first trainer of Charlie Dalin, Cédric Château is “very moved”

The current sporting director of the Normandy Elite Team, Cédric Château, was also… Charlie Dalin’s first coach. Faithful to his position, he witnessed the victory of the Le Havre skipper in front of the television, with his family. And says he is “very moved”. Three questions.

“It’s incredible to see a Norman win the Vendée Globe, and cross the line in the lead for the second time. I admire the work he did“: these are the words of Cédric Château. The coach met Charlie Dalin in 1998. In the space of four years, the latter impressed him with his determination. Reaction.

France 3 Normandy: What happened this morning in Les Sables d’Olonne was a historic performance by Charlie Dalin… What do you feel?

Cédric Château: It’s very moving. A Le Havre who completes a world tour, who comes first, whom I trained myself… We have a little tear in our eye when we see him cross the finish line, thus bringing to fruition a colossal work .

I had the chance to meet him in 1998: it was yesterday! He was fifteen years old and started competing quite late. At that time I was training at the Voile Normandie training center, on a group of 420s, small boats where we sail in pairs. For four and a half years, I coached him, and I assiduously followed him in all of his projects, until ten years ago, when he obtained his first podium on the Solitaire du Figaro.

Ten years later, he crossed the finish line of the Vendée Globe in the lead for the second time, and this time, he won the race. I am very moved.

At 18 years old, with his baccalaureate in his pocket, he left alone during the summer holidays for three weeks of camping in his Canadian tent, with a stove and pasta, on the Isle of Wight.

Cédric Château, former trainer of Charlie Dalin

What was Charlie like when you knew him?

At 15, everyone changes, it’s difficult to identify profiles. On the other hand, after the 420, I was quite surprised by his determination. He really wanted to become a naval architect but didn’t speak much English. At 18 years old, with his baccalaureate in his pocket, he left alone during the summer holidays for three weeks of camping in his Canadian tent, with a stove, pasta, on the Isle of Wight, to go down every morning to the pontoons to participate in regattas.

This characterizes his strength of character, his determination when he wants something: he goes for it! Few young people would dare to leave alone, without their family, without their friends, to learn English and network in the circles of sailors on the Solent, on the south coast of England.

It is possible to move mountains if you break down your personal barriers.

Is this victory a driving force?

It is above all a source of inspiration for all the Normans, all the people of Le Havre, who are passionate about the sea. They can tell themselves that it is possible to move mountains, if they break down their personal barriers. . Without having sailor parents, without experience, without nautical background but with great determination, relying on the clubs, the first coaches, the training centers…

I believe that this is the symbol of this victory today: if you have dreams and are determined to follow through, it is possible to achieve them. Everyone will be able to take inspiration from it and tell themselves that everything is possible.

Comments collected by Quentin Bral.