How Macif decided to return to Imoca

The leaders of Macif unveiled the outlines of their new Imoca campaign 2027-2030 in Paris on Monday, with a new Verdier design that will be skippered by Sam Goodchild and the integration of Charlotte Yven into the team. For his part, Charlie Dalin, while waiting to find out if he will be able to sail in 2026, takes on a consultant/advisor role. Sailorz tells you more.

Without Charlie Dalin, who returned home after an energy-intensive week of media, but with its complete management team, Macif announced on Monday early afternoon “the renewal of its commitment to ocean racing,” which takes the form of a new Imoca campaign for 2027-2030. “A decision taken unanimously” by the September board of directors, according to its CEO Jean-Philippe Dogneton.

Why come back for more when you have already won the Vendée Globe twice (François Gabart and Charlie Dalin)? “This new program is part of the long and beautiful history of Macif, our sea positioning has truly been a strong marker for 50 years,“ the latter replies. “There have indeed been two victories, almost three [Charlie Dalin was the first to cross the finish line of the 2020 edition, Editor’s note], but people would be surprised if we retired on a success, we have the capacity to win again, with other skippers and other boats.”

The current cycle, with Charlie Dalin and the Imoca Macif Santé Prévoyance, ending at the end of 2026, the next one will follow substantially the same timing and race program. Namely, a launch of the future Imoca, simply named Macif, in June/July 2027, the Fastnet as the first race, and the Vendée Globe 2028 as the priority. The only change, and it’s a big one, is that Sam Goodchild will be the skipper, Charlie Dalin having indicated last week that he would not be able to compete in the next edition of the round-the-world race.

This change was inevitably dictated by Dalin’s revelation of the cancer he has been suffering from for two years, which led Macif to adjust its plans throughout the season. First, by calling on Sam Goodchild to replace the sailor from Le Havre this year. Then, in view of the latter’s medical situation, to offer the Briton, who is the replacement skipper in 2026 if Charlie Dalin is able to race, to take the helm of the new boat starting in 2027.“The project is taking on a more collective dimension, both to take into account Charlie’s particular situation, but also to add new skills,” comments Jean-Marc Simon, Health and Welfare Director at Macif. Why the choice of Sam Goodchild? “He was suggested to us by Charlie in May,” he continues. This is confirmed by the Vendée Globe winner, reached by Sailorz on Wednesday: “Sam has the experience, the physical fitness, and he has already done a Vendée Globe. Today, the level is such that, with few exceptions, it is very complicated to win on the first try; you need the rhythm experience. He also did the Figaro, which for me is a mandatory step if you want to perform, so he ticked quite a few boxes.”

At what point did the latter learn that his interim role would turn into a full-time position for at least five more years? “The discussion started this summer during The Ocean Race Europe,” answers Sam Goodchild, who, at the same time, was very close to finalizing an Imoca project with Leyton. Hence, “a double complexity” for him: “First with respect to Charlie, it’s been his project for six years, it’s obviously not what he would have wanted, I have a lot of respect for him and I’m trying to make sure it goes as smoothly as possible. Then with Leyton, we were indeed keen to go for the next Vendée Globe. When I received the call from Macif, I said yes, but on the condition that Leyton agreed. I then called François Gouilliard [the CEO] who told me it was difficult to refuse such an offer and that he would find a solution.”

Reached by Sailorz, Julien Olivier, in charge of partnerships and communication at Leyton, confirms: “That’s sport, there’s a transfer window with athletes who are sought after! Sam very politely asked for our opinion, the CEO gave his go-ahead, happy that Sam was continuing with such a great stable; it highlights all the work we have done with him in recent years.” Without the Briton, Leyton, also committed to K-Challenge on SailGP, no longer plans to pursue its Vendée Globe project, “but, given the ties we have forged with Sam since 2019, we are thinking about how we can continue the adventure with him in a different way.”

The 9th-place finisher in the last Vendée Globe, who is preparing to race the Transat Café L’Or with Loïs Berrehar on Macif Santé Prévoyance, will know in the coming months what his role will be in 2026 – replacement skipper or skipper – depending on Charlie Dalin’s health. “I will decide this winter, it is certain that today, I would not be able to do the Route du Rhum,” confides the latter. While he will no longer be at the helm of the future Imoca, the Norman, who holds a degree in naval architecture, will remain a key element of the project, starting today as an advisor in that field, and later in a performance consultant role.“I want to be heavily involved in the design and development of Macif, to be a stakeholder in the hundreds of decisions that ultimately make a boat successful or not; my victorious experience tells me that I can contribute to finding this delicate balance,” comments Charlie Dalin. He has been working on the subject since September, after having validated with his team and his partner “the idea of returning with the winning formula,” namely a triple collaboration with Guillaume Verdier, MerConcept, and CDK (the boat will be built in Port-la-Forêt).

Is Sam Goodchild involved in these discussions? “Since he will be the operator of the boat for the Vendée, he certainly has his say, and even more so regarding the cockpit and ergonomics,” replies Charlie Dalin, while the Briton smiles: “All my life, I have adapted to the boat I was given; now, I have to say what boat I want, which changes things quite a bit! But I’m learning a tremendous amount, it’s huge to discover all this alongside Charlie, MerConcept, and Guillaume Verdier.” The collaboration with Charlie Dalin will continue once the boat is launched, as the latter confirms: “The goal is to support Sam until the Vendée Globe, knowing that a second pair of foils will arrive very quickly, and choices will have to be made three or four months after the launch.”

Charlotte Yven will follow these design, construction, and development phases from the inside, as the second-place finisher in the last Solitaire du Figaro Paprec is also integrated into the Imoca team. “Everything fell into place during and after the Solitaire,” she recounts, “it’s great to have prospects when leaving the Skipper Macif program, which wasn’t the case for everyone who preceded me.”The sailor, who has just been crowned Elite French Offshore Racing Champion, says she is “very proud” to be offered the opportunity to “see how an Imoca project works,” before adding: “The goal is to gain experience and sail as much as possible [she will participate in the delivery trip back post-Transat Café L’Or, Editor’s note]. Since 2026 is a year with a lot of solo racing, it might leave me room to go on other supports or projects, a bit like Loïs (Berrehar) did this season [skipper of the future Imoca Banque Populaire, he sailed on Malizia and Macif, Editor’s note].“

With the Vendée Globe 2032 in her sights? “In my thoughts, that was indeed one of the possibilities,” she smiles. “Seeing friends, Loïs, Elodie (Bonafous), having a project, makes you want to, the idea now will be to make all this more concrete, to build a project to do the Vendée Globe in 2032.”