Of course, his features are drawn and his eyes are tired, obviously after a round-the-world sailing trip, solo, non-stop and without assistance. But this Wednesday, January 15, early in the morning, Charlie Dalin kept the same smile he wore the day before, when he crossed the finish line of the tenth edition of the Vendée Globe as a winner.
Four years earlier, we were in the same room, for this privileged interview that he always granted us, but the circumstances were completely different. The skipper Macif Santé Prévoyance had also completed the event first, but was ranked second, behind Yannick Bestaven (Master Rooster).
Charlie Dalin, how was this first night as winner of the Vendée Globe?
“My wife told me I woke up in the night saying I forgot to tack, I even opened the curtains. It was a bit hectic for her. I woke up several times. But I fell asleep very quickly. When you wake up in the morning, as winner of the Vendée Globe, it's quite a pleasant feeling. »
Tell us about this last day, with an arrival in the early morning?
“It was a great day, from start to finish, I made the most of it, you don't experience that every day, completing a Vendée Globe and in the lead. Going up the channel, during the day, was very good, obviously totally different compared to 2021 (1). Afterwards, we went through the crowd when we got to shore. II even found the energy to party a little in the evening, but I didn't stay up late. It was important to celebrate with everyone. »
10
Macif has won two Vendée Globes, with François Gabart and Charlie Dalin and each time, the start was on November 10.
Had you imagined this arrival before?
“As soon as I thought about the finish, I refocused on the present moment, taking care of important concerns, and not letting my brain wander about what comes next. Obviously, we plan ahead, but I forced myself to go back to my settings and my current maneuvers.
The last night, if something happens, it's necessarily negative. You obviously have everything to lose, with the presence of fishing boats. At one point, I even passed over a fishing net, I hoped very hard not to get tangled in it, I wouldn't have wanted to dive to free myself. But it passed… This is also why I preferred to go further out to sea. »
After arrival, you spent five hours at sea before being able to return to port. What was the program?
“I slept, ate, interacted with the team, once the direct contact with the organization was over. »
Can we talk about an ideal scenario for this entire Vendée Globe?
“Yes, despite some difficult moments, it was a race that rather smiled on me. I left in great shape, straight out of the Bay of Biscay. We left nothing to chance with the team, to think of everything, but you also need a lucky star and the necessary success. Already to finish and then to win. And it did. »
However, are there things you would do differently?
“Yes obviously, it’s impossible to make a perfect copy in a Vendée Globe. The important thing is to make fewer mistakes than others. I am a perfectionist. Even if it's not going to haunt my nights like last time, it's important to do a big technical debrief with the team. I will also personally do a strategic debrief on my choices. It's important to continue to progress. The circuit continues, everyone will progress and important races are coming, like the Route du rhum next year. There are areas of work where we can continue to progress. »
You, the Cartesian, have nevertheless, at times, shown more spirituality. Did this surprise you?
“Yes, it added to this “lucky star” and success aspect on board. Try to put myself in a positive state of mind, even in the most complicated moments. I even thanked Neptune in extended videos (2), that's not my style at all. But when in doubt, we will do it. We try to create a pleasant atmosphere around the race, I said to myself that it couldn't do any harm.
I didn't do this in 2020… I regretted it. It's good for yourself to be in this positive spirit. In a Vendée Globe, you can quickly find yourself in the negative, with problems to resolve, with bad choices. You can quickly spend the day complaining. I didn't want to be in that state of mind. I wanted to quickly switch to positivity. »
This victory comes with a record. Do you think he can be beaten?
“Even if the boats continue to improve, I think it will take a few editions before he is beaten. Ahead, we benefited from ideal weather conditions. After the North Atlantic, it happened very quickly. We only spent 23 days in the southern seas, the journey up the Atlantic was quick, with a wind that always came from the same side from Brazil to Brittany. It's exceptional, it's never like this usually. It's not the same Vendée Globe behind.
And it’s also thanks to Yoann. We pulled each other up, no one wanted to let go. I don't know if we would have broken the record without it. This forced us to give our best, to always keep the boat at high speeds, to rack our brains to find the best trajectories. We always wanted to go fast. »
To make a great winner, you need a great second. And this is the case with Yoann Richomme.
“It didn’t matter much. More or less, it was he who lifted the trophy. We were roommates under Macif, we competed against each other for several years in the Solitaire du Figaro, I am happy to share the podium with him. »
You also needed a good boat.
“Yes, even if the approach was risky at the start of leaving on a new boat, whereasApivia was efficient. But I couldn't have won with this previous boat. There are new technologies that have appeared. It was important to build this Macif Santé Prévoyance to try to achieve this victory. We spent a lot of time with the team imagining it, with Apivia as a basis for work.
Macif placed its trust in me by starting this new four-year cycle. I had an opportunity to win in 2021, you don't know if it's going to happen again, even finish it. I told myself that maybe I had missed the only slot I was going to have to win. Fortunately no, from the 2024 edition. That doesn't mean that I won't come back. »
(1) In 2021, Covid health restrictions were still in place.
(2) Tradition has it that sailors make an offering to Neptune each time they pass the Equator.
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