Reigning Vendée Globe champion Charlie Dalin dies aged 42

Terribly sad news today of the death at 42 of solo sailing legend Charlie Dalin, who won the Vendée Globe 2024-25 despite battling gastrointestinal cancer throughout the gruelling solo RTW race.

Image © Vincent Curutchet / Alea

After finishing second in the previous edition of the Vendée Globe Dalin set out from Les Sables-d’Olonne in a powerful new boat that he had helped to design himself – and with a point to prove.

Only his family, close friends, and shoreside support team knew that he was ill and would have to self-administer immunotherapy medication throughout the race.