On Sunday 29 June, Ireland’s top offshore sailor Tom Dolan embarked on a new phase of his career as he joined the crew of the IMOCA 60 Charal for La Course des Caps — a 2,000-nautical-mile race around the British and Irish coastline. The race starts and finishes in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France.
Skippered by French sailing legend Jérémie Beyou, a multiple Vendée Globe veteran and three-time Solitaire du Figaro winner, Charal is one of the top-performing boats in the IMOCA fleet. Dolan will race as part of a five-person crew, marking his first ever race in the IMOCA class.
“They say you should never meet your heroes, but Jérémie is just a really calm, really relaxed, hugely talented sailor who’s far too humble,” said Dolan. “I nearly feel guilty that I’m being paid to learn from a seasoned professional every day. It’s not every day you step onto a 60-footer — let alone one of the best in the fleet. This is a massive leap forward for me.”
The opportunity to join the team came after Dolan’s historic win in the 2024 Solitaire du Figaro, where he became the first Irish sailor to ever win the iconic solo race. Beyou, also a former Figaro champion, sought out Tom to help him navigate the leg of the race that spans the challegening waters off the west coast of Ireland.
“I feel great going into this race — way less stress,” Dolan added. “I’m not carrying all the weight like I do when racing solo. There are three other people to share the load. It’s a new challenge and a pretty impressive line-up of sailors on the start line, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
The IMOCA class is considered the elite arena of offshore sailing, and this race is part of the IMOCA Globe Series, a key stepping stone for sailors preparing for the Vendée Globe — the solo, non-stop, round-the-world race that remains Dolan’s ultimate ambition.
Follow Tom on the IMOCA Charal via the race tracker: https://www.lacoursedescaps.com/cartographie
