It’s all to play for in the final stages of the Vendée Arctique

While the track north took all the boats up the west coast of Ireland, the return leg has seen an intriguing split in the leading boats, with longtime race leader Sam Goodchild (MACIF Santé Prévoyance), followed by Elodie Bonafous (Association Petits Princes-Quéguiner), choosing to take the North Channel into the Irish Sea.

Behind them, the next three, led by the Italian skipper Ambrogio Beccaria (Allagrande MAPEI), decided west was best, and opted for the longer route around the outside of Ireland, retracing their steps on the way up. 

This morning, after a race with countless meteorological hurdles and plenty of other obstacles to avoid, Goodchild was well ahead at the front, with about 300 nautical miles still to sail as he approached the Isles of Scilly.

In second place on the leaderboard, 110 miles behind Goodchild, it was Beccaria, with Bonafous now in third position, but with a lateral separation to Beccaria of 155 miles. Bonafous is also facing a possible time penalty for having strayed into the Traffic Separation Scheme at the northern end of the North Channel, with a decision expected on this issue today by the Race Committee.

© © Sam Goodchild #VALS2026

After Bonafous, the next two boats, Violette Dorange (Initiatives-Coeur) and Francesca Clapcich (11th Hour Racing), are chasing Beccaria as they round the southwest corner of Ireland, with Dorange 130 miles behind the leader and Clapcich another 35 miles back.

Among those studying this nautical game of chess has been the British IMOCA sailor Alan Roberts, who has been working for the race director on this, the third edition of the Vendée Arctique. After the first two staging of this ambitious race saw the course shortened because of bad weather, Roberts says it has been good to see the concept has been proven to work. 

“It’s really positive that we are going to see a finish to this race,”Roberts told the Class. “They’ve never done it before, so this is a significant milestone for the race organisers, the SAEM Vendée, and for the IMOCA Class. That’s really cool and proves that this is a doable thing, and the boats and skippers can do it, and we can have a racecourse that allows for these different kinds of races.”

Roberts was not surprised to see Goodchild and Bonafous take the Irish Sea route which is the shortest distance and which, for them, looked the quickest option at the time. It was a decision which, in Goodchild’s case certainly, looks to have paid-off.

“The St George’s Channel and the Irish Sea has always been an option on the racecourse and, when I ran a lot of historical routings before the start, there were quite a few options going through there,”explained Roberts. 

© © Ambrogio Beccaria #VALS2026

“And even at the beginning of the race, my routing had them coming back down there – it’s the shortest route is one reason to use it; and two, it’s a trade-off between challenges. In Sam’s scenario, it was the lesser of two evils – you go inside, and you are protected from the wind with less waves, but a bit more traffic. So it was a balance between what is more risky and what is easier and safer or quicker.”

The question now is whether the option of going outside Ireland is going to pay-off, most likely in the podium placings behind Goodchild. “The boats that have gone outside Ireland now find themselves upwind, while Sam and Elodie are reaching,”said Roberts. “But, for sure, it is a fine balance with all these things – as to how accurate the GRIB files are and how aligned they are with reality on the water. Like every racecourse, it is an interesting challenge and it is quite fun to have a big physical barrier and watch the boats go to different places on the Tracker.”

Roberts knows Goodchild well and has been impressed by how he has handled this race, even though he is sailing what most observers agree is the fastest boat, especially upwind and reaching. “Sam is also, arguably, the most experienced solo sailor in a performance boat on this racecourse,”commented Roberts. “So he has all the tools at his disposal to have a good race, and I think he has gone out there and has been solid and has done that.”

Roberts has also been impressed by Beccaria who has lit up the Vendée Arctique with his outgoing personality and who’s video, showing him diving down to his keel to free a lobster pot line, has been a big hit online. 

“I think Ambrogio’s sailing well,” said Robetrs.“I spoke to him before the start and his objective was to go out there, finish and qualify for the Route du Rhum. He’s learning his boat and this is his first solo race in IMOCA, so it’s a big step for him and, on paper, it’s a pretty daunting race to go up to where they’ve been. He’s definitely had a lot of good results in the past in other classes, and knows how to handle the boat himself, so it’s not a surprise to see him gaining momentum throughout the race.”

© © Nico d'Estais #VALS2026

Another sailor Roberts mentioned is the only daggerboard skipper in the race, Nico d’Estais of France on board Café Joyeux, who is holding sixth place, 477 miles behind the leader but ahead of two older foilers. “He’s sailed smartly and he’s put his boat in good positions on the racecourse,” summarised Roberts. “He seems not to have been defending, or concerned about the other boats, and he has sailed his own race, which is cool to see. Nico is showing that he can handle it and has definitely sailed a very clean race.”

The finish is going to be fascinating, with light and unpredictable winds covering the waters off Les Sables d’Olonne. Roberts says Goodchild may well park up and the chasing boats then sail up to him. Right now it looks very uncertain and difficult, especially for the longtime leader.

“If the weather models are right, it could literally come down to the last couple of hours, with the routing showing all five leading boats arriving within two hours of each other,” said Roberts. “There could be no wind at the shore and Sam will plough into that area first and stop. Then the guys behind will come in and have to choose whether to go to leeward or windward of him…it could be a pretty punchy and exciting finish. But perhaps not for Sam – I am sure he will be dreading it.”

Roberts, meanwhile, is continuing his hunt for sponsorship to compete in the 2028 Vendée Globe in an IMOCA for the first time. “I am definitely in a good position sailingwise,”he said. “I just need someone to join the journey and help us put a project together.”

Ed Gorman