Issue date
By Vendée Globe
After a long, cold final night battling light winds off the Brittany coast, Charlie Dalin, the French skipper of MACIF Santé Prévoyance, crossed the Vendée Globe finish line at 7.24 am local time on Tuesday, becoming the fastest sailor in the history of the gruelling solo, non-stop round-the-world race.
Dalin led the fleet for a total of 42 days, including an unbroken lead since December 30.
By winning in an extraordinary time of 64 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes, and 49 seconds, Dalin shattered the previous record of 74 days and 3 hours, set by Armel Le Cléac’h in 2016, by an astonishing 9 days, 8 hours, 12 minutes, and 57 seconds.
The 40-year-old skipper, who grew up in Le Havre, northern France, has achieved the pinnacle of his career after finishing a close second in the 2020-2021 edition.
Charlie Dalin completed the race in a record 64 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes, and 49 seconds. Photos /
Vendée Globe
"I am the happiest man in the world today, for sure. Winning the Vendée Globe… my second Vendée Globe. Last time I only had line honours but did not get the win.," Dalin said.
"This time I did. With the team, I have been working for four years on this edition, building this new boat, preparing this boat and upgrading the boat, and now it is done. When I crossed the finish line, I felt things I never ever felt before - definitely the best finish line crossing of my career, by far. There was so much emotion. I am so really happy to be back in Les Sables d’Olonne after 66 (sic) days of ultra-fast sailing. I am just really happy."
Forty skippers set off on the 27,000-nautical-mile journey on November 10, including Kiwi Conrad Colman.
By January 30, Colman was in 22nd place aboard MS Amlin, just under 2,000 nm from the finish line.
This is Colman's second Vendée Globe. In 2016, he became the first sailor to complete the race without using fossil fuels.
New Zealand's Conrad Colman is in 22nd place with just under 5000nm to go.
In the Spring issue of Yachting & Boating Quarterly, Colman spoke of his hopes for the 2024 edition and his 110-day ordeal during the race nine years ago. That experience included surviving a dismasting, a fire, and a major knockdown in the Southern Ocean.
