The navigator Charles Caudrelier, one of the figures of offshore racing, was elected on Monday, sailor of the year 2024 thanks to his victory in February in the Ultim Challenge, the first solo round-the-world race organized between maxi- trimarans.
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The 50-year-old Frenchman, who completed the Ultim Challenge, the circumnavigation in 50 days, 19 hours 7 minutes and 42 seconds, was elected last night and received his prize during a ceremony in Paris. He succeeds Var kitefoiler Lauriane Nolot.
It’s a great honor. I was also elected because there is a great team behind me. My sport is like Formula 1, if you don’t have the right car on Sunday you don’t win
Charles Caudrelier“Sailor of the Year 2024”
Caudrelier, elected in the first round by a majority of votes, is ahead of figures from Olympic sailing, such as the duo Charline Picon/Sarah Steyaert, bronze medalists at the Paris Olympics in 49er FX, Lauriane Nolot, silver medalist in kite -foil, and offshore racing like Yoann Richomme, winner of The Transat currently leading the Vendée Globe.
TO READ. Sailing: “My driving force is stress”, testifies Charles Caudrelier, winner of the Arkea Ultim Challenge
The Finisterian caused a sensation on February 27 in Brest by arriving at the head of the Ultim Challenge, on Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, three days before his first pursuer, after a grueling but particularly mastered journey. He left on January 7 from the same place and at the same time as five other experienced sailors – Tom Laperche, Armel Le Cléac’h, Thomas Coville, Eric Péron and Anthony Marchand – for a journey of 21,000 miles (39,000 km) around the planet.
He was the first to pass the three reference capes (Good Hope, Leeuwin and Horn) and set several records on his passage (crossing the Indian Ocean in 8 days and 8 hours and Brest-Cape Leeuwin in 18 days and 5 hours).
Her victory completed the domination within the Ultim class of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, a revolutionary flying sailboat which has won the majority of races in which it has participated since its launch in 2017.
Charles Caudrelier, winner of the Solitaire du Figaro (2004), the Transat Jacques-Vabre (2009, 2013, 2021) and the Route du Rhum (2022), had already been elected sailor of the year in 2018 thanks to his victory in the Ocean Race, a crewed round-the-world race, at the head of the Chinese Donfeng team.
He is currently working in Lorient (Morbihan) with the Gitana team on the design of the Ultim which is to succeed the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, for launch planned for September 2025.
The title of Sailor of the Year is a distinction awarded since 2001 by a jury made up of institutions, athletes and the media, and presented by the French Sailing Federation. The public is also invited to vote online.
