The Norman who won the Normandy Channel Race after fifteen editions without a local winner
Fabien Delahaye, born on July 7, 1984 in Rouen, has sailed from Caen since childhood — Optimist, 420, 470 in Ouistreham, then French Youth Team before the Figaro Bénéteau. In September 2024, he became the first Norman to win the CIC Normandy Channel Race in fifteen editions, aboard the Class 40 Legallais with Benjamin Schwartz.
From Figaro to performance analysis of large trimarans
Selected Macif skipper in October 2011 for the 2012-2013 seasons, after a 2nd place in the Solitaire du Figaro and the title of French Champion of solo offshore racing the same year. Before that, he had already won the 2010 AG2R Transat with Armel Le Cléac'h aboard Brit Air, then the 2013 Transat Jacques-Vabre with Sébastien Rogues aboard the Class 40 GDF Suez. In 2015 he joined Jean-Pierre Dick’s team on the IMOCA St-Michel-Virbac (2015 Transat Jacques-Vabre, retired due to structural failure).
Electronics, autopilots, performance: the technical role aboard The Ocean Race
Performance analyst with Dongfeng Race Team in the 2017-2018 Volvo Ocean Race — overall victory. Then crew member Team Holcim-PRB in The Ocean Race 2022-2023, responsible for electronics, autopilots, and performance analysis, with a backup navigator role. Not co-skipper: a systems specialist position at a time when IMOCA crews were seeking sailors capable of stabilizing autopilot chains under foils.
Class 40 Legallais since 2023
Skipper of the Class 40 Legallais (FRA 199, Marc Lombard design) since April 2023, partnership renewed for two years in 2024. In parallel, he joined the Race Direction of the 2024-2025 Vendée Globe replacing Yann Eliès (announced in March 2024).
Career highlights
- 2010: winner of the AG2R Transat with Armel Le Cléac'h aboard Brit Air
- 2011: 2nd in the Solitaire du Figaro, French Champion of solo offshore racing
- 2012: 4th in the Solitaire du Figaro (Macif skipper)
- 2013: winner of the Transat Jacques-Vabre with Sébastien Rogues aboard the Class 40 GDF Suez
- 2017-2018: winner of the Volvo Ocean Race with Dongfeng Race Team (performance analyst)
- 2022-2023: The Ocean Race with Team Holcim-PRB (electronics, autopilots, performance)
- 2024: winner of the CIC Normandy Channel Race with Benjamin Schwartz aboard the Class 40 Legallais (FRA 199, Marc Lombard)
- 2024: 2nd in the Transat Québec-Saint-Malo
- 2024: 3rd in The Transat CIC
- 2025: winner of Les Sables-Horta-Les Sables with Pierre Leboucher
- 2025: 3rd in the CIC Normandy Channel Race
- 2025: 2nd in the Class 40 championship
