Sailing: Vendee Globe winner Charlie Dalin dies aged 42
The sailing world has lost one of its standout figures. Charlie Dalin has died aged 42, his family said on Thursday to AFP. The skipper, winner of the 2024-2025 Vendee Globe, had been battling a gastrointestinal cancer for more than two years.
In a message passed to the agency, his wife Perrine Le Pape confirmed he died overnight from Wednesday to Thursday in Quimper. She also asked for privacy for those close to the skipper at this time.
A Vendee Globe run to the finish despite illness
His name will forever be tied to the 2024-2025 edition of the Vendee Globe. Dalin won it after a long battle with Yoann Richomme, completing the round-the-world race in 64 days, 19 hours and 22 minutes, with a record to show for it.
What made the victory even more striking was what the public had not fully grasped at the time: he was already racing while undergoing heavy treatment, living by a strict daily routine just to keep his body going through the event.
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A career built on consistency and the biggest races
Born in Le Havre, Dalin steadily established himself as one of the leading names in the Imoca class. He won the Transat Jacques-Vabre in 2019, several editions of the Fastnet Race, and two world titles in 2021 and 2022. In 2025, he was named Sailor of the Year, a rare honour in the sport, recognising both his results and his Vendee Globe triumph.
In recent months, he also shared his story in a book, revealing the moment he discovered his illness and how he kept sailing regardless. Dalin’s death leaves a huge void in offshore racing, where he was admired as much for his results as for the way he kept pushing on in brutal conditions.
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Crédits photo : Loic VENANCE / AFP
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