After 12 intense days at sea, Francesca Clapcich and Will Harris crossed the finish line in Fort-de-France, Martinique, taking second place onboard 11th Hour Racing for the IMOCA Class in the Transat Café L’OR - the double-handed race from Le Havre, France to the Caribbean.

“It’s been a really special race,” said Francesca as she arrived at the dock. “This result is for our entire team - there might have only been two of us onboard, but we couldn’t have done it without the support of our whole team around us.”

The duo, racing onboard 11th Hour Racing, completed the 5,503-mile course in 12 days, 1 hour, 32 minutes, and 46 seconds, 5 hours 47 minutes behind the winners, Charal. Frankie and Will’s average speed was an impressive 19 knots across the Atlantic.

For Francesca, this result carries a special significance. She is the first American woman ever to compete in the Transat Café L’OR, and this is the best IMOCA Class result for a woman in 20 years - since Dame Ellen MacArthur also finished second in 2005. It’s also the best result for an international pairing in the French-dominated IMOCA Class since 2011.

“I grew up with Ellen being my hero and having my name a bit closer to hers - it’s an honor that I would never have dreamt of in my life,” said Francesca. “Ellen showed the world what could be possible for women in the sport, not only for women, but for all sailors. I never really race to beat records or to be the first to do anything, but if it happens, it’s pretty cool. I hope it also opens the doors for other people to try to do the same.”

From the start, Francesca and Will were among the front-runners in the 18-boat IMOCA fleet. They led the race as they approached the Canary Islands before turning west to pick up the trade winds. Though they lost the lead in the mid-Atlantic, they fought back to reclaim second place with just 400 nautical miles to go.

“The last 12 days have been incredibly intense,” Francesca reflected. “We spent a lot of time hand steering and taking very little sleep, and that’s the cool part about it - pushing and being pushed all the time and having to fight back. It is a pretty cool way to race.”

Will added, “We went into the race saying we wanted to be in the top bunch, and coming second in the end … that’s definitely up there in the top bunch! We started this transat saying we wanted to sail our own race, do our own thing, and manage our own strategy. Out into the English Channel it was full on, we were really happy with how we managed the conditions and we made a nice choice coming into the Canary Islands, which put us in the lead. After that we just kept on trusting ourselves, kept on doing what we thought was right, and it worked out - I’m really proud of us and the result we’ve fought for.”

This race marked Francesca and Will’s third time sailing together this year, after racing together for Team Malizia in the Course des Caps and The Ocean Race Europe. The collaboration clearly paid off.

“Will is one of the best sailors I have ever sailed with - and one of the most complete - from performance of the boat to navigation to strategy,” Francesca said. “A lot of the nice calls we made on the race course were down to the work and preparation that Will put into it in the build-up to the start. It’s been an amazing experience sailing with him.”

Will returned the compliment. “It has been a pleasure sailing with Frankie this whole race and this is up there as one of my top three results ever! We were always pushing the boat, working as hard as we could, but with a smile on our faces and - as an Italian - she always made sure we had good coffee onboard! She has great potential for the future of her Vendée Globe project and I’m glad to have been part of it.”

For Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing, the Transat Café L’OR marks the beginning of a new chapter. It was the team’s first race in the build-up to the 2028 Vendée Globe - the solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the planet. Over the next three years, Francesca will compete in the IMOCA Globe Series to gain experience and qualify for that challenge.

Jeremy Pochman, CEO and Co-Founder of title sponsor 11th Hour Racing, summed up the team’s pride: “To see Francesca secure a podium finish in her first race as an IMOCA skipper speaks volumes about her focus, resilience, and leadership on the water. Her and Will’s performance throughout this transatlantic race reflects the spirit of teamwork and purpose that defines 11th Hour Racing. We’ve always believed in Francesca and the incredible potential she brings to this team - this result is a powerful reflection of that belief realized.”

Second place for Frankie & Will in the Transat Café L’OR

Day 12 - ‘keep pushing’ is the motto from onboard … and keep safe