Showing typical drive and self confidence right to the finish line, Elodie Bonafous stayed cool under pressure, holding her own against a spirited fightback from Franco-Brit Sam Goodchild (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) to take an excellent third place in the IMOCA class on the Route du Rhm Destination Guadeloupe. She passed Goodchild when he started to have technical problems four days ago and went on to score her biggest success yet on this ocean sprint classic from Saint Malo to Guadeloupe. She finishes 13 minutes and 11 seconds ahead of Goodchiild.
Élodie Bonafous (Association Petits Princes Quéguiner) takes third place in the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe in the IMOCA class
Showing typical drive and self confidence right to the finish line, Elodie Bonafous stayed cool under pressure, holding her own against a spirited fightback from Franco-Brit Sam Goodchild (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) to take an excellent third place in the IMOCA class on the Route du Rhm Destination Guadeloupe. She passed Goodchild when he started to have technical problems four days ago and went on to score her biggest success yet on this ocean sprint classic from Saint Malo to Guadeloupe. She finishes 13 minutes and 11 seconds ahead of Goodchiild.
She crossed the finish line this Thursday at 08:57:34hrs local time (12:57:34hrs UTC), after 11 days, 55 minutes of racing. It is a stellar performance for the sailor in her thirties, who two years ago was first to launch a new build boat for the next Vendée Globe. While she has already achieved impressive results, this marks her first time on the podium in a solo transatlantic race in the IMOCA class and Bonafous the first female sailor to finish on the IMOCA podium on this race since Ellen MacArthur won in 2002
Her race in numbers.
Finish time (in Pointe-à-Pitre): 08:57:34hrs Finish time (UTC): 12:57:34hrs Race duration:11d 55m 34s Gap behind the winner: 1d 7h 43m Distance covered: 3881.82 nms Average speed (great-circle route): 13.32kts Average speed (actual distance sailed): 14.85kt
The story of her race: A thrilling pursuit
Often considered an outsider before the start, Élodie Bonafous made a strong impression right from the outset. She was part of the leading pack early on, holding 4th place southeast of Ireland.
During a critical juncture in the race—a specific weather trough where Corentin Horeau (MACSF) managed to break away—she was among the skippers caught out to the north. Locked in a tight battle with Ambrogio Beccaria (Allagrande Mapei) for a long stretch, she never gave up. Three days after that crucial, strategic passage, the navigator brought her bow into the thick of the chasing pack.
While Corentin Horeau managed to break away—soon followed by Boris Herrmann (Malizia 4, in 2nd place)—Élodie maintained an impressive pace behind them. Last Monday, she even overtook the race’s top favorite, Sam Goodchild (MACIF Santé Prévoyance), whose progress was hindered by mainsail issues. Élodie held firm to the very end, despite experiencing electronic problems in the final stages of the race. And so, for the first time in her IMOCA career, she found herself on the podium of the legendary Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe.
A portrait of the skipper: Élodie’s world.
“I am exactly where I wanted to be.” In her expression, her words, and her demeanor, Élodie radiates intense motivation. The skipper of Association Petits Princes – Quéguiner is a fighter—a trait she has demonstrated ever since her days in the Figaro class. Climbing the ranks of sailing and offshore racing has been her main ambition from a very young age. It began with outings on her family’s cruising boat—where she loved taking the helm—followed by time at the Locquirec sailing club and years spent in a sports-study program. Later, selected by Région Bretagne – CMB Océane, she dove into the deep end, competing three times in the Solitaire du Figaro.
Like Corentin Horeau and Loïs Berrehar, Élodie was determined to gain solid experience in the Figaro class before setting her sights higher. It was with that same meticulous attention to detail that she launched her IMOCA project two years ago. Supported by a well-known sponsor, Quéguiner, and representing the Association Petits Princes, she took the helm of the sister ship to MACIF Santé Prévoyance—the very same IMOCA class yacht that won the Vendée Globe. Élodie quickly made her mark: she finished 2nd in the Course des Caps and won last year’s Rolex Fastnet Race, followed by a 4th-place finish in the Vendée Arctique – Les Sables d’Olonne this past June. This time, she secured a spot on the podium—her first in the IMOCA class on a transatlantic crossing. A bright future lies ahead for Élodie who marks herself out for future podiums in the lead up to the Vendée Globe