On September 1, we’ll set off from New York on The Ocean Race Atlantic, racing to Lorient in France. It will be the first fully crewed race for our team and I'll have three really strong sailors and one onboard reporter right by my side. 

Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing will kick off its very first Changemakers Tour on August 14, 2026.

Last year I announced that Società Nautica Pietas Julia would be the first beneficiary of our Believe, Belong, Achieve Grantee Program.

The long read: Communications & Purpose Director, Emily Caroe, takes a deep dive into the team’s protocols for the protection of marine mammals.

The thing that hits you first when you're solo is that there's no-one to turn to. No tactician, no navigator, no second opinion.

This day always brings back good memories. I represented Italy twice at the Olympic Games, in London 2012 and in Rio 2016. Those years were intense, formative, and honestly some of the best of my life. In 2016, we finished fifth in the 49erFX class in Rio with Giulia Conti.

After an intense Vendée Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne race all the way up to the Arctic Circle and back, it's time to give our IMOCA 11th Hour Racing a little love! She’s heading back into the shed at our team base in La Base, Lorient, France for a three week summer refit.

Italian-American offshore sailor Francesca Clapcich onboard 11th Hour Racing has finished the Vendée Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne in fifth place, after 8 days, 20 hours, 31 minutes, and 11 seconds of racing to the Arctic Circle and back from Les Sables d’Olonne, France.

Onboard 11th Hour Racing this morning, Francesca is in good spirits, about 105 nautical miles west-northwest of Brest, France, and focusing on the final stages of the Vendée Arctique after nearly eight days at sea.

As I race to the Arctic Circle in the Vendée Arctique-Les Sables d’Olonne race and back it is taking me further north than I have ever been in my life.

Nearly seven days into the Vendée Arctique, and Francesca is in good heart onboard 11th Hour Racing, having managed to get some decent sleep as the boat cruised down the west coast of Ireland powered by a fresh easterly wind.

Day 6 and the co-skipper Alberto Bona gives his view on Francesca’s Vendée Arctique race so far

While Frankie is racing onboard 11th Hour Racing she isn’t ‘just’ racing … she’s also contributing towards ocean science research.

After nearly five days at sea in the Vendée Arctique, Francesca is in good spirits and enjoying a fast ride downwind heading south onboard 11th Hour Racing, after crossing the race’s virtual waypoint - the Arctic Circle at 66 degrees north.

Day 4 of the Vendée Arctique and it is chilly onboard … and Frankie has deployed her weather buoy.

After three days at sea, Francesca has her IMOCA, 11th Hour Racing, in a strong position in the fleet ranking, holding fourth place about 123 nautical miles behind the leader, Sam Goodchild on MACIF Santé Prévoyance.

After nearly 48 hours at sea in the third edition of the Vendée Arctique, Francesca is flying along, very close to the Irish coast on board 11th Hour Racing, and holding fifth position out of the eight boats still racing.

After 24 hours at sea, Francesca Clapcich onboard 11th Hour Racing is lying in sixth place in the Vendée Arctique-Les Sables d’Olonne, heading northwest in light winds, but with a fast and rough ride to the southern tip of Ireland to come.

At 1302 CEST (1102 UTC) on Sunday, June 7, 2026, Italian-American offshore sailor, Francesca Clapcich crossed the startline of the Vendée Arctique - Les Sables d’Olonne, one of the most innovative events in offshore racing.

The gun goes off at 13:02. Whether you're in Les Sables d'Olonne or watching from home, here's how to follow every moment.