Sailing: fourth in The Transat, Charlie Dalin qualifies for the Vendée Globe

Before leaving for Lorient, he said he was confident in his ability to do so without having to wait for the return on the transatlantic race, between New York and Les Sables d’Olonne, which would have been his last chance. But this Tuesday, Charlie Dalin obviously had to breathe a sigh of relief as he crossed the finish line of The Transat, off the coast of New York, won by Yoann Richomme ahead of Boris Herrmann and Samantha Davies. By taking fourth place in The Transat (8 days 14 hours 44 minutes 28 seconds), the oldest solo race, at the helm of the monohull “Macif”, the Le Havre sailor, based in Concarneau, validated his qualification for the Vendée Globe, the solo round-the-world tour without stopovers or assistance, starting on November 10 in Les Sables d’Olonne.

The Damocles epic has given way to the precious sesame seed

Because the skipper of Macif, one of the great sailors in the IMOCA fleet, still didn’t have his precious ticket. Due to a health problem, he had abandoned the transatlantic Jacques Vabre race shortly after crossing the start line to stay within the regulations, and was later unable to line up at the start of the Return to La Base race, which effectively postponing the opportunity to qualify. for the Vendée Globe. Before setting sail for New York, he spoke on France Bleu’s microphone.a little sword of Damocles, and it’s not very nice to tell myself that I’m not necessarily going to fight for the win. You still need to think about this qualification first and foremost.“.

After a great start, he lost ground

After a great start and at the head of the fleet until last Thursday mid-day, the runner-up in the 2020-2021 Vendée Globe gradually lost ground to the other competitors sailing in front. In a video from the edge, he mentioned “minor technical problems” which he managed to solve without saying more, as he slowed to the finish line to confirm his qualification for the Vendée Globe.

“With this qualification in hand, the aim will really be to press the accelerator fully on the return leg, New York – Vendée (Les Sables d’Olonne), to try and get the most out of the boat and the guy to be able to test the boat one last time time on a long crossing” he said before leaving. It must therefore heat the water on the journey home whose departure will be given at the end of the month, and where he will find another of the fleet’s favourites, skipper Thomas Ruyant (Vulnerable 1) who had chosen not to run for The Transat.