Emmanuel LANGELLIER, Media365: published on Thursday December 12, 2024 at 7:34 p.m.
The Vendée Globe is clearly dominated by Charlie Dalin, who took the lead at the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Leeuwin, after a month of racing.
After a little over a month of racing, the Vendée Globe is led by the favorite. Charlie Dalin is faithful to the post, at the forefront. The skipper of Macif Santé Prévoyance dominates the race, and he does so even in the long stretches. He has a clear lead over Sébastien Simon who had problems with one of his foils on his Groupe Dubreuil monohull. Since leaving Les Sables d'Olonne on November 10, Dalin has been in the lead more than a hundred times (4 times per 9 p.m.), he has already passed 2 of the 3 major milestones in the lead (Good Espérance and Leeuwin, before the next Cape Horn). The 40-year-old skipper is not always the fastest but he is a formidable competitor.
Dalin, a formidable competitor, reasonably cautious
“Charlie is not here to buy land or just take a trip to the South Seas. We can clearly see that he wants to win the Vendée Globe,” notes Michel Desjoyeaux in Le Télégramme. Charlie Dalin has winning in his blood but not at all costs. He remains reasonably cautious and has not accelerated in the South Atlantic like his opponents, not seeking to break the 9 p.m. record. With a decent speed, Dalin was careful to preserve his equipment. At the same time, the Frenchman is very strong when it comes to changing patterns and moving from one system to another. “Each time, he quickly redoes the cherry,” slips Desjoyeaux, admiring. “Above all, he takes the initiatives, he doesn’t wait for others to act and make their strategy.”
He often attacks first
Runner-up to Yannick Bestaven during the last edition, Charlie Dalin wants to win this time and he is not giving anyone the option to dictate his choices. The Le Havre native often attacks first, which causes damage behind him. He showed it in the big depression that occurred in the Indian Ocean while remaining to the East. Eager to pass Cape Horn in the lead (8 times out of 9, the sailor in the lead at that time won the race behind) with a boat in good condition, Dalin also benefits from a new foiler, Verdier design, specially designed for this Vendée Globe, within François Gabart's MerConcept team in Concarneau.
