Message from Sir Robin Knox-Johnston on the passing of Charlie Dalin
by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston 14 Jun 12:07 PDT
MACIF Santé Prévoyance skipper Charlie Dalin (FRA) with the crowd on pontoons after winning the Vendée Globe © Jean-Louis Carli - Vincent Curutchet / Alea
Charlie Dalin: 1984 - 2026 - One of the world's great sailors
French sailing hero Charlie Dalin who was inducted into the Cape Horn Hall of Fame last year, has sadly passed the bar after a long fight with cancer. He was 42.
The Frenchman was diagnosed with a rare form of the disease shortly before the start of the most recent edition of the Vendée Globe solo round the world race, but decided to continue, dominating the 2024/5 race from the start to win with a time of 64 days 19 hours 22mins 14 secs, breaking the previous record by a massive 9 day margin.
Dalin was also first to finish in the previous Vendée Globe race, only to be relegated to 2nd after his friend Yannick Bestaven was given an allowance for time lost going to the rescue of a fellow competitor.
Winner of 20 major ocean races since 2004, Charlie Dalin was named World Sailing World Sailor of the Year last year.
He leaves his wife, Perrine Le Pape and their son Oscar to whom all within the Cape Horners Association send their condolences and share in their sorrow for the loss of one of the world's great sailors.