Sam Goodchild is heading into his third Route du Rhum, Destination Guadeloupe carrying the favourite's tag in the IMOCA class, and this time he says he is proud to wear it.
The British sailor has become one of the standout figures in IMOCA ocean racing despite only committing to the class full-time for four years. Before that he raced Figaro, Class40, Ocean Fifty and Ultim, building a results sheet that includes second at The Ocean Race in 2023, a win at the Course des Caps in 2024, and third at the Transat Café L'Or this year.
He took over as skipper of Macif last year, stepping into a team reshaped by grief after the death of Charlie Dalin.
"It's very particular of course," Goodchild said. "The team had a very strong and very close relationship with Charlie. Since the last Vendée Globe, the team hasn't changed and naturally the emotion was very strong."
He points to the squad's resilience. "What struck me is that the team has always shown a lot of cohesion and solidarity, which actually explains a lot of their past success. There's still the same demand for excellence, the same desire to do well and to push beyond. We all care about living up to our ambitions and continuing for a long time what Charlie had started with the team."
Goodchild's own history with the Rhum has not been smooth. He was dismasted in 2018 racing Class40, then retired injured in 2022 aboard an Ocean Fifty.
"Those two misadventures are part of my story but that doesn't stop me approaching the race with rigour and motivation. And my motivation is always to win."
On the favourite's tag itself, he is matter-of-fact. "I'm proud to carry that label. But I know being a favourite doesn't mean anything. What matters above all is winning."
He names the rest of the IMOCA pack to watch: Jérémie Beyou on Charal, Boris Herrmann on Malizia, Sébastien Simon on Groupe Dubreuil, and Ambrogio Beccaria on Allagrande Mapei, who beat him at the Vendée Arctique. Corentin Horeau on MACSF and Francesca Clapcich on 11th Hour Racing also have strong boats, he says. "It's a solo race so that resets everything. It opens things up. Nobody can take this race lightly, we'll have to be wary of everyone."
The course itself offers no marks to round, just a straight dash to Guadeloupe. Goodchild warns of hard conditions from the start in November, with autumn depressions giving way to trade winds on the Caribbean approach.
"It's an intense regatta with something at stake almost every day. And you must never let up."
Asked about enjoying the racing, he is unequivocal. "If I want to perform, I need to enjoy myself, the two clearly go together. There are inevitably harder moments at sea. What matters is holding on and working hard. But pleasure is undeniably a major factor."
