Charlie Dalin, the acclaimed French sailor who clinched the Vendee Globe in record time last year, has died from cancer at the age of 42. His passing was announced on Thursday by the Vendee Globe organisers, prompting tributes from across France, including President Emmanuel Macron, who hailed him as "an extraordinary sailor, a rare example of courage, a guiding light on the open sea."Dalin had been diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancer in 2023 but chose to keep his illness private as he embarked on his final, triumphant solo journey. He completed the 2024-25 race in less than 65 days, nearly 10 days faster than the previous record, a victory that also served as redemption after a previous near-miss.His recent triumph was particularly poignant, coming after a heartbreaking outcome in the 2021 edition of the race. Despite crossing the finish line first after 80 days at sea, Dalin was ultimately awarded second place. The win went to Yannick Bestaven, who received a 10-hour time bonus for assisting another competitor during the race.However, there was no such disappointment for Dalin last year at Les Sables-d’Olonne, the Atlantic port that marks both the start and finish of the gruelling event. Macron paid tribute to Dalin (AP)Piloting his MACIF Santé Prévoyance yacht, Dalin shattered Armel Le Cleac’h’s previous record by more than nine days, completing the circumnavigation in just 64 days, 19 hours, and 22 minutes.Yoann Richomme, Dalin’s closest rival in that record-breaking race, paid a heartfelt tribute to his friend on social media. "What a remarkable fight you waged against this cruel illness. I am deeply impressed by your perseverance and optimism, right up to your final days," Richomme wrote. "Our battles on the water, from our first tacks in the Figaro class, eventually led us to that fierce contest during the last Vendée Globe, which thrilled us so much. I cherished the years we spent together, the hearty laughs we shared, and our mutual determination to always give our very best on the water."The Vendee Globe, held every four years, challenges sailors to circumnavigate the globe single-handed and unassisted, covering approximately 24,000 nautical miles (about 44,500 kilometres) and navigating treacherous capes including South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope and South America’s Cape Horn. Dalin, a naval architecture graduate from the University of Southampton, led the fleet for a total of 42 days during his final race. Hailing from Le Havre in Normandy, Dalin’s passion for sailing began at age six during a holiday course in Brittany. He honed his skills in the Figaro class for seven seasons before joining the IMOCA circuit in 2019, also securing a runner-up finish in the 2022 Route du Rhum transatlantic race.