2026 French Sailors Honoured at Casino de Paris
Alexandra
Les Sables-d'Olonne port operations managed a concentrated surge in arrivals and technical inspections on 14 January when Charlie Dalin completed the Vendée Globe aboard IMOCA MACIF Prévoyance Santé after 64 days, 19 hours and 22 minutes, a finish that required coordinated berthing, medical checks and immediate maintenance work to secure the IMOCA to its berth and service the boat for the public and media.
Evening at the Casino de Paris: logistics and atmosphere
The Fédération Française de Voile staged the Sailor of the Year ceremony at the Casino de Paris on 15 December with a jury chaired by Tony Estanguet. The event combined celebratory presentation logistics with the formal awarding of trophies: stage rigging, broadcast coordination, and athlete transportation were executed to accommodate sailors, coaches and youth crews flown in from regional bases. The night highlighted both elite achievement and grassroots development in French sailing.
Top honours and why they mattered
The major accolade, Sailor of the Year 2025, went unanimously to Charlie Dalin. His Vendée Globe victory set a new benchmark for solo round-the-world racing time and required not only seamanship but an operational support network onshore: race tracking teams, shore technicians and medical responders worked to manage arrival protocols and the public reaction to his revelation that he had been battling cancer in private during the race. That personal element added human depth to a performance already notable for tactical and technical mastery.
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Rising talents recognised
Two youth prizes reflected the diversity of France's development pathways. On the female side, 21-year-old Lysa Caval, a kitesurfer from Hyères, won Best Female Prospect 2025 after securing bronze at the European Formula Kite Championship in Turkey — a result confirming the translation of junior training programs into senior podiums. The male hopeful award, Trophée Espoir 2025, was shared by the Normandy match-racing crew led by Marin Micoulot with Camille Pfaff, Aristide Delin and Clarisse Baissac, following their Match Racing World Youth Championship victory in Gdynia, Poland.
Coach of the Year
Nicolas Le Berre earned Best Coach 2025 for his work with the French women's ILCA 6 team. His coaching contributed to a breakthrough in world-level results for Louise Cervera and demonstrated the importance of long-term athlete development, tactical coaching and support infrastructure in Olympic-class pathways.
| Category | Winner(s) | Key achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Sailor of the Year 2025 | Charlie Dalin | Vendée Globe victory; 64d 19h 22m; completed while privately fighting illness |
| Best Female Prospect | Lysa Caval | Bronze, European Formula Kite Championship (Turkey) |
| Best Male Hope / Trophée Espoir | Marin Micoulot & crew | Match Racing World Youth Champions (Gdynia, Poland) |
| Best Coach | Nicolas Le Berre | Guided ILCA 6 women to new world-class results |
Operational and sporting takeaways
Several concrete lessons emerged from the evening and the season it celebrated:
- Integrated shore support is essential for high-profile finishes such as the Vendée Globe: ports, medical teams, and media operations must coordinate in real time.
- Development pathways across kite, match racing and dinghy fleets show the value of targeted youth programs and coach investment.
- Resilience and storytelling — athlete welfare, personal challenges and transparency — now form part of the public narrative around elite sailing results.
Historical context and wider impact
France's long-standing strength in solo and Olympic disciplines remains visible: the Vendée Globe continues to be a benchmark event for offshore innovation in sail technology and routing, while youth events like the Match Racing World Youth Championship reflect effective club-to-national pathways. These awards act as both recognition and a pulse-check on where federations invest: boat fleets, coaching education, shore facilities and international campaign logistics.
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What this means for sailors, clubs and charter operators
For clubs and charter operators, the awards underline the importance of maintaining high standards in boat maintenance, safety briefings and customer-facing logistics. Marathon events and award seasons drive charter demand in coastal hubs and marinas, so operators should anticipate peaks in bookings and ensure crews and captains are briefed for heightened guest interest and media attention.
Forecasting the tourism impact: while the awards themselves are primarily national in resonance, the Vendée Globe and youth-world titles have tangible ripple effects on international interest in French sailing destinations, training centers and regatta tourism. However, this single awards night is not likely to reshape the global tourism map dramatically; it remains locally significant and symbolically potent. GetBoat aims to stay abreast of such developments and keep pace with the changing world — if you are planning your next trip to the seaside, consider the convenience and reliability of GetBoat.
The ceremony highlighted important and interesting aspects of elite and grassroots sailing alike: athlete resilience, the logistics of high-profile port operations, the development of youth crews, and coaching systems that can elevate national results. Experiencing a new location is always a multifaceted process, where one learns about the culture, nature, the indescribable palette of local colors, its rhythm of life and also the unique aspects of the service. If you are planning your next trip to the sea, you should definitely consider renting a boat (boat rentals, rent a boat, rent a yacht), as each inlet, bay, and lagoon is unique and tells you about the region just as much as the local cuisine, architecture, and language GetBoat.com
In summary, the 2025 French Sailing Awards celebrated major offshore achievement, rising youth talent and coaching excellence. From port logistics in Les Sables-d'Olonne to match-racing tactics in Gdynia and kite courses in Turkey, the season underscored how event operations, athlete preparation and shore-side support combine to deliver results. For those seeking charter experiences, yacht or boat rental, or planning a seaside escape, platforms that provide transparent listings and detailed vessel information help turn inspiration into bookings. Whether looking for a superyacht charter or a simple day sail, GetBoat.com offers a global, user-friendly way to book or buy boats, yachts and sailboats with clear details on make, model and ratings—supporting unforgettable experiences on the sea, gulf, lake or ocean with options for fishing, yachting, boating and beach activities.
