Charlie Dalin
Sam Goodchild and Loïs Berrehar to take the helm
Charlie Dalin forced to withdraw from the 2025 season, Sam Goodchild and his co-skipper Loïs Berrehar will take the helm of MACIF Santé Prévoyance for the Transat Café L’OR.
For health reasons, Charlie Dalin is unfortunately forced to withdraw from the 2025 season. However, in close consultation with his team, the skipper of the IMOCA MACIF Santé Prévoyance and Macif have decided to maintain the ambitious race program originally planned. Sam Goodchild, who is already stepping in for the Course des Caps, will now take the helm of MACIF Santé Prévoyance until the end of the 2025 season. By his side, Loïs Berrehar — who came through the Skipper Macif development scheme between 2022 and 2024 — will join him as co-skipper for a series of major races: the Course des Caps, the Défi Azimut, and the Transat Café L’OR.
Despite his absence on the water this year, Charlie Dalin remains closely involved in the management of his project. “This was a difficult decision to make, but health must come first. I’m obviously disappointed not to be able to sail this season, but I have full confidence in Sam and Loïs to carry the colors of MACIF Santé Prévoyance high. The team remains fully committed, and I will be following their progress with great pride and support,” says Charlie.
Sam Goodchild is ready to rise to the challenge with determination: “My thoughts are of course with Charlie, and I send him all my support. It’s a true honor for me to take the helm of the IMOCA MACIF Santé Prévoyance, and I’m well aware of the responsibility Macif is placing in me. Together with Loïs, we’ll give it our all to live up to the collective ambition behind this project.”
CONTINUITY GUARANTEED ABOARD MACIF SANTÉ PRÉVOYANCE
While Charlie Dalin’s absence marks a temporary turning point, the MACIF Santé Prévoyance project continues to be led by a united and dedicated team, committed to ensuring continuity on sporting, technical, and human levels. This handover has been thoughtfully anticipated and is fully supported by all project partners.
Macif executives, board members, and employees renew their full support for Charlie during this difficult time, and extend their best wishes for success to Sam Goodchild, Loïs Berrehar, and the entire crew of the IMOCA MACIF Santé Prévoyance in the upcoming races.
In accordance with Charlie and Macif’s wishes, no further comment will be made on this matter.
THREE MAJOR EVENTS ON THE AGENDA!
The sporting program for the season remains unchanged, with three races lined up for MACIF Santé Prévoyance:
The Course des Caps – Boulogne-sur-Mer – Banque Populaire du Nord
A brand new race on the IMOCA circuit, starting and finishing in Boulogne-sur-Mer. It sets sail this Sunday, June 29, 2025, with a mixed crew and an embedded media crew member. On board MACIF Santé Prévoyance, Sam Goodchild, Loïs Berrehar, Charlotte Yven, Guillaume Combescure, and Guillaume Gatefait (media crew) will race on a nearly 2,000-mile course around the British Isles.
During the summer break, while MACIF Santé Prévoyance undergoes a refit, Sam and Loïs will take part in The Ocean Race Europe, sailing aboard Biotherm and Malizia respectively. They will return to MACIF Santé Prévoyance in the fall for the rest of the season, which will be sailed in a reduced-crew format.
Défi Azimut – Lorient Agglomération, from September 16 to 21 in Lorient.
The Transat Café L’OR – Le Havre Normandie, starting October 26.
In the meantime, technical sessions and training camps have been in full swing for the past three weeks aboard MACIF Santé Prévoyance, with the goal of maintaining performance momentum while strengthening the project’s technical and human foundations in preparation for the major races ahead.
SAM GOODCHILD AND LOÏS BERREHAR: A NEW TANDEM FOR 2025
Sam Goodchild, 2023 IMOCA Globe Series Champion and an experienced IMOCA sailor, will form a complementary duo this season with Loïs Berrehar, who will serve as co-skipper for all upcoming races.
At 31 years old, Loïs Berrehar stands out as one of the most promising talents in French offshore sailing. After ten years at a high level in sports catamaran racing, the sailor from Carnac made a name for himself on the Figaro circuit over six seasons, winning the Transat Paprec in 2023 (with Charlotte Yven), the Solo Guy Cotten in 2024, and finishing second in the 2024 Solitaire du Figaro, including two leg victories. After progressing through the Skipper Macif development program, he raced two Transat Jacques Vabre in IMOCA (2021 and 2023), before being selected as Charlie Dalin’s replacement skipper aboard MACIF Santé Prévoyance for the 2024 Vendée Globe — a clear mark of trust, underscoring his seriousness and strong seamanship. Recently selected by Banque Populaire for their Vendée Globe 2028 campaign, Loïs continues to gain experience, driven by an enduring passion for ocean racing. Beyond his talent, he is appreciated for his humility, candor, commitment, discipline — and ever-present smile. Naturally, he will be co-skipper aboard the IMOCA MACIF Santé Prévoyance through the end of 2025.
“I’m thinking of Charlie today and sending him lots of support. When he called me to join this project, I took it as a tremendous show of confidence! It’s incredibly motivating from a sporting perspective. I knew Sam as a competitor, but not personally, so I’m really looking forward to sailing alongside him. We’ll give it everything we’ve got to go for victory on MACIF Santé Prévoyance!”says Loïs.
