| Age | 35 (11/19/89) |
|---|---|
| Top performance | IMOCA Champion 2023 |
| Joined Imoca on | 2011 |
| Base | Lorient (FRANCE) |
He was only 18 years old when the British sailor sailed down the famous channel in Les Sables d'Olonne with Mike Golding, who set off for his first Vendée Globe. It was then that he decided that one day he too would sail around the world single-handed on an IMOCA boat.
Sam Goodchild grew up on a boat with his family until the age of 7. Over the next twenty years, he specialized in offshore racing, competing both in crewed and solo events. In 2005, he joined the teams of Alex Thomson, and then Mike Golding, gaining solid experience alongside some of the best British sailors.
In 2010, he joined the Artemis Offshore Academy, a program designed to launch young British talents onto the Figaro circuit. He made his debut in this demanding class, while also exploring other racing platforms over the years: Class40, Ultim, Figaro, Ocean Fifty... It was with the Ocean Fifty class, and notably aboard the trimaran Leyton, that he truly made his mark, winning the Pro Sailing Tour 2021. During the last Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe, he was forced to retire after injuring his back on the trimaran.
In 2023, Kevin Escoffier called him up to join The Ocean Race aboard Holcim-PRB. Sam participated in the first three legs, gaining valuable experience on the IMOCA boats. Just days after returning from Brazil, he launched his own IMOCA, "FOR THE PLANET", formerly LinkedOut, and began his first double-handed season alongside Antoine Koch. He delivered an impressive performance and went on to win the IMOCA Globe Series 2023, becoming the circuit champion.
At the start of 2024, TRRacing, which supports the projects of both Thomas Ruyant and Sam Goodchild, launched an impactful campaign with a strong message: "We are all vulnerable." To support this social and environmental cause, the two IMOCA boats were named "Vulnerable".
Under his new colors, Sam suffered a demasting during the New York - Vendée, just four months before the Vendée Globe start. Thanks to his team's quick response, a new mast was swiftly installed, allowing him to secure a strong 2nd place at the Défi Azimut.
Aligning himself at the start of his first Vendée Globe, Sam Goodchild was considered a serious contender for victory, despite being a rookie. He stayed close to the front pack for most of the race, but a mainsail tear in the final days prevented him from competing at the front. Nevertheless, he finished in a solid 9th place, confirming his talent and bright future on the IMOCA circuit.
2022: Route du Rhum - Withdrew due to injury (Ocean Fifty)
2022: Dhream Cup - Winner (Ocean Fifty)
| Name | VULNERABLE - GOODCHILD |
|---|---|
| Sail number | FRA 100 |
| Architect | Guillaume Verdier |
| Construction | 2019, Persico Marine, Italie |
| Former names | LINKEDOUT |
| Length | 18,28m |
| Beam | 5,85m |
| Draught | 4,50 m |
| Weight | 8 tonnes |
| Mast height | 29m |
| Mast type | Wing mast |
| Foils | Yes |
| Sail area max. | |
| Upwind | 320 m2 |
| Downwind | 430 m2 |
What effect does racing alone around the world on a high performance IMOCA yacht have on the human body and mind? It’s a question you might well ask, as our sailors put themselves through one of the biggest tests in extr…
•••The 10th edition of the Vendée Globe will go down as one of the greatest in the race’s history, featuring more boats on the startline than ever before, more finishers than ever before, and an emphatic and record-breaking…
•••Justine Mettraux of Switzerland became the first female entrant, and first skipper from outside France, to complete the 2024-’25 Vendée Globe solo round-the-world race, when she crossed the finish line on Saturday aftern…
•••
