A moment to breathe and reflect on the Transat Café L’OR

I think I’m only just starting to realize what Will and I achieved. It’s still quite fresh, but when I stop for a moment - here in Martinique, a few days after crossing the finish line - it begins to sink in.

The last few months have been a whirlwind. Someone said to me the other day, “You really haven’t stopped this year,” and I laughed - because it’s true. Between the Course des Caps, The Ocean Race Europe, and now the Transat Café L’OR, it’s been nonstop. And that’s not even counting the Ocean Fifty Grand Prix at the start of the year, which feels like ages ago! So yes - I think I need a little time to pause, take a breath, and really soak it all in.

Building a campaign at full speed

It’s hard to believe it’s been less than a year since this project really began. Back in February, we signed our sponsorship with 11th Hour Racing with a view to be taking on the Vendée Globe, and that’s when everything started moving fast.

From there, it was one big milestone after another - paying the first deposit on the boat, the racing with Team Malizia, the delivery to Le Havre, and then the purchase itself - while we were sailing to the start of our first race. Every step felt like a big leap forward.

It’s been intense, but everyone on the team has worked so hard, putting not just time and effort but heart and emotion into it. When I’m out on the water, I feel that - I feel like I’m sailing for all of them. It’s not just about me. It’s about honoring all the people putting in the extra hours, going the extra mile, to make this campaign possible. That’s a big motivation for me, and honestly, a real privilege.

Crossing the line

Crossing the finish line in Martinique was … different. For eleven and a half days, Will and I kept things simple. We were so focused, there wasn’t time or space for big emotions - just, “Okay, this is going well, but we’ve got another 800 miles to go, another 500 miles … and so on”.

We never let ourselves think, “This is happening.” Even when we moved into second place, it was always, “Keep racing.”

Then, just a few hours before the finish, we got this big wind shift and suddenly it all got tense again - MACIF gybed, and we were like, “Okay, what’s going to happen now?” And then the shift came back in our favor. That was the first time it felt real. At that point, something major would have had to go wrong to change the outcome.

When we rounded the mark near the finish, that’s when I finally let myself feel it - this is really happening. Happiness, relief, disbelief, all mixed together. Seeing our team out there on the RIBs, hearing the cheers - that was emotional. And then I spotted Lorraine McKenna, the Sponsorship Director from 11th Hour Racing, who I didn’t even know was coming, and she just said, “I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

That moment meant a lot. You suddenly realize how many people are behind you, even when you don’t see them every day.

About my emotions (and the lack of them)

It’s funny - emotions are unpredictable. They don’t always show up when you expect them to. I still remember the start in Le Havre; I was calm, almost too calm. I thought I’d be emotional, maybe even teary, but instead it was just: base layer, foul weather gear, down the dock - “Okay, bye everyone, see you on the other side.”

And then you cross the finish line, and that’s when it hits you. But for me, it’s not the result that brings the emotion - it’s the performance. I’ve won races and stood on podiums before, but it’s always been about knowing that we performed well, that we delivered the best we could. The result is just what comes after that.

Making a mark

People have said to me, “I didn’t know Francesca before this race, but I definitely know her now.” That makes me smile. I’m not sure about making a mark, but I do hope this race showed people something.

I’ve always been quite humble - I don’t like to say, “Look at me, I’m the best.” But I’ve done a lot in this sport: two Olympic Games, a world championship title, a European title, The Ocean Race, and now a podium finish in an IMOCA. I’m 37, not that old, but my background is pretty broad.

So when people say that they didn’t know me before, I think that’s just because they weren’t looking beyond their own little circle. There are so many incredible athletes doing amazing things - just because they’re not in your immediate orbit doesn’t mean they’re not out there performing.

If anything, I hope this campaign helps show other sailors - especially those still in Olympic classes for example - that there are other pathways after that chapter. Offshore sailing, IMOCA, multihulls, these are worlds where experience, discipline, and passion can take you far.

What’s next

For now, I’m going to enjoy a few more days in the Caribbean - not the worst place to recover in November! Then it’s home to see my daughter, who’s getting ready for ski season. She’s been waiting for me to get back so we can hit the slopes together, and I’ve promised her a big bear that I brought from Le Havre.

I’m looking forward to that - to just being ‘Mum’ again, to recharge a bit. She’s this little ball of energy who fills the room with love and chaos, and it’s exactly what I need right now.

After that, it’ll be time to regroup with the team, debrief, and start planning the winter - what we want to improve, what we want to develop on the boat. There’s a lot to come, and I can’t wait to keep building from here.