Tom Dolan Joins IMOCA ‘Charal’ for the Course des Caps
This Sunday marks another exciting milestone in the career of Ireland’s top offshore sailor, Tom Dolan, as he takes to the start line of the Course des Caps aboard the IMOCA ‘Charal’, racing as part of a five-person crew.
Charal is skippered by French Professional Offshore Sailor Jérémie Beyou, a seasoned Vendee Globe Skipper with one of the most impressive track records in offshore racing, he placed fourth in the most recent edition of the race.
After Tom's historic victory in the 2024 Solitaire du Figaro, he is now stepping up into the IMOCA class, an elite arena of offshore sailing. This will be Tom's first race in the 60-foot IMOCA fleet, and it is a significant step on his journey toward the Vendée Globe, the solo, non-stop, round-the-world race known as the Everest of ocean racing.
From Mini's to IMOCA's
Tom’s trajectory has been nothing short of inspiring. Having built his career from the grassroots of the Mini Transat through to becoming a consistent performer and now a winner on the Figaro circuit, this move into the IMOCA class is both natural and monumental step for the offshore sailor from Meath who was named Irish's Sailing's Sailor of the Year for 2024.
“I’m proud and thrilled to be joining Jérémie Beyou’s crew. He’s hugely talented, incredibly efficient, but also a brilliant teacher. He loves to share knowledge. It’s my first ever race on a 60-footer and I get to do it on one of the best boats out there, with one of the best skippers. It’s a massive leap forward.”
The Course des Caps is a race around the British and Irish coast, starting and finishing at Boulogne-sur-Mer. The race will start on June 29, 2025, with a mixed crew of men women and an OBR on each boat. This race will count towards the IMOCA Globe Series championship. Participants will cover nearly 2,000 miles around the British Isles, over a period of 5 to 8 days.
Sailing with a seasoned team aboard Charal, Dolan will experience the speeds, loads, and technical demands of an IMOCA, a strong progression from the Figaro 3 he has mastered. This race can ultimately be seen as a step towards setting sail on a Vendée Globe campaign under the Irish flag.
Follow the race via Tom’s Channel's
CharalSailingTeam
or Irish Sailing