him. I'm only thinking about Charlie. We crossed the channel with the whole Macif team, waving the black flag; it was powerful. We're thinking about Charlie a lot. That's what's on my mind most."