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 Skipper Macif in October 2011 for the 2012-2013 seasons, after finishing 2nd in the Solitaire du Figaro and winning the French Championship of solo offshore racing the same year. Before that, he had already won the Transat AG2R 2010 with Armel Le Cléac'h aboard Brit Air, then the Transat Jacques-Vabre 2013 with Sébastien Rogues aboard Class 40 GDF Suez. In 2015 he joined Jean-Pierre Dick's team aboard the IMOCA St-Michel-Virbac (Transat Jacques-Vabre 2015, retired due to structural issues).
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 Management of the Vendée Globe 2024-2025 replacing Yann Eliès (announced in March 2024).
Achievements
- 2010: winner Transat AG2R with Armel Le Cléac'h aboard Brit Air
- 2011: 2nd Solitaire du Figaro, French Champion of solo offshore racing
- 2012: 4th Solitaire du Figaro (Skipper Macif)
- 2013: winner Transat Jacques-Vabre with Sébastien Rogues aboard Class 40 GDF Suez
- 2017-2018: winner Volvo Ocean Race with Dongfeng Race Team (performance analyst)
- 2022-2023: The Ocean Race with Team Holcim-PRB (electronics, autopilots, performance)
- 2024: winner CIC Normandy Channel Race with Benjamin Schwartz aboard Class 40 Legallais (FRA 199, Marc Lombard design)
- 2024: 2nd Transat Québec-Saint-Malo
- 2024: 3rd The Transat CIC
- 2025: winner Les Sables-Horta-Les Sables with Pierre Leboucher
- 2025: 3rd CIC Normandy Channel Race
- 2025: 2nd Class 40 Championship
