Team Frankie finish second in The Ocean Race Atlantic

© Maud Helfgott - polaRYSE / The Ocean Race

Francesca Clapcich (ITA/USA) and her crew onboard 11th Hour Racing - Will Harris (GBR), Elodie-Jane Mettraux (SUI/FRA) and Alberto Bona (ITA), with Julien Champolion (FRA) as the team’s onboard reporter - have finished second in The Ocean Race Atlantic. After nearly eight days of racing, the team were just 8 minutes and 56 seconds behind race winner United by the Ocean, skippered by Paul Meilhat (FRA).

The American/Italian team crossed the finish line off Lorient, France after 7 days, 23 hours 48 minutes and 7 seconds of racing from New York, USA. Clapcich is the only female skipper in the six-strong fleet.

Speaking just after she crossed the finish line, Clapcich said, “Over 3,000 miles sailed and we are just a few minutes away from each other. It was great for the race, great for the people that follow us, and great for our team. We have an incredible team who get us here, they are all here to celebrate together, it’s just super special.

“It gives me a lot of confidence: confidence in the boat, the reliability of the boat, and the people onboard. I'm super proud of everybody, and the entire team,. We have five onboard and we have an entire team behind us who are on the boat with us all the time. We never gave up,” she concluded.

Starting on September 2, The Ocean Race Atlantic set off from New York, USA, destination Lorient, the team's home port, with a strict 50/50 gender balance rule, the first time in the history of The Ocean Race’s events.

It was the third event of the 2026 season for Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing, following two solo races for Clapcich - the 1000 Race and the Vendée Arctique-Les Sables d’Olonne. The final race of the year for Clapcich will also be solo - the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe, which sets off from Saint-Malo, on November 1.

The team will be at the Ocean Live Park in Lorient La Base from September 10 to 13.