Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racingto set off on three-week long Changemakers Tour

© Julien Champolion - polaRYSE / 11th Hour Racing

Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing will kick off its very first Changemakers Tour on August 14, 2026. After a transatlantic crossing from France, the three-city journey down the U.S. East Coast will take the team from Boston, MA, to Newport, RI, and then New York City, visiting organizations and community groups advancing ocean health, inclusivity, and the sport of sailing. Five days after arriving in New York, on September 1, the team will set off on The Ocean Race Atlantic, the fully crewed race from the US city to Lorient, France.

Guided by the team's Believe, Belong, Achieve framework, Clapcich and her wider team will meet with students, sailors, and community members for sailing days, boat tours, ideas exchanges, speaking engagements, and career growth opportunities. 

Clapcich commented, "The Changemakers Tour revolves around championing the people who are creating a positive impact in their communities. Every stop, from Boston to New York, we’ll have the chance to engage with really inspiring organizations, to listen to and learn from them, and also share a little more of our Believe, Belong, Achieve program.

“I’m excited to be meeting such a wide group of changemakers and sharing our passion and love for the ocean, and our love of sailing. The tour also means a lot to the team! It is a chance to work alongside communities and contribute to the change they're making in places we don't always get to reach. That is what makes this tour so meaningful, and I cannot wait to see where it takes us”

While in the US, Team Francesca Clapcich will also launch its very first Believe, Belong, Achieve Internship Program, welcoming three interns from Rocking the Boat, a long-standing grantee of 11th Hour Racing. The Bronx, NY-based nonprofit organization builds pride, purpose, and possibility through boatbuilding, rowing, and sailing. The interns will join the team in Newport, RI, gaining hands-on experience in professional offshore sailing, in the communications, technical, and operations teams.

"Rocking the Boat is thrilled to make the most of this latest opportunity from 11th Hour Racing. We know that the three interns will have an unforgettable experience with Team Francesca. We are already looking forward to the stories they will have to tell," said Adam Green, Chief Executive Officer of Rocking the Boat.

For Jade Adon, one of the three interns joining the team, the placement is already opening doors. "This internship is another door that Rocking the Boat has opened for me. I'm very excited to meet new people and feel what it's like to sail on an IMOCA!"

"We believe some of the most effective solutions for ocean health are already taking shape in communities around the world. Our role is to invest in the people and organizations driving that progress, helping connect, amplify, and accelerate their work," said Michelle Carnevale, president of 11th Hour Racing. "The Changemakers Tour brings together local leaders who are proving what's possible and uses the platform of sport to share their ideas with new audiences. We're proud to support Team Francesca in helping those stories inspire even greater action."

The Changemakers Tour has a packed itinerary for the Team Francesca crew, with the team visiting 11th Hour Racing grantees including Courageous Sailing, a Boston, MA based organization with a long history of promoting access to sailing, Community Boating Center of New Bedford where the young adults will have the chance to sail aboard the team's IMOCA, and a visit to the Billion Oyster Project on Governors Island in New York.

© Brian Nevins

Meet the Changemakers!

These organizations are all connected to the team’s Title Sponsor, Newport-based 11th Hour Racing, which supports their work.

Boston, MA: (August 11 - August 16)

• Courageous Sailing — Offers year-round sailing and learning on Boston Harbor and Jamaica Pond, including adaptive sailing, corporate team-building, and youth programs.

• Massachusetts Oyster Project — Restores Massachusetts's oyster population through science, education, and community-powered action.

• Stone Living Lab — A Boston-based research and education hub advancing nature-based approaches to coastal restoration.

Newport, RI: (August 17 - August 25)

• TeamFAME — Provides free tennis, tutoring, and youth development programs that empower underserved students through sport and education.

• Community Boating Center of New Bedford — A youth mentorship and outreach organization engaging students in hands-on sailing and long-term learning experiences.

• Conanicut Island Sailing Foundation — Leads career-pathway programming connecting young people to opportunities in sailing and the marine industry.

• International Tennis Hall of Fame — Hosts public tennis programming and community activities at Bowens Wharf.

New York City, NY: (August 26 - September 1)

• Rocking the Boat — A Bronx-based organization building pride, purpose, and possibility through boatbuilding, rowing, and sailing; home to the team's inaugural internship cohort.

• Billion Oyster Project — Restores oyster reefs in New York Harbor through public education, hands-on restoration, and community monitoring.

• Hudson River Community Sailing — Provides sailing education and access to New York City youth and communities.

• Brooklyn Boatworks— Engages local students in boatbuilding and on-water experience across Brooklyn.

The Team will cross the start line for The Ocean Race Atlantic on September 1, racing from New York City to Lorient, France, with a 50/50 male/female crew and an onboard reporter.

Fans can follow the Changemakers Tour and learn more about the organizations featured along the way at francescaclapcich.com, and via updates on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn.