Charlie Dalin Awarded the 2025 Magnus “Mange” Olsson Prize

For those who follow offshore racing closely, Dalin’s name has long been synonymous with precision, intelligence and relentless competitiveness. But this award goes deeper than results. It honours a sailor who has quietly reshaped modern offshore racing — as a skipper, as a designer, and as a human being who refused to let adversity dictate the limits of his ambition.

From Childhood Curiosity to Offshore Obsession

Born and based in Le Havre, Dalin discovered sailing at the age of six — a familiar story that, in his case, became something far more serious. While many young sailors are content to race dinghies and dream, Dalin combined passion with study, eventually graduating as a naval architect from the University of Southampton in 2006.

That dual identity — engineer and racer — has defined his career ever since. Dalin does not merely sail fast boats; he understands them from the keel bolts up. He questions shapes, load paths, structures and compromises. In an era where offshore racing has become increasingly technical, that knowledge has proven decisive.

Learning at the Sharp End

Dalin’s early professional career placed him immediately at the heart of elite offshore racing. He joined the design and build team for Ericsson 4, the VO70 that went on to win the 2008–09 Volvo Ocean Race and set a 24-hour monohull speed record along the way. It was a baptism by fire — exposure to the pressures of round-the-world competition, cutting-edge design, and a culture where marginal gains matter.

But it was in the Figaro Beneteau class that Dalin truly announced himself as a sailor. Five consecutive podium finishes in the Solitaire du Figaro is an achievement that places him among the very best the class has ever produced. One-design, single-handed, brutally tactical — Figaro racing rewards no shortcuts. Dalin’s consistency there marked him out as a future star.

Mastering the IMOCA Circuit

Transitioning to the IMOCA class, Dalin quickly proved he could translate Figaro discipline into big-boat success. His résumé reads like a modern offshore highlights reel: victories in the Transat Jacques Vabre in 2015 (with Yann Eliès) and again in 2019 (with Paul Meilhat), the IMOCA Globe Series World Championship, and countless podium finishes across the most competitive fleet in ocean racing.

The 2020 Vendée Globe cemented his status. Dalin crossed the finish line first after 80 days alone at sea — only to be classified second after time redress for assisting a fellow competitor. The result stung, but it also revealed Dalin’s character. There was no public bitterness, no theatrics. Just a calm acceptance and a quiet resolve to come back stronger.

Redemption — and a Record for the Ages

That resolve culminated spectacularly in the 2024 Vendée Globe, sailed aboard MACIF Santé Prévoyance, a Guillaume Verdier-designed IMOCA in which Dalin was deeply involved from the earliest sketches through to launch. This was not simply a campaign; it was a full intellectual and physical commitment.

The outcome was historic. Dalin obliterated the existing Vendée Globe record by nine full days, finishing in 64 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes and 49 seconds — a time that redefined what was thought possible in solo, non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation.

It was one of the most complete performances the race has ever seen: relentless pace, measured risk management, and total command of boat and self.

Racing Through Adversity

What elevates Dalin’s achievement beyond pure sporting excellence is what emerged afterward. In a revelation that stunned the sailing world, Dalin disclosed that he had been diagnosed with a gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) in late 2023 and had undergone targeted treatment throughout his Vendée Globe preparations — and during the race itself.

Solo ocean racing is already an exercise in isolation and mental resilience. To undertake it while managing serious illness requires a level of fortitude few can comprehend. Dalin did so without public drama, focusing instead on the race, his systems, and the discipline that has always underpinned his sailing.

It is this combination of courage, humility and professionalism that makes the Magnus Olsson Prize such a fitting recognition.

The Spirit of Mange Olsson

Established in memory of the legendary Swedish sailor Magnus “Mange” Olsson, the Magnus Olsson Prize honours individuals who embody excellence, innovation and sportsmanship at the highest level of sailing. Past recipients form a roll-call of modern greats: Franck Cammas, Torben Grael, Grant Dalton, Carolijn Brouwer, Stan Honey, Sir Ben Ainslie, Peter Burling, Martine Grael and Santiago Lange.

Dalin now joins that company — not just as a winner, but as a standard-bearer for the values the prize represents.

“Receiving the Magnus Olsson Prize is an honour that reflects not just my victories on the water, but also what we must overcome off the water,” Dalin said. “Magnus Olsson was a legend whose spirit of adventure inspired everyone he met. I am proud to accept this prize and carry on his legacy.”

Giving Back: Supporting the Next Generation

Alongside the main prize, the Magnus Olsson Foundation continues its vital work supporting young Swedish sailors through annual scholarships. More than 20 promising athletes have benefited so far, and this year’s recipients underline the programme’s impact.

Cornelia Baldock Frost, who finished fifth at the Youth World Championships in the double-handed 29er class, spoke of renewed motivation: “Having my drive and my sailing recognised like this gives me the energy to aim for even bigger goals.”

Erik Norlén, gold medallist at the Under-21 European Championships in the single-handed ILCA class, echoed that sentiment, calling the scholarship “a great honour” that means “a lot to me and my sailing.”

A Legacy Still Being Written

Dalin’s recently published book, La Force du Destin (The Force of Destiny), offers an unvarnished look at his journey — from childhood sailing to the mental and physical battles of racing solo around the world. It is not a victory lap, but a thoughtful exploration of purpose, resilience and the quiet determination that defines the very best offshore sailors.

Charlie Dalin, along with the scholarship winners, will be honoured in person at the 2026 Magnus Olsson Prize Ceremony in Stockholm — a fitting setting for a sailor whose career reflects both modern excellence and timeless seamanship.

In a sport increasingly driven by technology and data, Dalin reminds us that character still matters. Boats may be faster. Foils may lift higher. But the ocean still rewards those who combine intelligence, humility and courage — and who keep going when the horizon feels impossibly far away.