In the light of a magnificent sunrise, Charlie Dalin won the greatest victory of his sporting life on Tuesday, winning the 10th in Les Sables-d’Olonne.e edition of the Vendée Globe, record in the works.
After being desired all night in the bay of the Vendée city, the Norman offered the imposing procession of boats who came to congratulate him moments of suspended celebrations, while sailing on a flat sea.
The 40-year-old Frenchman, in the lead for the vast majority of the course, raised his arms, relieved, at 8:24 a.m. (GMT + 1), after 64 days 19 hours 22 minutes and 49 seconds at sea, new reference time of the test.
Seized by emotion and fatigue, he then collapsed for a few seconds on the deck of his sailboat Macif, before welcoming his technical team, his partner Perrine and his young son Oscar for joyful and nourishing hugs.
“I have never experienced such emotions, with the daylight starting to break through, it was incredible. It’s the most beautiful finish line of my entire career,” said this great perfectionist, usually reserved, with delight to the organization.
Due to the tide, however, the small group will have to wait on the boat until early afternoon before taking the channel, where a dense crowd began to gather in the morning.
His first pursuer, the Varois Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa), with whom he has fought a fierce duel since the start on November 10, should follow in the evening. He was 106 miles from the finish at 11 a.m.
“It’s been an incredible match with him, it’s his first Vendée and it seems like he’s been doing this all his life. It’s thanks to him that we made this trip around the world in such a short time,” said Dalin after his victory.
“I’ve been dreaming of it for 4 years”
Along the way, Dalin set several navigation records. Aboard his latest generation foiling sailboat, ultra-fast and very versatile, he notably completed the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) – Cape Leeuwin (Australia) section in just 9 days and 22 hours.
And above all, the sailor established a new record in the event, beating by more than nine days that signed by Armel Le Cléac’h during the 2016/2017 edition in 74 days 3 h 35 min.
“Charlie Dalin enters the legend of the Vendée Globe by triumphing over the oceans in record time: less than 65 days! A hymn to audacity and human greatness,” congratulated President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron on the social network
Despite fatigue and a perilous descent along the Breton coast during the night from Monday to Tuesday, the navigator made no mistake to seize the Holy Grail of offshore racing, which he had coveted for four years, after having lost the title in the previous edition.
In Sables-d’Olonne, everything was ready at midday to welcome the winner. Residents and enthusiasts from all over France are preparing to experience a return to the historic channel after the conclusion of 2021, in the void imposed by the Covid epidemic.
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 had finally given in for less than three short hours.
“I have been dreaming of this 2024 Vendée Globe since the day after the 2021 Vendée Globe. We have been working hard with the team for four years. We lived for this and that’s it, we achieved the goal,” said Dalin before lighting his flares to celebrate his victory.
By 2 p.m., he simply plans to sleep, before finally returning to earth to lift a well-deserved trophy.
