A triumphant arrival in Les Sables-d'Olonne
Charlie Dalin crossed the finish line in Les Sables-d'Olonne on January 14, 2025 at 08 h 24 min and 49 seconds. He set a new record, with a race time of 64d 19h 22 min beating Armel le Cléac'h's previous reference time of 9d 8h 12 min and 57 seconds.
This triumph crowns months of intensive preparation and a race that was brilliantly run from start to finish. The sailor becomes one of the few skippers to have dominated the Vendée Globe so consistently. Charlie Dalin's victory in the Vendée Globe 2024/2025 is the culmination of years of hard work and passion for sailing. Aboard the IMOCA Macif Santé Prévoyance, he has proved that he is not only an exceptional sailor, but also an outstanding tactician.
This is the most beautiful finish line of my entire career
Charlie Dalin's first words at the finish: "I've never experienced such emotions. I'd never experienced anything like it in my life, with the incredible light that was starting to break through. It's the most beautiful finish line of my entire career, by far. I've been dreaming about this Vendée Globe 2024 since the day after the finish of the Vendée Globe 2020. The team and I have given our all to designing this boat and getting it right. Everyone has given their all. We've been living for this for 4 years. It's here to stay. I'm really happy with this result. Winning the Vendée Globe is a unique experience. I don't know what to say, I'm so happy to be back in Les Sables with another record. It feels like I left 48 hours ago. It was a crazy race. It was a great race. I've had a few problems, but nothing really major. The boat's in great shape. I've got the best people in the world on the team. They're world champions! The boat is incredible. I've got a jewel for this round-the-world trip. Not much has moved or I've been able to repair it. Every time I've had a problem, I've been able to solve it. Michel Desjoyeaux is still the only double winner, but I'm proud to share that with him for crossing the finish line first. I'm really happy to have crossed the line twice in a row. My 2024 copy is much better than what I was able to do in 2020. I'm happy with my trajectory and my choices. It's been an incredible match with Yoann. This is his first Vendée Globe, although it seems like he's been doing it all his life. It's thanks to him that we've sailed around the world so quickly. It forced me to go fast. If the record has been beaten, it's thanks to Yoann and this intense duel."
Unwavering domination from the outset
Right from the start in Les Sables-d'Olonne, Charlie Dalin made his ambitions clear. Taking advantage of the favorable weather conditions in the North Atlantic, he quickly took the lead of the fleet. This lead, acquired thanks to impeccable navigation and excellent anticipation of the weather systems, was decisive for the rest of the race.
The Doldrums, a zone dreaded for its unpredictable calms and violent squalls, did nothing to slow the skipper of IMOCA Macif Santé Prévoyance. By getting out of this tricky zone quickly, he opened up a significant gap over his pursuers, notably Thomas Ruyant and Jérémie Beyou.
Records and remarkable performances
Charlie Dalin also marked this edition with some impressive performances. On November 25, 2024, he set a new personal record by covering 546.60 miles in 24 hours . This performance illustrates the technological progress of foiling IMOCAs and the skipper's ability to get the most out of his boat.
The passage of the great capes was also marked by the domination of Charlie Dalin. First to round the Cape of Good Hope on November 29, 2024, he maintained his lead at Cape Leeuwin on December 9, before rounding the mythical Cape Horn on December 24. On each leg, he maintained a steady pace despite the testing conditions of the Deep South.
A fierce duel with Yoann Richomme
One of the highlights of this Vendée Globe was Charlie Dalin's intense duel with Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkea). Throughout the race, the two skippers engaged in a relentless battle for the lead of the fleet. This duel reached its climax at Cape Horn, where Yoann took the lead with just 9 minutes to spare. The latter quickly regained the lead on the climb back up the Atlantic, benefiting from judicious tactical choices and excellent weather management. This breathless face-off kept sailing fans on the edge of their seats, and added an epic dimension to this edition of the Vendée Globe.
A controlled ascent of the Atlantic
The ascent of the South Atlantic, often decisive, was perfectly mastered by Charlie Dalin. In January 2025, he crossed the equator in the lead after 56 days of racing, consolidating his leadership. Crossing the St. Helena high was a key moment, where Dalin avoided the traps of the calms to preserve his lead.
Despite some minor technical problems, the skipper demonstrated remarkable management of his boat and his physical and mental resources. His shore team also played a crucial role, providing him with strategic information and invaluable moral support. He has finally got his revenge, having finished first in the last edition in 2020, only to fall back to second place behind Yannick Bestaven.
