OCEAN FIFTY
For the 2024 season, Francesca led the sailing team onboard the Ocean Fifty trimaran UpWind by MerConcept - the first female skipper in the international racing circuit in the 24-year history of the Ocean Fifty class.
Launched in February 2024 by MerConcept, with Founding Sponsor 11th Hour Racing, the new Ocean Fifty project enables female sailors from all horizons to sail at the highest level, while benefiting from the best professional support available: whether at sea, in contact with the best, or on land, alongside highly qualified technical teams.
In 2025, Francesca handed over the skipper role to Anne-Claire Le Berre, but she continues to be involved and is a proud Ambassador to the team.
Read on to find out more about this exciting offshore racing circuit and follow this link to learn more about the work of UpWind By MerConcept.
Francesca Clapcich in front of the UpWind by MerConcept Ocean Fifty © D. Lupion | MerConcept
The Ocean Fifty Class
In 2000 a new class of boat was born - the Multi50 (renamed in 2021 to Ocean Fifty). Originally developed as a class for highly skilled amateur sailors, they competed in some of the major French offshore transatlantic races including the Route du Rhum, Transat Jacques Vabre, and Quebec St Malo race.
In 2015, the class turned professional, attracting a new level of sporting interest, and in 2021 it started its own racing circuit.
The Ocean Fifty trimarans are prototypes, which allows designers and builders to innovate within the framework of the Class rules. These are written to find the best compromise between the cost of building and equipping the boats, while pushing the sporting and technological advances while incorporating sustainability initiatives across the series.
There is the potential for a maximum number of boats in existence to be 12, with two new builds allowed each year, but only by those already members of the Class, and they must continue to participate in racing. Ten boats will race in 2024.
The Ocean Fifty trimaran
Maximum length: 15.24m/50ft
Maximum draught: 3.50m/11.48ft (from deck to waterline)
Maximum air draught: 23.77m/77.98ft (from top of the mast to waterline)
The Ocean Fifty allows a sail inventory of six sails - one mainsail, two downwind sails (spinnaker, gennaker, Code 0 etc), a J1, J2, and J3 (storm sail). The number of rudders and daggerboards is set to four and in 2017, one-design foils were allowed for the first time. All rigging and sail trims are manual - there are no electronic winches or hydraulics, autopilots are allowed, as well as stacking of the ballast.
The Ocean Fifty trimaran can be raced single-handed, double-handed, and with a crew of up to five.
The Ocean Fifty is controlled by the Class Rules, with a ‘Grandfathering Rule’, in place, which ensures that older boats do not need to make major changes to comply with updated rule changes: this avoids older boats from becoming obsolete, complying with the Class’s vision of longevity and sustainability.
The UpWind Ocean Fifty leaves the MerConcept shed © D. Lupion | MerConcept
The Ocean Fifty program brings an interesting mix of offshore events and inshore fast racing. It's going to be exciting putting together the different crew configurations to bring onboard the right skills, at the right time, for the right events!
Francesca Clapcich
