Charlie Dalin, the Vendée Globe record-breaker and 2025 Rolex World Sailor of the Year, has died at the age of 42 after battling gastrointestinal cancer.
His final race was one of the most extraordinary performances in offshore racing history. Sailing the 2024-25 Vendée Globe while taking immunotherapy medication at sea, Dalin completed the round-the-world race in 64 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes and 49 seconds, smashing the previous record by nine days, eight hours, 12 minutes and 57 seconds.
Sailing fans voted for the Frenchman in their thousands to award him the Rolex World Sailor of the Year title at a ceremony held at the Royal St George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland.
World Sailing Chief Executive David Graham said: "This is desperately sad news. Charlie represented all that is great about our sport and everyone in our global sailing community will be touched by his tragically early death."
Graham was clear about Dalin's standing in the sport. "'Inspirational' and 'legend' are words which can be used too easily in sport, but Charlie was both. He showed determination in the face of unbelievable adversity and a commitment to excellence. And he did this while remaining humble, approachable and wonderfully generous with his time."
Born in Le Havre, Dalin developed a passion for the sea early and trained as a naval architect, combining technical expertise with exceptional seamanship. He finished second in the 2020-21 Vendée Globe before his record-breaking victory in the most recent edition.
His offshore racing record was formidable: IMOCA Globe Series titles in 2021 and 2022, along with victories in the 2022 Vendée Arctique, the 2019 Transat Jacques Vabre, and the 2012 Transat AG2R.
"His sporting achievements on their own guaranteed him a place among the greats of sailing," Graham said, "but the bravery he demonstrated in fighting his illness means he will be held forever in the hearts of sailors."
World Sailing has extended its sympathies to Dalin's friends, family, and all those mourning his passing.
