Charlie Dalin remained hopeful. The hope of someday returning on a transatlantic race to problem the oceans, as he did splendidly in 2024 to win the Vendée Globe in record time (64 days 19 hours 22 minutes and 49 seconds). However, has a gastrointestinal stromal tumor, a rare form of cancerthe Norman sailor sadly handed away on the age of 42., his household introduced this Thursday: “It’s with deep unhappiness that our household and I announce the demise of my husband Charlie Dalin, following an extended sickness,” wrote his spouse Perrine Le Pape in a textual content despatched to AFP.
Recognized within the fall of 2023, the sickness didn’t forestall the skipper from taking part in the Everest of the seas on his Imoca, Macif, a 12 months later. “If the medical doctors had had doubts, I might not have gone,” he stated when he launched his guide. The Drive of Future (Gallimard), in October. I would not have taken any dangers with my spouse and son. Navigator, that is my job, they had been joyful that I used to be heading again to sea. »
Profession on maintain attributable to sickness
On his boat, Charlie Dallin is pressured to take a capsule each day whereas attempting to get as a lot sleep as doable. “The sickness additionally made me put issues into perspective,” he defined. With the ability to take off was already a victory. We are saying it typically however in my case it has by no means been extra true. I had abdomen pains, I simply stated to myself, “You don’t have time to maintain this.” Once I obtained again to shore, I had virtually forgotten about it. »
Just a few weeks after his victorious return to Les Sables-d’Olonne (Vendée), 4 years after having been near already profitable the Vendée Globe, Charlie Dalin needed to be operated on after the illness progressed. He needed to put his profession on maintain and entrust his Imoca to British sailor Sam Goodchild for the races of the 12 months, and specifically the Transat Café L’Or, the place he completed in third place, in November 2025.
Sailor of the Yr 2025
On the finish of the 12 months, Charlie Dalin obtained the Sailor of the Yr award, by unanimous vote, a primary within the historical past of this annual distinction organized by the French Crusing Federation. “I miss the races, the begins, this euphoria, this pleasure at the beginning and on the arrivals,” he assured, moved. I really feel like I am reliving that just a little bit this night, it feels good. »
He labored in Lorient as a naval architect advisor, throughout the Macif staff, taking part within the design of the staff’s subsequent Imoca. He nonetheless left himself the potential for taking part this 12 months within the Rum Routewhich he completed in second place in 2022, if his well being allowed. This is able to not have been doable.
