To beat France in the Vendée Globe

Since the first race in 1989, France has won all ten editions of the Vendée Globe, but if there is someone to break that streak for the solo, non-stop IMOCA race, Sam Goodchild would be a smart bet. In this report by Helen Fretter of Yachting World, Goodchild shares his story:

As 2004 drew to a close, a 15-year-old Sam Goodchild was leafing through his dad’s copy of Yachting World – the magazine no doubt slightly dog-eared and delayed, by the time the subscription had been delivered to the family’s home in Grenada.

Inside was the remarkable story of Conrad Humphreys, one of three British skippers in the Vendée Globe, who had to single-handedly repair the rudders on his IMOCA Hellomoto, diving underneath the boat off Cape Town.

Sam felt a jolt of inspiration. “I remember quite vividly reading an article on Hellomoto,” he recalls. “Conrad’s was the story that stuck in my mind. And that was where the idea of doing the Vendée formed.” – Full report

Vendée Globe 2024-25 Final Results – Top Ten
1. Charlie Dalin (FRA): 64 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes, 49 seconds
2. Yoann Richomme (FRA): 65 days, 18 hours, 10 minutes, 2 seconds
3. Sébastien Simon (FRA): 67 days, 12 hours, 25 minutes, 37 seconds
4. Jérémie Beyou (FRA): 74 days, 12 hours, 56 minutes, 54 seconds
5. Paul Meilhat (FRA): 74 days, 22 hours, 38 minutes, 15 seconds
6. Nicolas Lunven (FRA): 75 days, 07 hours, 49 minutes, 41 seconds
7. Thomas Ruyant (FRA): 75 days, 16 hours, 47 minutes, 27 seconds
8. Justine Mettraux (SUI): 76 days, 01 hour, 36 minutes, 52 seconds
9. Sam Goodchild (GBR): 76 days, 02 hours, 01 minutes, 45 seconds
10. Benjamin Dutreux (FRA): 77 days, 03 hours, 39 minutes, 24 seconds

Race updates – Tracker – Ranking – Arrival times – Facebook

Attrition:
Nov. 15: Maxime Sorel (FRA), V and B – Monbana – Mayenne, ankle injury, mast damage
Dec. 4: Louis Burton (FRA), Bureau Vallée, rigging failure
Dec. 15: Pip Hare (GBR), Medallia, dismasted
Dec. 16: Szabolcs Weöres (HUN), New Europe, broken D2 shroud
Dec. 30: Yannick Bestaven (FRA), Maître CoQ V, steerage damage
Jan. 12: Éric Bellion (FRA), STAND AS ONE – Altavia, broken J2 forestay pin
Jan. 30: Arnaud Boissières (FRA), La Mie Câline, dismasted
Mar. 8: Denis Van Weynbergh (BEL), D’ieteren Group, missed time limit

The Vendée Globe, raced in the 60-foot IMOCA, is the elite race round the world, solo, non-stop, and without assistance. On November 10, 40 skippers started the 2024-25 edition which begins and ends in Les Sables d’Olonne, France.

Armel Le Cléac’h, winning in 2017, previously held the record for the 24,300 nm course of 74 days 03 hours 35 minutes 46 seconds. Only one sailor has won it twice: Michel Desjoyeaux in 2001 and 2009. This is tenth running of the race.