After finishing second in 2021, Charlie Dalin (40 years old, Macif Santé Prévoyance) won the 10th edition of the Vendée Globe on Tuesday morning, this solo round-the-world trip without stopovers or assistance. The Frenchman crossed the finish line, in Les Sables-d’Olonne, where he started on November 10. He spent 64 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes and 49 seconds at sea. That is more than nine days less than the previous record which was established in 2016-2017 by Armel Le Cléac’h (74 days, 3 hours, 35 minutes and 46 seconds).
Due to the tide, the Norman had to wait on his boat, with a length of 18.28 m, until 2 p.m. before being able to enter the channel and receive a standing ovation from the crowd which continued to grow in size. since 2 a.m. and braving the cold (-6 degrees). Residents and enthusiasts are preparing to experience a return to the historic channel after the conclusion of 2021, in the void imposed by the Covid-19 epidemic.
Dalin’s first pursuer, Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa), with whom he has fought a fierce duel from the start, should follow in the evening. The Varois was 123 miles behind the leader at 7 o’clock. “I think he deserves it,” Richomme said a few days ago. The scenario of the last Vendée Globe was unfair to him and he deserves this victory. If he succeeds, I will be happy for him, but I’m not going to give it to him.”
-Dalin, who asked to be able to eat a hamburger with fries once ashore, had coveted this victory for four years, after losing the title by a whisker in the previous edition. At the time, Yannick Bestaven (Maître CoQ), who arrived later than Dalin, had obtained a time bonus for having participated in the rescue operations of Kevin Escoffier. Dalin finally gave in for less than three hours. “This second place was a big frustration. For a long time I would wake up at night, redo the race, the maneuvers, the sail choices to understand where I had let this time go,” said the skipper before the start.
Further in the fleet, Geneva’s Justine Mettraux (TeamWork – Team Snef), who crossed the equator, gained one place and is in 9th place, 9 miles (16 km) from 8th position. 3,140 miles (5,815 km) from the finish line, which she should cross on January 24 or 25 according to the estimates of her team on land.
