This time it's the right one. In freezing cold and when the sun was barely rising, the light came from a boat, greeted by a horde of boats. Charlie Dalin transformed from unfortunate hero into valiant adventurer by winning the Vendée Globe on Tuesday in Les Sables d'Olonne. His smile as he went up the channel in front of the crowd who came to cheer him, at the start of the afternoon, reflected his satisfaction after winning this solo race, without stopovers or assistance.
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“This is the most beautiful finish line of my career”
“I have never experienced emotions like this. It was madness at this finish line with the daylight starting to break through. I had never experienced that in my life, it was incredible. This is the best finish line of my career, by far. This Vendée Globe 2024, I have been dreaming of it since the day after the Vendée Globe 2021, I have been fighting with the team for four years. We worked hard, we gave everything to make this great boat. We live for that and that’s it, we have achieved the objective,” testified the Norman.
Four years earlier, he had already been the first to cross the finish line without winning because Yannick Bestaven had obtained bonuses for having participated in the search for Kevin Escoffier. This memory is now far away for the skipper of Macif Santé Prévoyance.
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A boat launched in 2023 and which has directly worked wonders with Le Havre at its helm: victory in the Rolex Fastnet Race then in the New York Vendée. Before sailing at full speed on this Vendée Globe 2024/2025 with a record time (64 days 19 hours 22 minutes and 49 seconds), shattering that established by Armel Le Cléac'h during the 2016/2017 edition (74 days, 3 hours, 35 minutes and 46 seconds). An explosive result but which was not surprising for a sailor, announced as one of the favorites while remaining impervious to pressure. The Vendée Globe represents “a game” for anyone who did not grow up in a family focused on the sea.
When departing on November 10, he was the first to leave port Olona. “He is ready to achieve something great. We have complete confidence in him,” one of his crew members whispered to us. Since then, this Stade Rochelais fan has displayed great consistency throughout the race, leading the regatta a large part of the time. He was notably in the lead at the Cape of Good Hope, at Cape Leeuwin and even during the ascent of the equator. However, nothing was simple.
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Mano a mano with Richomme
The naval architect who graduated from the prestigious Southampton school (England) was pushed to his limits by a competitor, also from the same training: Yoann Richomme. The two have delivered a mano a mano since passing Cape Horn, quite epic, being miles away for many days. “It was an incredible match with Yoann, it’s his first Vendée and it seems like he’s been doing this all his life. It’s thanks to him that we traveled around the world in such a short time,” admitted Charlie Dalin, moved.
His idiosyncrasy testified to the immense joy felt after weeks, alone in the world, where the relief of being on earth predominates. His long embraces with his son Oscar were beautiful. Just like this victory, awaited for many years.
