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Charlie Dalin Triumphs in the Vendée Globe: A Historic Victory
The Vendée Globe, the ultimate solo sailing race around the world, ended spectacularly this year with a victory by French sailor Charlie Dalin. After a heroic journey of more than 24,000 nautical miles, he returned to Les Sables-d’Olonne in record time, adding his name to the list of legendary sailors.
The Challenge of the Vendée Globe
This quadrennial race is known as the most demanding and prestigious challenge in the sailing world. Solo sailors navigate non-stop and without external assistance around the world, braving the harshest conditions on the open sea. Stormy oceans, technical failures, and mental exhaustion make this race a test of endurance, strategy, and sheer willpower.
The introduction of foils in the IMOCA class has brought about a true revolution in the world of offshore sailing, clearly visible in the most recent edition of the Vendée Globe. Foils are curved wings that extend from the sides of the hull and lift the boat partially out of the water while sailing, drastically reducing resistance and allowing for higher speeds. In the IMOCA class, the goal is not for the boats to fly completely above the water surface, but to minimize the hull’s resistance in the water as much as possible.
Charlie Dalin: Perfect Combination of Talent, Strategy, and Daring
Charlie Dalin, aboard his IMOCA boat Macif, demonstrated not only incredible speed but also tactical mastery, including taking necessary risks. Dalin attributes his victory to a timely repair of a foresail and a tactical decision to stay ahead of a severe storm with a cyclone rather than detour. As the French proverb goes, “ça passe ou ça casse” (sink or swim). In this case, his choice paid off.
Charlie Dalin won the Vendée Globe 2024-2025 with a record time of 64 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes, and 49 seconds. He finished on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 07:24 UTC. With this achievement, he improved the previous record by more than 9 days.
You can find all the information, including updates on sailors still en route, on the Vendée Globe website.
Listening Tip! In this podcast episode (in French), Charlie Dalin explains in understandable terms what he experienced.
Photos copyright EPA-EFE and AFP, source Belga
