We are going racing! Bring on the 2026 action
Today we have announced our racing calendar for the 2026 season, marking a critical first full year in Francesca’s IMOCA campaign as she starts her build-up towards taking on the 2028 Vendée Globe - racing solo, non-stop around the world.
The team’s 2026 program features four offshore races: the 1000 Race (formerly the Bermudes 1000 Race), the Vendée Arctique-Les Sables d’Olonne, The Ocean Race Atlantic, and the legendary Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe. Together, they represent a demanding mix of fully crewed and solo racing focused on the Atlantic Ocean. All four races score ranking points for the IMOCA Globe Series - the annual World Championship of offshore sailing in which Clapcich finished in 5th place in 2025 - and the two solo races count towards Vendée Globe selection and qualification.
1000 Race (formerly Bermudes 1000 Race)
Start date: May 3, 2026
Kicking off the season from Port-la-Forêt, France, the 1000 Race is a 1,000-nautical-mile sprint out into the Bay of Biscay, designed to test speed, reliability, and decision-making early in the year. Raced solo, the event offers an ideal opportunity for early benchmarking against the IMOCA fleet and a chance to validate the IMOCA raceboat 11th Hour Racing’s winter refit.
Vendée Arctique-Les Sables d’Olonne
Start date: June 7, 2026
Launched in 2020 the Vendée Arctique will hold its third single-handed edition this season and the team’s result will count towards Clapcich’s Vendée Globe qualification. The race departs from Les Sables d’Olonne, France, and sends the competitors north into the Arctic Circle before returning to the west coast of France. Covering approximately 3,000 nautical miles, the race places a premium on preparation, robustness, and performance in cold, light, and often unpredictable conditions.
The Ocean Race Atlantic
Start date: September 2, 2026
The Ocean Race Atlantic connects North America to Europe in a fully crewed transatlantic race, blending raw speed with complex weather systems and high-intensity teamwork. Starting in New York and finishing in Europe (with the arrival port still to be announced), the race will see Clapcich sailing with a gender-balanced crew, reflecting a new race rule that encourages inclusivity and is backed by 11th Hour Racing as the race's official Impact Partner.
Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe
Start date: November 1, 2026
The 2026 race season will culminate with the iconic Route du Rhum, the solo transatlantic race from Saint-Malo, France, to Guadeloupe in the Caribbean. At approximately 3,500 nautical miles, the Route du Rhum, held every four years and also a qualifier for the Vendée Globe, is one of offshore sailing’s most prestigious and demanding solo events, and a major milestone in Clapcich’s solo campaign.
“The 2026 calendar is designed to push both me and the team,” Clapcich said. “From shorter, high-intensity races to longer, solo transatlantics, every start line is an opportunity to learn, improve, and get more competitive. That’s the mindset driving us this season.”
Winter Refit Underway
The team’s IMOCA, 11th Hour Racing, is currently in winter refit at the team’s base in Lorient, France, the international home of offshore yacht racing, following a full season of racing and data analysis. Work underway includes a comprehensive structural inspection, systems upgrades, optimization of onboard ergonomics, and refinements aimed at improving reliability and performance across a wide range of conditions and crew configurations, reducing weight overall, and extracting more consistent performance - key priorities as the program intensifies heading into 2026.
In addition, the 60-foot boat has undergone a complete re-brand, which will be unveiled mid-March.
More details on crew configuration will be announced in the coming months.