Charlie Dalin, skipper of the IMOCA MACIF Santé Prévoyance, will not compete in the 2026 IMOCA circuit season. The decision follows discussions with his medical team and reflects his focus on recovery.
The announcement was confirmed by MACIF on 29 January 2026. Dalin will step back from racing duties for the season, although he will remain closely involved with the project.
Sam Goodchild to take the helm
Sam Goodchild, named MACIF skipper for the 2027–2030 cycle, will take over as skipper of the MACIF Santé Prévoyance monohull from 2026. He will lead the campaign in the major events of the IMOCA Globe Series, including the Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe.
Continued involvement in the project
Despite his absence from competition, Dalin will continue to play an active role within the team. Throughout 2026, he will work closely with the design office responsible for the development of Goodchild’s future IMOCA, which is scheduled to launch next year.
His experience from multiple top-level campaigns will contribute to performance development, technical decisions and the project’s long-term strategy.
“Not racing this season is a difficult decision, but it is necessary for my health and recovery,” said Dalin. “Solo offshore sailing is currently not possible for me, but I can still sail with a crew, which I will do alongside Sam. I remain fully committed to the MACIF Santé Prévoyance project and to supporting the team.”
Looking ahead
Goodchild acknowledged the responsibility of taking over the project and praised the foundation built by Dalin.
“Taking the helm of the IMOCA MACIF Santé Prévoyance is both an honour and a great responsibility,” said Goodchild. “Thanks to the experience I gained within the team and Charlie’s guidance, I feel ready to take on the upcoming challenges and represent MACIF at the highest level.”
MACIF confirmed that no further comment will be made by Dalin regarding this decision.
