Sailor aims to be first UK winner of Vendee Globe

Sailor Sam Goodchild, who came ninth in the gruelling Vendee Globe round-the-world sailing race, has set his sights on becoming the first British sailor to win the event.

Goodchild, 35, from Falmouth, Cornwall, had a top five place snatched from him in the last leg of his first Vendee when his mainsail ripped in two.

He still managed to hold on for ninth place on Saturday and achieve a childhood dream of competing in the non-stop solo race which is held every four years.

"The aim is to come back in 2028 with a boat capable of winning and give it my best shot," he said.

Winning the Vendee would surpass the achievements of fellow British sailors Alex Thompson and Ellen MacArthur, who both finished second in previous editions of the race.

"The bar is quite high for me," Goodchild admitted.

The 28,500 nautical mile (52,700km) race, which started in November from Sables d'Olonne in western France, created a number of challenges for Goodchild, who fixed the mainsail with glue while at sea in strong winds as fellow sailors overtook him.

He also had to free a sail from a foil, which extends from the hull, costing him more precious time.

"What's a little bit frustrating is to come so close to a top five, and then miss out in the last few days, but I guess that's the story of the Vendee Globe," he said.

"If it was easy and straightforward, and always went to plan then it'd be a lot less appealing as well."

He added: "It's a race that can throw a lot at you.

"So the best thing you can do is put yourself in a winning position at the start and go from there."

Goodchild admitted to initially being unsure about how he would cope with the solitude of spending more than two months at sea.

He said: "The biggest surprise was that I enjoyed myself.

"I was worried it might feel really long, but I managed to enjoy it a lot more than I expected."

The technical aspects of managing the boat also proved to be a significant challenge.

"The boats are so technical and there's so much to manage," he said.

"You have to think about how hard to push them, especially in big seas and strong winds."

Prioritising his wellbeing and the boat's condition was crucial.

"Managing yourself is really important," he said.

"There were times when I wasn't sleeping or eating enough, and I knew that, if a technical issue arose, I'd be exhausted.

"Keeping the boat in one piece was also essential."

Crossing the finish line was a surreal experience.

He said: "We spent the whole day waiting for the wind and, when it finally came, we had to rush into the harbour.

"There were thousands of people cheering, and it was overwhelming to see my family and so many supporters."

Looking ahead to the next Vendee Globe, he said in the meantime he would enjoy outdoor activities such as kite foiling where he is now based in Lorient, France.

He added that he was looking forward to a kiting session with British gold medal winner Ellie Aldridge.

Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].