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(January 14, 2025; Day 66) – After one long, cold final night fighting through light winds off the Brittany coast, Charlie Dalin, the French skipper of MACIF Santé Prévoyance, crossed the Vendée Globe finish line this morning at 07:24 UTC to take victory.
Dalin has been the most regular and consistent leader of the solo non stop race around the world, heading the fleet for a total of 42 days, including an unbroken run since December 30, taking victory in the tenth running of this iconic offshore test.
By winning in an incredible time of 64 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes and 49 seconds, Dalin smashed the previous record set in 2016-17 by Armel Le Cléac’h (74 days and 3 hours) by an incredible 9 days, 8 hours, 12 minutes and 57 seconds.
The 40-year-old skipper, who grew up in Le Havre in the north of France, achieved the pinnacle result of his career after leading the 2020-21 race at the finish, but dropping to second after Yannick Bestaven received redress time for his part in the rescue of Kevin Escoffier.
“I am the happiest man in the world today, for sure,” shared Dalin. “With the team I have been working for four years on this edition, building this new boat, preparing this boat and upgrading the boat and now it is done.
“When I crossed the finish line, I felt things I never ever felt before, definitely the best finish line crossing of my career. By far… there was so much emotion, I am so really happy to be back in Les Sables d’Olonne after 66 days of ultra fast sailing, I am just really happy.”
Following his finish, Dalin will have to wait for the tide to rise early this afternoon before ascending the legendary Les Sables d’Olonne channel, to step on to land for the first time since leaving Les Sables d’Olonne on start day, November 10, and to now fully savour his incredible victory.
Knowing well that any kind of mishap or accident could still happen, it still took Dalin some considerable composure to live through the final nervous hours of his race while making a long descent from the Point of Brittany to Les Sables d’Olonne in light airs.
Even if the final miles of his course allowed him to sail through his home waters, off Concarneau and the Glenans islands, enjoying a fly-by from France’s Marine Nationale, seeing coaches from his race training group, Dalin had to remain cool and focused until his finish gun sounded this morning off Les Sables d’Olonne’s famous Nouch Sud finish line.
While Dalin covered the theoretical course of 23,905 miles at an average speed of 15.37 knots, his actual course of 27,668 miles translates to an average speed of 17.79 knots.
Race updates – Tracker – Ranking – Arrival times – Facebook
Attrition:
Nov. 15: Maxime Sorel (FRA), V and B – Monbana – Mayenne, ankle injury, mast damage
Dec. 4: Louis Burton (FRA), Bureau Vallée, rigging failure
Dec. 15: Pip Hare (GBR), Medallia, dismasted
Dec. 16: Szabolcs Weöres (HUN), New Europe, broken D2 shroud
Dec. 30: Yannick Bestaven (FRA), Maître CoQ V, steerage damage
Jan. 12: Éric Bellion (FRA), STAND AS ONE – Altavia, broken J2 forestay pin
The Vendée Globe, raced in the 60-foot IMOCA, is the elite race round the world, solo, non-stop, and without assistance. On November 10, 40 skippers started the 2024-25 edition which begins and ends in Les Sables d’Olonne, France.
Armel Le Cléac’h, winning in 2017, previously held the record for the 24,300 nm course of 74 days 03 hours 35 minutes 46 seconds. Only one sailor has won it twice: Michel Desjoyeaux in 2001 and 2009. This is tenth running of the race.
Source: VG2024, SSN
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