11/06/2026
Medway and Swale Boating Association
Fair winds Charlie Dalin.
The global sailing community is mourning an unimaginable loss today. Charlie Dalin, winner of the 2024/25 Vendée Globe and one of the finest offshore skippers of our generation, has passed away at just 42 years old.
Charlie was an incredible human. Combining a brilliant mind for naval architecture with unparalleled seamanship, he pushed the boundaries of what was possible on the ocean.
When he won the last Vendée Globe, smashing the world record by over 9 days, he did so while privately fighting a battle with cancer, taking his immunotherapy medication alone at sea. His courage, humbleness, and sheer determination in the face of absolute adversity left the entire sporting world in awe.
For schools like ours and for anyone who has ever looked out at a stormy horizon and chosen to press on, Charlie was an ultimate beacon of inspiration. He showed us what the human spirit is truly capable of when fueled by a passion for the sea.
Our thoughts, deepest condolences, and prayers are with his family, his friends, his team, and the entire ocean racing community.
You fought the hardest fight, Skipper. May the seas be calm and the winds forever at your back. ⛵✨