Charlie Dalin returns to conquer the Everest of the seas

Equipped with his lunettes OCEAN MASTER, the skipper of the IMOCA Macif Santé Prévoyance gives us his take on this extraordinary sailing event: a solo, non-stop, round-the-world race without assistance. The peak of extreme for a sailor!

Charlie, can you tell us what you dreamt about when you were little?

Of the sea and the freedom it offers! When I started sailing in an Optimist dinghy on holiday in Brittany at the age of seven, I loved that aspect. You’re not on a road or a clearly demarcated path. On the water, you’re free. You go where you want, with the help of the wind. This invisible force that propels you forward was truly magical for me! That’s what prompted me to join my local sailing club in my home town of Le Havre. And it was in that port, standing in front of the boats taking part in the Transat Jacques Vabre race, that I started to dream... All those highly decorated and colorful sailboats that were designed for speed. I was fascinated!

And what are you dreaming about today?

Of many things, but the Vendée Globe in particular, obviously. It’s the solo race that every sailor dreams of competing in one day. And of winning it if possible…

It’s known as the Everest of the seas. What do you think of this analogy?

Of all the offshore races, it’s the longest, the most difficult and undoubtedly the most extreme. So there are similarities with the ascent of Everest for a mountaineer. In both cases, we’re talking about adventure and pushing ourselves to the limits. Whether at sea or in the mountains, we’re operating in a hostile environment; we sometimes go into dangerous areas; we have to deal with nature and elements that are beyond our control, such as the weather. On the other hand, far fewer sailors have completed the Vendée Globe (editor’s note: only 114 have crossed the finish line in nine editions) compared to the number of mountaineers who’ve climbed Everest. In a way, the Vendée Globe is even more inaccessible to us humans than the “roof of the world”.

In your eyes, is the Vendée Globe more of a competition or an adventure?

I’m a competitor at heart. So I’m here first and foremost to push my limits and those of the boat; but also to compare myself with others. But the journey in itself is fantastic! Crossing all these oceans, sailing around all the iconic capes – it’s fabulous.

During the race, even if your main focus is on performance, do you sometimes manage to land for a moment and take it all in?

Yes, there are snatched moments of contemplation but they’re rare and never last very long. The boat flying along without apparent effort, a sunset, the arc drawn by a flying fish in the Atlantic, or an albatross in the southern seas... When they appear, you take full advantage of the moment with wide-eyed wonder!

You’re taking part in your second “Vendée”. Despite that, is it still a leap into the unknown?

In a way yes, because I’ll have to face unforeseen situations, find solutions and adapt to what’s happening. With my team, we try to plan everything, anticipate everything, but there are certain parameters we can’t control. What will the weather be like? How long will the race last? What technical problems – because there’ll definitely be some – will I encounter? I’m a bit like a skier standing at the top of a face they’ve already mastered; even if I’ve gone down it once and unveiled some of its mystery, it’s still an immense challenge.

Is the challenge more physical or mental?

It’s both at the same time. When I reached the finish line four years ago, I was just as tired physically as I was mentally. In a Vendée Globe, everything’s magnified tenfold. We’re often at breaking point. There’s never any downtime. The body and mind are constantly active. So diet and sleep management are crucial, as is the human aspect in general. You have to be able to bounce back quickly when faced with adversity and, conversely, avoid getting too euphoric after a successful strategic move. All the skippers know that deliverance only comes once you cross the finish line.

You were the first to cross the line four years ago*. So you now have the label of favorite on your back. How are you dealing with that pressure?

When we talk about a favorite, we’re talking about the result, the end of the race, when it hasn’t even started! I’m focusing on all the work I have to do between now and the start of the race as well as during it. I’m not currently thinking about the end result at all. And yes, of course, the pressure is there, it exists, but it’s something I’m working on with my mental performance coach to manage it properly. At any rate, I feel more ready than last time. I already know I’m capable of doing it. So I’m more relaxed.

* In the 2020-2021 edition, Charlie Dalin was the first skipper to cross the finish line of the Vendée Globe after 80 days at sea. But as a result of time compensations awarded by the race jury to competitors who helped rescue Kevin Escoffier, the Julbo skipper eventually finished second, behind winner Yannick Bestaven.

In 2020, you set out in full lockdown. This time, the channel at Sables d’Olonne will be packed with people…

That’s going to be a highlight, for sure. We didn’t get to experience that transition to the open sea, that emotional tunnel with hundreds of thousands of people cheering us and encouraging us. I’m preparing for it so that I’m ready to live the moment intensely without getting overwhelmed.

A few minutes earlier, you will have said goodbye to your six-and-a-half-year-old son Oscar. Are you dreading that moment?

I’m going to enjoy it and use the memory to keep me going. It’s my choice, my passion, and no one’s forcing me to leave. I’m going to make sure it’s as easy as possible for him, so I’ll try not to pass on any stress or tension. Four years ago, I spaced the emotional moments out a bit. I said goodbye to him in our home, a few days before. This time he’ll be there on the big day. But he’s grown up and so have I!

What did the last Vendée Globe teach you about yourself?

I thought I was someone who was very emotionally stable. In fact, the fatigue was so intense that I experienced massive ups and downs! So I’ve worked on that to stay as mentally level-headed as possible throughout the race.

Can you tell us about your boat and what it feels like to be on board?

I really like the boat. It’s powerful and versatile and was specially designed for this Vendée Globe. I don’t have a personal relationship with it like some sailors do, but I can’t wait to set off in it. When it’s barreling along at full speed above the water, I feel like I’m on a flying carpet, like at the finish of the New York - Vendée (editor’s note: the last qualifying transatlantic race for the Vendée Globe). When the sea is calm and I close my eyes, I sometimes feel like I’m going at 10 knots, when the boat is actually flying at more than 30 knots (editor’s note: nearly 35 miles per hour)! It’s amazing.

Have you ever been afraid at sea?

In reality, you don’t have time to be afraid. When you’re caught in a storm far away from any human life, you have to manage it, stay on top of your emotions, listen to the boat, the state of the sea, and choose the right sail and the right course if you want to come out unscathed. In the previous edition, the only time I was afraid was the day before the start. The last shower, the last meal, the last night in a bed… It was all quite stressful. But the next morning, that apprehension had disappeared. Even though I was still physically on land, my mind was already at sea.

So if you close your eyes and imagine yourself on the start line on 10 November at 1:02 pm, what do you see?

I imagine a departure under sunny skies on a calm sea, with the right wind at the right angle so that the boat can start flying on its foils. I cross the start line neither too early nor too late, and most importantly without bumping into anyone. Further on, I wave goodbye to the final follower boats. The light begins to fade from the sky. I see that first night of racing lying ahead of me on the horizon. I’m free, at last. And if all goes well, I’ll be faster than the others! (laughs)

Finally, let’s talk about equipment and optical sun protection. How many pairs of Julbo sunglasses will you take on your round-the-world voyage?

I’ll have five different pairs on board, including the SHIELD OCEAN MASTER, my favorite model. They’ll inevitably be tested to the max, with salt spray, knocks and falls, etc. But Julbo sunglasses are super-tough, and as well as protecting my eyes from the sun, sea spray and wind, they really help to improve performance. The SPECTRON HD 4 POLARIZED lenses accentuate contrast on the surface of the water so I can more clearly read the “cat’s paws” or little ripples that allow me to identify the areas where there’s most wind. That’s really useful, especially when the wind is light and you’re looking for the slightest breath of air. It’s therefore an essential bit of kit for me, both at sea and on land. When I leave home, I check I’ve got my phone, keys, wallet and my Julbo shades!