Image: Sam Goodchild on board MACIF Santé Prévoyance @ Ronan Gladu / Disobey
Despite having a head start, Sam Goodchild would be wrong to look only ahead. At the start of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe, the skipper of MACIF Santé Prévoyance will face twenty-one opponents determined to make things difficult for him. Among them, Jérémie Beyou (Charal), Ambrogio Beccaria (Allagrande Mapei), Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil - Air Caraïbes), and Boris Herrmann (Malizia 4) have serious arguments to make. But the strength of this fleet isn't limited to the fight for victory, as exemplified by the eight boats with straight keels. For them, as for the others, there will be plenty of opportunities to upset the odds.
Goodchild, the target on his back
Since the start of the season, Sam Goodchild , the skipper of MACIF Santé Prévoyance, has set the bar very high. Speed, control, consistency: the Franco-British sailor has impressed with his ability to get the most out of his boat and minimize mistakes. He accepts his status as the man to beat, without considering the race over. " While I'm among the favorites, I'm far from the only one. And besides, it's a solo race: it levels the playing field, opens up the competition and the opportunities. We'll have to watch out for everyone! " The skipper is well aware that the performances shown in the various races since the beginning of the year are not a guarantee of success. " We're starting in very good conditions and we're really happy with the work done with the team. But our IMOCA is less comfortable on a transatlantic course that finishes in the trade winds than in the races we sailed at the beginning of the season. The others know that too! "
This cautionary note serves as a reminder of how much the characteristics of the boats can influence the rankings depending on the conditions encountered. Especially since several competitors have relatively new boats, with considerable room for improvement. " Everyone will arrive in Saint-Malo with sails in good shape and boats well-prepared. The new designs are progressing very quickly. We know our strengths and we've worked on those where we were most vulnerable, but we'll also have to avoid technical problems and make the right weather choices. Just because we've sailed well so far doesn't mean victory is guaranteed. " And even a perfectly executed crossing won't protect anyone from a last-minute twist. Goodchild is well aware of the pitfalls of the round-the-world race around Guadeloupe, where fatigue and coastal wind shadows can still drastically alter the outcome. " It's a time when you'd like to sleep, because you're nearing the end of the race and you're exhausted. But you have to stay sharp." Four years ago, we saw Charlie Dalin arrive in the trade winds with a lead before being overtaken. We learn from all of that. It's never over until you cross the finish line .
A competition that has no shortage of arguments.
Jérémie Beyou (Charal) has come close to victory several times, but without ever quite managing to dip a spoon in. At 50, the sailor from Finistère is preparing to compete in his sixth Route du Rhum, a race whose demands he knows perfectly well. Second in 2014, third in 2022, he has never managed to win it, despite a considerable track record and solo sailing experience that few of his rivals can claim. Winner of the 2025 Transat Café L'Or with Morgan Lagravière, he returns to Charal, whose bow has been extensively redesigned, with the firm intention of playing a leading role.
Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil - Air Caraïbes) and Boris Herrmann (Malizia 4) represent another kind of threat. Their new boats, recently launched, haven't yet revealed all their secrets. But the two men, supported by experienced teams, have a strong case for quickly exploiting their potential. And then there are those who entered the IMOCA circuit this year and didn't wait long to make their mark. Ambrogio Beccaria (Allagrande Mapei), in particular, has taken his place among the elite without waiting for an invitation, even going so far as to beat Sam Goodchild in the Vendée Arctique.
This progress, he believes, owes much to the dynamism of his team. “ We’re in a very positive environment, with a team and sponsors who push us to learn at every race. I feel free to try things, to push my limits. ” The Italian sailor is thus approaching his second Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe in a very different situation than in 2022. Back then, he only discovered his Class40 two months before the start, which didn’t prevent him from securing a remarkable second place. This time, the preparation has been methodical, and the results are already evident. “ On paper, I couldn’t have approached the race in better conditions. Confidence is very important, but it mustn’t become a weakness, or put extra pressure on ourselves under the pretext that we’ve prepared everything well. You have to accept that in offshore racing, something can break two hours after the start. It’s part of the game. ”
Corentin Horeau (MACSF) and Élodie Bonafous (Association Petits Princes – Quéguiner) are also making great strides in their exploration of the class. Alongside Violette Dorange (Initiatives-Cœur), who already has a Vendée Globe under her belt despite her young age, they embody a particularly ambitious generation. " We have great projects and we can also progress together. There's a fantastic dynamic; everyone wants to raise the bar, " says Ambrogio Beccaria enthusiastically. Francesca Clapcich (11th Hour Racing), also mentioned by Sam Goodchild as one of the competitors to watch, completes this group of skippers ready to play the role of surprise contenders who are shaking things up.
Eight right turns and a real battle to be fought
Among the IMOCAs with straight daggerboards, the competition promises to be fierce, and the skippers don't intend to limit themselves to their unofficial category. Nico d'Estais (Café Joyeux), in particular, has already shown at the start of the season that precise navigation and well-chosen trajectories can sometimes allow them to challenge the boats with straight daggerboards. Approaching his second Route du Rhum, he's rediscovering some familiar sensations. " Four years ago, I only had one season of solo sailing in the Class40, and coming from the Mini 6.50, I already found the boat enormous. Today, it's a bit the same: I only have one season of solo sailing in the IMOCA, and it's still a very big boat for me! "
The skipper of Café Joyeux intends to play both sides. “ I’m going to try to achieve the best possible ranking, across all 60-footers. If I can challenge a few foiling boats, I certainly won’t hold back! Even if the course will probably be less favorable than those of the pre-season races, I’ll also be keeping a very close eye on what’s happening between the straight-keeled boats. I’m not ruling out using a bit of tactics against them. ” Among the competitors he’ll be watching are Pierre-Louis Attwell (Resilient) and Sébastien Marsset (Foussier), who now knows his boat inside and out after a Vendée Globe. “ Pierre-Louis sails very well. We often battled in Class40, and he gave me a lot of trouble. He’s coming with a superb boat, the former Lazare. And Sébastien knows his by heart: he’s been sailing it for three years and has done a circumnavigation. They are two particularly dangerous competitors. ”
Masa Suzuki (Milai - Furuno) and Robin Marais (Respire – Ma chance à moi aussi) will be making their debuts in the class. Marais, in particular, didn't expect to find so many competitors at the helm of older-generation IMOCAs. " When we bought the boat, I thought there might be four or five of us. In the end, there are eight! It makes for a real fleet, and it's very exciting from a sporting perspective. There are people with considerable experience, and others who already know their boats perfectly. " Having come from Olympic sailing and the Figaro circuit, Robin Marais doesn't intend to limit his project to the sole prospect of a first Vendée Globe.
“ It was important for me to maintain a true competitive edge. In the long run, I have big ambitions in the daggerboard class, even though the Route du Rhum will be our first real competition and it’s still too early to gauge our position. ” The tight schedule and limited resources led him to make some choices, notably keeping a set of sails he’s already used well rather than immediately committing to significant expenses. “ For now, the main thing is to learn how to sail this boat and get the most out of it. I want to do things in the right order, sail cleanly, and not put unnecessary pressure on myself. But I’m going there to race! ”
Sail well, right to the last mile
Confirming their status, reaching a new milestone, or laying the foundations for the future: the stakes will be different for everyone. But beyond their stated ambitions, everyone knows that they must first and foremost complete the crossing. Ambrogio Beccaria, who made a strong impression with his commitment during the 2022 edition, intends to remain true to his aggressive style. " I'll be happy if I reach the other side knowing that I gave it my all, even in the difficult moments, without giving up. I don't want to have any major regrets or think that I made a huge mistake. We all make mistakes in a race, but the important thing is to stay true to what we've built. "
For Nico d'Estais, the stakes go beyond just the result. In 2018, Team Café Joyeux already tasted victory in the Route du Rhum, with Sidney Gavignet. " For all the teams, the village of Saint-Malo brings back fantastic memories. And the Route du Rhum is a race I've dreamed of since I was a kid. Just being at the starting line is incredible! I don't know if I'll have the chance to compete in others, so I want to make the most of it. " A desire shared by Robin Marais, even if his first priority will be to navigate the early stages of the race smoothly. " First, I want to get through the first few hours cleanly, which can be incredibly hectic. Then, we'll assess our position and how we can continue to improve. I'm confident in the boat's potential, but we mustn't rush things.
At the other end of the spectrum, Sam Goodchild knows he'll likely have to dig deep to keep up with competition that won't give him an inch. " Jérémie Beyou and the others aren't sailors who will settle for second place. They'll fight to the very end. " Twenty-two skippers, twenty-two different approaches to the Atlantic. And a few headaches in store for those who like to make predictions.
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