British sailor Sam Goodchild claims the ninth position in the Vendée Globe, displaying remarkable performance among fellow British competitors.
Sam Goodchild, a 35-year-old British sailor, has made history in the sailing world by finishing the gruelling Vendée Globe solo, non-stop around-the-world race in 9th place. This achievement marks him as the first British skipper to complete the race in such a high position.
Goodchild, a graduate of the Artemis Offshore Academy, has a rich sailing background. Raised on a family yacht until the age of seven, he grew up deeply immersed in sailing, with renowned sailors like Alex Thomson and Mike Golding serving as his early influences. This early exposure to sailing led him to develop his skills across various classes, including Figaro, Class40, and Ocean racing.
In the Vendée Globe, Goodchild skippered the Vulnerable, a boat that was four years older than most of the front-runners. Despite this disadvantage, he led for much of the early stages of the race. However, a mainsail split in a 54-knot storm forced him to make substantial repairs, using over a dozen tubes of glue and sikaflex to patch the sail together with a rigid panel in the luff.
Despite this setback, Goodchild managed to hold on to an impressive top five position as the fleet rounded the Cape of Good Hope. He duelled with French contender Jéremie Beyou for 4th place until another mainsail split in the storm forced him to drop back. He eventually finished the race 11 days, 6 hours, and 38 minutes behind race winner Charlie Dalin of France.
Goodchild's career in offshore racing is marked by determination, precision, and steady progress. He has moved up the ranks of the IMOCA leaderboard and taken part in significant races such as the Vendée Globe and the Ocean Race Europe, where he represents Team Biotherm.
In 2023, Goodchild won the IMOCA Championship, reflecting his consistent top-tier performances in the IMOCA class—the class used in the Vendée Globe and other major offshore races. He has also crewed for Ultim trimarans such as Sodebo.
Looking ahead, Goodchild's 9th place finish in the Vendée Globe positions him as a strong British candidate for the 2028 Vendée Globe. He has also scored a consistent clutch of 3rd places in short-handed IMOCA events with his own Vulnerable.
In summary, Sam Goodchild is a British offshore sailor with a strong sailing background. Raised on a family yacht with early sailing immersion and influenced by top sailors, he has proven himself in the Figaro class and Classe 40 fleets. His 9th place finish in the 2024 Vendée Globe, along with his 2023 IMOCA Championship win, highlights his competitive performance at the highest level of offshore racing.
Sam Goodchild demonstrated his passion for sports by competing in the grueling Vendée Globe, a solo, non-stop around-the-world race, where he finished in a groundbreaking 9th place for Britain. His success in sports extends beyond sailing, as he also won the IMOCA Championship in 2023, showcasing his consistent high-level performance in offshore racing.
