Charlie Dalin is aiming to defend his IMOCA Globe Series championship with the same methodical precision he has made his trademark for offshore racing.

The 40-year old French skipper who shaved nine days from the previous record for the round-the world race approaches the 2025 campaign with characteristic understatement on board MACIF Sante Prevoyance.

“What is my goal for this year?” Dalin said to IMOCA officials in this week, “It’s win races again.” “I love sailing IMOCAs and I’m just as passionate about it now as I was before.”

IMOCAs, 60-foot monohulls with high performance for short-handed or solo offshore racing are known for their cutting-edge design – like hydrofoils and a carbon fibre hull – while also meeting the demands of endurance.

Dalin’s 2025 campaign will start with the Course des Caps in June, a 2,000 mile tactical challenge along Britain’s challenging coastline. But he has his eyes set on the Transat Cafe L’Or, an October race from Le Havre, to Martinique. This race is of personal significance.

Dalin, who won the race in Le Havre in 2019, said: “It is an important race because I’m from Le Havre. I was unable to race last time.” “I want to get revenge on this event. “I would love to win this event a second time.”

The competition is fierce. Dalin expects to be challenged by last year’s runner up Yoann Richomme aboard Paprec Arkea. Thomas Ruyant and Ambrogio Beccaria will also challenge him, as well as veteran Jeremie Béyou on Charal. Elodie Bonnefous, a newcomer who commands Horizon 29, the sistership of Dalin’s vessel, adds intrigue.

He said, “It’ll be interesting to see how MACIF Sante Prevoyance performs against a sistership.”

Dalin, who acknowledged the physical toll his Vendee Globe Campaign had taken on him, expressed his confidence in his recovery schedule, aiming for full readiness before the start of the season.

Dalin is now firmly established as a sailor that everyone wants to beat. He embraces this position with a philosophical ease.

He smiled and said, “I would rather be in the situation I am now than the opposite.”

The IMOCA Globe Series comprises a series of offshore yacht racing events, ranging in length from coastal duel to grueling round-the world marathons. The Vendee Globe, The Ocean Race and other Grade 1 epics are at the top of the list. Grade 2 races include the Route du Rhum, Transat Jacques Vabre and other transatlantic challenges.

The shorter Grade 3 and 4, such as the Course des Caps and Defi Azimmut, and Rolex Fastnet, require precision, stamina, and tactical sharpness. Together, these events form a global testing ground for the best offshore sailors.

Dalin won the 2024 title in dominant French fashion with 800 points. Richomme and Sebastien Sim (Groupe Dubreuil), both French, came in second and third place with 730 points and 595 respectively. Boris Herrmann, a German driver, broke the French dominance by driving Malizia – Sea Explorer to fourth place with 571 points.

Dalin plans to be at the top of the fleet again in 2025, with the 2,000 nautical mile Course des Caps starting on June 29. With his Vendee win still fresh in his mind and the sails of MACIF Sante Prevoyance trimmed up for another season. Toby Davis edited this article.

(source: Reuters)