Sam Goodchild strikes first

Inside the MACIF skipper's punchy start to the 2026 season.

Sam Goodchild strikes first

The next Vendée Globe may not be until 2028 but there is no doubt that the cycle for the next solo non-stop race around the world has started already. From new builds to new teams and reconfigurations, the IMOCA scene is buzzing already. The 1000Race is the first of the new cycle, so PlanetSail's Matt Sheahan headed to Brittany to find out what's in store for the 2026 season.

In the first of several exclusive reports from the heart of the offshore scene, Matt talks to Sam Goodchild, the new jockey for MACIF, the team that won the last Vendée Globe.

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Thumping north alone...
PlanetSail

Thumping north alone...

The start of the Vendée Arctique may have been a quiet affair when the fleet set off from les Sables d'Olonne on Sunday 7 June, but it didn't take long for the pain, stress, sea sickness and breakdowns to start.

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