Positive Energy from Sam Goodchild as He Passes the Cape of Good Hope in the Vendée Globe
by Agence TB Press 29 Nov 06:54 PST
29 November 2024
Sam Goodchild – Vendée Globe 2024 © Pierre Bouras / TR Racing
British sailor Sam Goodchild is having an amazing experience on VULNERABLE in the Vendée Globe solo round-the-world race, currently holding an impressive seventh position while navigating through the Southern Ocean.
The 35-year-old skipper from Falmouth, Cornwall, has been exuding positivity since the race began in Les Sables D’Olonne three weeks ago; in the past week, he has enjoyed a swift and exhilarating journey across the South Atlantic.
He will achieve his first significant geographical landmark tomorrow as his vessel surpasses the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa, later entering the Southern Indian Ocean.
Anyone who has followed his on-board videos or read his numerous interviews since the race’s start can tell that Goodchild is relishing every moment of his inaugural Vendée Globe, which he emphasized again today as VULNERABLE continued eastward, about 400 miles from the Cape.
“I’m certainly working hard to enjoy it,” he stated via satellite link, relishing the milder conditions after a week of intense racing. “This race has been a long-term goal in my life and career, so enjoying it is essential.”
“It’s not all easy or enjoyable,” he added. “There are tough aspects—like the first day adjusting to the challenging reaching conditions of the South Atlantic, which took time, and seeking ways to stay comfortable aboard while minimizing worries about breaking things. But I’m trying to savor it.”
Goodchild competes in this race alongside a second entry by Lorient-based TR Racing. After 19 days at sea, he lies 221 miles behind race leader Charlie Dalin, while Goodchild’s teammate Thomas Ruyant, also on VULNERABLE, is just 13 miles behind Dalin, with Yoann Richomme trailing another 16 miles in third.
Goodchild has lost some advantage in the rapid conditions of the South Atlantic after leading much of the early race. He attributes this partly to sailing an older boat compared to his top-10 competitors but also due to a couple of sail decisions he might revise in the future. Nevertheless, he feels content with seventh place at this stage of the race, having covered over 6,000 miles thus far.
“Yes, seventh is a solid position,” he remarked. “Considering the experience of those around me, I’m definitely in a favorable spot. Nothing shabby about it. While I’ve grown accustomed to podium finishes in recent years, seventh is entirely acceptable, and I’m quite satisfied.”
Goodchild is concentrating on sailing his personal race through the Southern Ocean, entering uncharted territory as a solo racer, as he has never sailed alone at sea for longer than 10 consecutive days before. “I aim to embrace the Southern Ocean, sail wisely, and avoid forcing results by overly aggressive positioning. I want to keep things simple and enjoy the experience while staying true to that ethos of simplicity and resisting the pressure of comparisons.”
The upcoming weather appears favorable for a manageable start to the “Big South,” but the 2023 IMOCA Globe Series Champion is keeping an eye on one weather depression expected to pass through the racecourse next week. “The forecast isn’t entirely clear about its depth or exact position, but it looks concerning,” he noted. “We could end up beating into the wind or having to navigate a longer route to evade tricky conditions. It’s too early to determine our course of action, but there’s definitely one system that raises concerns.”
So far, Goodchild has managed VULNERABLE exceptionally well, encountering only minor issues with the platform that Ruyant previously raced successfully under the LinkedOut banner. He has been utilizing calmer conditions for thorough checks before facing more challenging weather.
“I’ve dealt with a few small matters, but nothing significant that has affected performance. The sails are in good condition, and I thoroughly inspected the boat this morning, checking from bow to stern with no surprises found. The primary autopilot has been malfunctioning since early in the race, which isn’t an issue unless the secondary one fails, but I plan to fix it.”
The VULNERABLE skipper has acclimated to the rhythm of his race, reporting a comfortable sleep average of about four-and-a-half hours every 24 hours, which was his intended goal. He is determined to stay with the leading pack as he embarks on the long route to Cape Horn.
“To be honest, I haven’t checked the weather for any boats ahead or behind me. I’m focusing on my tasks and aiming to execute them well without stressing about external factors. All I can do is sail neatly, sail fast, and see where I land in the end,” declared Goodchild.
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