Vendée Globe 2024: Dahlin's fantastic win

Charlie Dahlin's Rivals and Desperate Struggle in the Southern Ocean

In early December 2024, 40-year-old French yachtsman Charlie Dalin was almost past the Cape of Good Hope and slowly making his way towards Australia as part of the Vendée Globe fleet. Antarctica was on his starboard side, and the chilly Southern Ocean was out the window. An ocean known for its wild nature and difficult sailing conditions.

During the Vendée Globe 2024-25, the Southern Ocean was also not kind to sailors, so the top three Vendée Globe had to face a huge storm that brought 10-meter waves and winds of 108 km/h. Charlie had a choice ahead: go for broke and stake everything on winning, or back out and sail the section of the route in relative safety. Dahlin took a risk and put not only the lead in the race on the line, but also his own life.

Dahlin led a triumvirate of contenders for victory, which also included Yoann Richomme and Sebastien Simon. There was a fierce battle for the lead between the three sailors, and it seemed that they were almost equal in strength. That same storm put everything in its place.

Risky plan and getting ahead

Robb Report wrote poetically and fairly about the conditions Dahlin found himself in: “The environment outside the 60-foot yacht would have us mere mortals kneeling in prayer, but as the wind howled and the towering waves smashed against the carbon fiber bottom of the car, Dahlin was in his element.” 

Charlie decided to go straight ahead – right through the storm. He was confident that the boat could withstand any blow of the elements, and the autopilot would help guide it over, under and through any ocean obstacle. The next few days were more like the Dakar Rally at sea. No sleep, little food and constant focus on the surroundings became something natural for Dahlin, who was the only person for hundreds of nautical miles around.

Dahlin’s closest rivals, Richomme and Simon, played it safe. They decided to sail around the troubled area, going around the storm from the north, but it didn’t help. In the end, both sailors had to fight the waves and squalls… While Dahlin was already increasing his lead. In six long days, Charlie was able to take the lead, increasing the gap from 85 miles near the Cape of Good Hope to 300 miles in the Indian Ocean. Dahlin shares his motto: “Either go for it or go home.”

Further complications at the Vendée Globe

Despite the impressive gap, near the coast of South America, Richom caught up with the leader and was even able to overtake him. We wrote on our Telegram channel, as Yoann not only overtook Dahlin, but also set a new time control record between Les Sables d'Olonne and Cape Horn. Thanks to Richomme, the minimum travel time between the start and the final cape is now 43 days, 11 hours, 25 minutes and 20 seconds. 

Charlie Dahlin was literally breathing down his opponent's neck: he rounded the same Cape Horn literally 9 minutes after Richomme. As they entered the Atlantic, it became clear that the most intense confrontation would unfold just before the finish. According to the participants of the Vendée Globe, this year the ocean was especially cruel; the initial lack of wind on fine days was replaced by storms and squalls.

Dahlin predicted the weather with almost surgical precision, elegantly dodging the most dangerous winds. Charlie crossed the equator first, cementing his lead on the home straight to Les Sables d'Olonne.

A well-deserved victory at the 2024 Vendée Globe

Charlie Dahlin arrived in Les Sables d'Olonne early on the morning of 14 January. He became the first sailor to cross the finish line of the 2024-25 Vendée Globe, setting a new world record for the fastest time to sail solo around the world non-stop. Dahlin improved by almost 10 days the previous record set by Armel Le Cléacq in the 2017-18 Vendée Globe. This brings Dahlin's record to 64 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes and 49 seconds.

Dahlin shares his impressions: “I knew it was possible to complete the race in less than 70 days, but 64 days… I couldn’t imagine it.” Charlie also mentioned his closest rival, Richomme: “Thanks to Yoann, because he was one of the reasons I broke the record. He tried so hard to get ahead, which motivated me to fight. It was an amazing battle with him, which lasted the whole distance. I am really amazed and impressed by his performance.”

In fact, this is already Dahlin's second successful finish at the Vendée Globe and the second time he has come in first. In 2021, he also conquered the race, but the victory went to Yannick Bestaven, who came in second. This was possible due to the time compensation that Bestaven received for helping another sailor during the regatta. Now, according to Dahlin, the situation is completely different. This year, Charlie is the rightful champion of the most difficult sailing regatta in the world!

New video on Interparus channel

🏔Like Everest in mountaineering, the Vendée Globe is a summit that only the best of the best strive to conquer. In our new video, Sasha Goron will tell you about the most difficult solo circumnavigation of the planet, the Vendée Globe. Enjoy watching!

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18.01.2025