This Friday, June 27, the harbor of Boulogne-sur-Mer offered a spectacular sailing moment with the Pom’Potes Challenge, a highlight of the Course des Caps – Boulogne-sur-Mer – Banque Populaire du Nord.

In ideal conditions — 14 to 16 knots of wind over a flat sea — the eleven participating IMOCA yachts raced on a one-nautical-mile course to set their best times. The six fastest then faced off in an intense showdown before a huge crowd of spectators.

At the end of this thrilling nautical show, MACIF Santé Prévoyance, skippered by Sam Goodchild, emerged victorious with a time of 2 minutes and 15 seconds, solidifying his place at the helm of the boat in the absence of Charlie Dalin, who is recovering this season. This victory confirms Goodchild’s legitimacy to lead the 60-footer that won the last Vendée Globe. Just two days before the start of the main race, scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m., the show and intensity were already on full display, promising a highly demanding contest around the British Isles.

After fast-paced qualifying runs by the eleven IMOCA yachts, the six quickest delivered a breathtaking nautical ballet in the harbor: VULNERABLE (Thomas Ruyant), MACIF Santé Prévoyance (Sam Goodchild), Charal (Jérémie Beyou), Holcim – PRB (Nicolas Lunven), Association Petits Princes – Quéguiner (Élodie Bonafous), and Malizia-Seaexplorer (Will Harris) battled fiercely, cheered on by crowds stretching from the Calvaire des Marins all the way to the Wimereux breakwater.

Sailing at over 20 knots, the boats delivered a world-class spectacle, keeping spectators in suspense until the very end. The time gaps were minimal: MACIF Santé Prévoyance took the win with 2’15, followed by Charal at 2’19, and Holcim – PRB at 2’30.

Crew member Franck Cammas, aboard Holcim – PRB, praised his team’s performance:

“We worked a lot today, testing the new sails, and the runs went better than expected. We didn’t think we’d make the podium, but we did. We’re continuing to progress and get to know the boat, and that’s really encouraging.”

These tight results highlight the impressive level of the fleet and promise a thrilling competition ahead. For his part, the British skipper demonstrated complete command of MACIF Santé Prévoyance, proving his ability to lead the Verdier-designed boat—winner of the last Vendée Globe—as one of the top contenders for victory in this Course des Caps. A strong sign of confidence for the race ahead.

At the end of the day, he was all smiles:

“The conditions were perfect, with a bit more wind than expected, which allowed us to fly. It was amazing, with a fairly flat sea and 13–15 knots of wind — just what we needed. We’re really happy, because even though this isn’t our main goal, winning these runs is satisfying and gives us a confidence boost. We’re still learning about the boat with every outing, looking for the right balance, and we tested different keel and sail settings on each run… It’s really interesting, and it helps the whole team progress.”

The Pom’Potes Challenge truly delivered on its promise, offering Boulogne-sur-Mer a first major sailing moment and a perfect teaser before the big start of the Course des Caps – Boulogne-sur-Mer – Banque Populaire du Nord, scheduled for this Sunday afternoon. With such a high-level lineup and finely tuned IMOCA boats, the race around the British Isles promises a rare intensity. However, the start is expected to take place in very different conditions than those seen today, with much lighter and more unstable winds forecast. The direction of the course — clockwise or counter-clockwise — will be confirmed on Saturday morning by race management based on the latest weather forecasts.

Source: Course des Caps – Boulogne-sur-Mer – Banque Populaire du Nord