Although many observers and race fans tip the British born Sam Goodchild as the most likely winner of the IMOCA class on the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe, the skipper of MACIF Santé Prévoyance is taking nothing for granted. There are 21 other skippers in the IMOCA fleet and at least half of them have a realistic chance of being on the podium in Pointe-à-Pitre Guadeloupe.
Among them Jérémie Beyou (Charal), Italy’s Ambrogio Beccaria (Allagrande Mapei), Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil - Air Caraïbes), and Germany’s Boris Herrmann (Malizia 4) all have realistic claims on the IMOCA title. But the depth of the fleet extends well beyond the tussle for the victory.
Goodchild, the man with a target on his back?
Since the beginning of the season, the Sam Goodchild, skipper of MACIF Santé Prévoyance, has set the bar very high. With his speed, mastery, and consistency, the Franco-British sailor has impressed by his ability to push his boat to its limits while minimizing errors. He accepts his status as the man to beat, though he is far from assuming the race is already won.
"While I may be one of the favorites, I’m certainly not the only one. Besides, this is a solo race—it levels the playing field and opens up new possibilities. We have to watch out for everyone!" Above all Goodchild knows that his performance in various events earlier this year is no guarantee of success. "We’re heading into this in great shape, and we’re really pleased with the work the team has done. But our IMOCA is less comfortable on a transatlantic course that ends in the trade winds compared to the races we competed in earlier this season. The others know that, too!"
Goodchild adds, "Everyone will be at the start in Saint-Malo with sails in great shape and well-prepared boats. The new boat projects are developing very rapidly. We know our strengths, and we’ve worked on the areas where we were more vulnerable, but we’ll also need to avoid technical issues and make the right weather strategies. Just because we’ve sailed well so far doesn't mean the race is won."
Even a perfectly executed race offers can be undone in the first or the final miles. Goodchild has started this race twice and has yet to finish. Last edition in the Ocean 50 he suffered a facial injury at the start and had to retire and in 2018 his Class40 was dismasted. But the notorious final 60 or 70 miles rounding Guadelouope to the finish line are often riddled with calms and zones of very light winds, especially at night.
Exhaustion and coastal wind shadows can completely change the outcome. Goodchild explains "At that stage, you’re desperate to sleep—you’re at the end of the race and completely burned out—but you have to stay sharp. Four years ago, we saw Charlie Dalin reach the trade winds with a lead, only to be overtaken. You learn from things like that. It’s never over until you’ve crossed the finish line."
Beyou a big threat
Jérémie Beyou (Charal) has come close to the victory several times, yet has never quite managed to claim it. Noat w 50, the sailor from Finistère is preparing for his sixth Route du Rhum. Having finished second in 2014 and third in 2022, he has yet to win, despite an impressive track record and a level of solo-sailing experience that few of his rivals can match. Having won the 2025 Transat Café L'Or alongside Morgan Lagravière, he returns to Charal—which has undergone a major redesign of its hull—with one aim in mind.
Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil - Air Caraïbes) and Germany’s Boris Herrmann (Malizia 4) pose a different kind of threat. Their new boats, only recently launched, have yet to reveal all their secrets. However, both men—backed by experienced teams—possess the necessary experience to quickly unlock their full potential.
Then there are those who joined the IMOCA circuit this year and wasted no time in making their mark. Ambrogio Beccaria (Allagrande Mapei), in particular, has broken his way into the elite ranks—even managing to beat Sam Goodchild during the Vendée Arctique.
He attributes much of this progress to the momentum within his team. "We’re operating with a very positive approach; the team and our sponsors encourage us to learn from every race. I feel free to try new things and push my own limits."
As a result, the Italian sailor heads into his second Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe in a very different position than he was in 2022. Back then, he had only discovered his Class40 two months before the start—yet he still managed to secure an impressive second-place finish. This time around, his preparation has been methodical, and the results are already showing. "On paper, I couldn't have approached the event under better conditions. Confidence is crucial, but it mustn’t turn into a weakness—you shouldn’t pile extra pressure on to yourself just because you’ve prepared everything perfectly. In offshore racing, you have to accept that something could break even two hours after the start. That’s just part of the game."
Eight daggerboard boats have a race within the race
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! ”
a sting in the tail
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.