Sam Goodchild is somewhat astonished to find himself leading the Vendée Globe after two days at sea
by Agence TB Press 12 Nov 09:19 PST
12 November 2024
Sam Goodchild – Vendée Globe © Pierre Bouras / TR Racing
Two days into his inaugural Vendée Globe solo round-the-world race, British skipper Sam Goodchild is currently leading the record 40-boat fleet, although he admits he’s trying to keep things straightforward and is somewhat surprised to find himself in front.
Speaking from his IMOCA yacht, VULNERABLE, while sailing down the Portuguese coastline approximately 110 nautical miles due west of Lisbon, Goodchild expressed enjoyment over the intriguing start to the race.
“We experienced quite a bit of everything, starting with a light and drifting beginning, then settling in during the first night,” he shared about the initial miles after departing Les Sables d’Olonne on Sunday. “Last night was pretty intense – somewhat stressful – but I managed to navigate through it without significant issues, and now it’s becoming pleasant. The sun is shining, and it’s just right in terms of temperature – ideal!”
Goodchild, 34, from Falmouth, is sailing alongside Frenchman Thomas Ruyant, forming one of two entries in this race from the Thomas Ruyant Racing team. He consistently remained among the top competitors while crossing the Bay of Biscay. He tracked the early leader at Cape Finisterre, Charlie Dalin of France on Macif Santé Prévoyance, then took the lead as they began sailing downwind along the Spanish coast.
“I took the lead south of Finisterre,” related Goodchild. “I decided to keep heading down the coast while others ventured offshore in search of wind again. I figured the sea state was better where I was.”
Currently, Goodchild has established a lead of over 20 miles ahead of Dalin, who is in second place, with Ruyant, also aboard VULNERABLE, another 16 miles behind in third. Following them are Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa), Jérémie Beyou (Charal), and defending Vendée Globe champion Yannick Bestaven (Maître-Coq) in sixth place.
These competitors, all sailing newer vessels than Goodchild’s, are now moving west or slightly south of west as they seek more wind north of his position. French sailor Nico Lunven on Holcim-PRB was the first to adopt this strategy, heading directly west even before reaching the Traffic Separation Scheme off Finisterre. Goodchild is aware they will all be chasing him in the coming days.
“I don’t think my lead is significant, if it exists at all, because the offshore yachts are likely to come south very quickly. Honestly, my position at the front is purely coincidental and not really my goal right now. I’m just focusing on keeping it simple.”
The British skipper, who was the IMOCA Globe Series Champion last year, is monitoring the boats behind him. “Yes, I’m heading west, and we’ll see how I come out in the next position report compared to the others. In theory, I have a better ‘west’ now than they had earlier, but the question is whether they have a better ‘south’ now than I did before,” he explained.
Goodchild noted that his boat is in good condition despite facing heavy winds and rough seas around Finisterre. His right hand, injured in a bike fall five days before the race, isn’t causing issues, though he mentioned struggling to keep bandages on the wound. However, sleep has been scarce.
“I haven’t had much,” he admitted. “Last night was quite hectic with all the gybing in 35-40 knots of wind along with fishing boats and shipping, so it hasn’t been easy to catch some sleep, but I managed to catch up this morning, so I’m alright now.”
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