© GUILLAUME SALIGOT / AFP
At 1302 CET (1202 UTC) Francesca Clapcich crossed the start line of the 13th edition of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe, the solo transatlantic race. The Italian-American skipper is one of 22 sailors in the IMOCA fleet, and one of 115 solo sailors in the race, which features six classes of race boats.
In a light eight knots of north-easterly breeze and a calm sea state, it was downwind sailing as the competitors left Saint-Malo, France, headed for Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, in the Caribbean on the 3,542 nautical mile [4,076 miles | 6,560 kilometer] race.
In the final moments before Clapcich’s shore team left her on her own she sent a message back to shore. “It’s the first big solo race of my life,” said Clapcich. “I’ve never done a transatlantic solo, so this is something new. It’s a big objective, a really big one. A lot of people try to take the pressure off by saying it’s a good step towards the Vendée Globe. But it’s not a step; it’s a big race in its own right, and I want to do well. I’m starting to feel the tension of the start a little. I want to focus on going sailing: sail fast, make the right decisions, and have fun. It’s going to be a really nice start to the race!”
Clapcich’s passage to Guadeloupe isn’t following the typical route expected for a November race start. At this time of year, the sailors would typically follow the southerly trade winds, but this year the fleet is instead expected to head north-east towards the south-west corner of Ireland, and then continue along a more northerly track to the Caribbean.
Alberto Bona, Francesca’s co-skipper and performance manager explained, “A strong high-pressure system is centred over Great Britain and the Azores high is not set, meaning there won’t be the usual ‘fast lane’ for the trade winds along the more typical southerly route at this time of year. The Atlantic low-pressure system means the fleet will be forced to track further north by the blocking high and the trajectory of a low near the Azores which will also have an impact on the first few days of race strategy.”
With potential record-breaking conditions expected for the IMOCA fleet in the first few days of the race, the leading boats are expected to reach Guadeloupe in approximately nine to ten days.
“What I hope is that I’ll manage the boat well, manage myself well, and make the right decisions,” she said. “The IMOCA fleet is really strong, and I want to just focus on myself and sail my own race without stressing too much about what the others are doing. That’s the challenge of sailing solo; there’s always so much to learn.”
Clapcich currently leads the IMOCA Globe Series - the annual overall championship for the Class. A top-six finish will claim her the title, the first time a woman will have lifted the coveted trophy.
Clapcich is one of three female skippers in the IMOCA Class and 11 women racing overall in this year’s edition of the quadrennial Route du Rhum. In the IMOCA Class she is joined by Violette Dorange onboard Initiatives-Cœur and Élodie Bonafous onboard Association Petits Princes-Queguiner.
Creating and supporting initiatives for inclusion in sailing to bring more people into the sport is a driver for Clapcich, and ensuring there is a sense of belonging for everyone. Clapcich’s purpose campaign, Believe, Belong, Achieve, created with the support of title sponsor, 11th Hour Racing, is emblazoned across her sails and hull and the team creates solutions to bring more people into the sport through initiatives including a Sailing Instructor Program and belonging workshops.
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© Julien Champolion - polaRYSE / 11th Hour Racing