Irish Sailor Tom Dolan Joins Jérémie Beyou on Charal for Course des Caps Race

29th June 2025

Afloat.ie Team

Irish solo sailor Tom Dolan (second from right) embarks on a new challenge when he joins Jérémie Beyou (left) and the IMOCA 60 Charal team for the Course des Caps around the British Isles and Ireland. Also pictured are Nicolas Andrieu and Lou Berthomieu.

Tom Dolan, Ireland's offshore sailing champion and Irish sailor of the year, joins the IMOCA 60 Charal for the Course des Caps, beginning today. As Afloat previously reported, this 2,000-nautical-mile challenge will circle the British and Irish coastlines.

Skippered by renowned French sailor Jérémie Beyou, Charal is a top contender in the IMOCA fleet. This marks Dolan's debut in the IMOCA class, racing alongside a five-member crew. Beyou's crew includes Nicolas Andrieu and Lou Berthomieu.

Jérémie Beyou, Charal is a top contender in the IMOCA fleet Jérémie Beyou's Charal is a top contender in the IMOCA fleet

“I feel great going into this race,” said Dolan. “I’m not carrying all the weight like I do when racing solo. There are three other people to share the load."

Dolan's opportunity arose after his historic win in the 2024 Solitaire du Figaro, making him the first Irish sailor to triumph in the event. Beyou, a former Figaro champion, invited Dolan to help navigate the challenging Irish waters, where he made two solo record attempts in 2023.

“The line-up of sailors is impressive, so I’m really looking forward to it,” Dolan added. The IMOCA class is a notable arena in offshore sailing, contributing to sailors' preparations for the Vendée Globe.

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Tom Dolan, Solo Offshore Sailor

Even when County Meath solo sailor Tom Dolan had been down the numbers in the early stages of the four-stage 2,000 mile 2020 Figaro Race, Dolan and his boat were soon eating their way up through the fleet in any situation which demanded difficult tactical decisions.

His fifth overall at the finish – the highest-placed non-French sailor and winner of the Vivi Cup – had him right among the international elite in one of 2020's few major events.

The 33-year-old who has lived in Concarneau, Brittany since 2009 but grew up on a farm in rural County Meath came into the gruelling four-stage race aiming to get into the top half of the fleet and to underline his potential to Irish sailing administrators considering the selection process for the 2024 Olympic Mixed Double Offshore category which comes in for the Paris games.