French sailor Charlie Dalin passed away on June 11 at the age of 42 in Quimper, France. He was the winner of the 2024 to 2025 Vendée Globe race in record time.
The cause of his death has been reported as gastrointestinal cancer which he had been battling for two and a half years. He had been married to his wife, Perrine Le Pape, who shared the news, requesting privacy at the difficult time. The statement read:
“It is with deep sadness that my family and I announce the passing of my husband, Charlie Dalin, following a long illness.”
The Vendée Globe champion and his wife were involved in the offshore sailing community. They shared a 6 year old son, Oscar. Perrine comes from a sailing family. Her father, Christian Le Pape, who served as the former director and co-founder of the Pôle Finistère Course au Large in Port-la-Forêt, a national training center for high-level sailors in ocean racing.
Continue reading for more details.
Everything to know about Charlie Dalin’s family
It was not until last October that Charlie Dalin revealed his cancer diagnosis. The announcement came with the release of his autobiography La Force du Destin (The Force of Destiny).
Despite his health challenges, Dalin continued to compete and won the Vendée Globe championship. He was diagnosed in 2023 but continued to hide it from the media. The reason behind keeping his illness a secret was that Dalin wanted to be judged as a competitor and not as a patient.
Charlie Dalin shared in his memoir that he received immunotherapy treatment throughout his record Vendée Globe victory. In the 2020 to 2021 edition, he became the first skipper to cross the finish line of the Vendée Globe after 80 days at sea.
Dalin was known for his elite seamanship and his technical expertise as a trained naval architect. He had a deep understanding of boat design and engineering having graduated in naval architecture from the University of Southampton.
Charlie Dalin’s father-in-law Christian Le Pape is a respected figure in French offshore sailing. He served as Dalin’s mentor when he joined his training centre in 2007 after completing his studies in naval architecture. It was through this professional connection that Dalin met his wife.
After their marriage, the couple moved to Concarneau, situated in the southern Brittany, France. Perrine studied business and corporate law at the University of Western Brittany. She is a French corporate jurist and co-founder of La Maison Canopée, a health and well-being center located in Quimper, France. In an interview with Telegram, she described her company as: “a home designed by women for women, couples, family and parenthood.”
Charlie and his longtime spouse, Perrine Le Pape shared a devoted partnership spanning 20 years marked by mutual support and family life. After beginning their relationship in 2007 the couple got married and welcomed their son, Oscar.
French President Emmanuel Macron paid his tribute to Dalin in an official statement that read:
“The President of the Republic and his wife pay tribute to the memory of a great sailor, a force of destiny who proudly represented our country on all the world’s oceans. They extend their deepest condolences to his wife Perrine, his son Oscar, his family, his loved ones, his fellow sailors, and the entire sailing community.”
Born in Le Havre, Dalin discovered sailing on a family holiday at the age of six. His father worked in the music industry as a tour manager for rock bands. His mother worked as a sales assistant and a bus driver. Despite having no prior connection to sailing, Dalin pursued his passion and achieved excellence.
Edited by Aastha Dass