OUR TEAM

This is our core team who have - more or less - been with the team since early 2025 when 11th Hour Racing announced they would power Francesca as she builds up towards her ambition of racing in the 2028 Vendée Globe

A two-time Olympian, World and European Champion, and Italian Sailor of the Year, Francesca made history in 2023 as the first Italian to win The Ocean Race, claiming victory with 11th Hour Racing Team in the toughest team event in professional sailing. She has now sailed twice around the world in The Ocean Race and was the first Italian woman to compete in the Solitaire du Figaro, earning the Fighting Spirit Award. In 2025 Francesca finished an historic second place in the Transat Café L’OR with co-skipper Will Harris becoming the first American woman ever to compete in the Transat Café L’OR, delivering the best IMOCA Class result for a woman in 20 years, and also the best result for an international pairing in the French-dominated IMOCA Class since 2011.

Introduced to sailing at age 11 in Trieste, Francesca progressed through the Italian Sailing Federation’s Olympic program, earned a degree in Sports Science, and spent nine years in the Italian Air Force’s elite athlete program. She represented Italy at the London 2012 Olympic Games and Rio 2016 Olympic Games, finishing fifth in the 49erFX class in Rio.

Her next challenge is her most ambitious yet: the Vendée Globe in 2028, racing solo, non-stop, around the planet.

Proudly Italian but with an international perspective, Carla’s passion for sport came from her father. She’s turned that passion into a career, both as a journalist and as a press officer for many national, and international events and athletes.

A smiling woman with short brown hair, glasses, and wearing a blue zip-up jacket with the text 'team FRANCESCA CLAPCICH' and logos on the chest and sleeve, standing against a beige background.

( SHE / HER )

Carla Anselmi

Italy communications manager

Albi is one of Italy’s most accomplished offshore sailors of his generation, with experience across the Class40, Figaro, and Mini 6.50 Classes. A Class40 World Champion and a proven transatlantic racer, he is known for combining sharp race instincts with a methodical, data-driven approach to performance.

( HE / HIM )

Alberto Bona

Co-skipper

Originally from Normandy, he has always been passionate about ocean racing.

He joined Team Malizia in January 2022, where he contributed to the construction of Malizia 3. He has continued working on the boat alongside Team Frankie.

( HE / HIM )

Antoine Breton

Boat builder

( HE / HIM )

Tanguy Brodu

Electronics engineer

Emily has the enviable job of telling stories about great athletes, great adventures, and great races. She’s based in the UK and has worked in sports marketing, sports sponsorship, PR and communications for over 25 years.

Smiling woman with short hair wearing a blue t-shirt with 'team FRANCESCA CLAPICH' printed on it, standing against a beige background.

( SHE / HER )

Emily Caroe

Communications & purpose director

Smiling woman with short brown hair, wearing a blue zip-up jacket with logos for team Francesca Clapic and 11th Hour Racing, against a beige background.

The visionary powerhouse. A world-class athlete who has competed at the very highest levels of the sport, both inshore and offshore. When Francesca isn’t on the water, she can be found at home in the mountains teaching her daughter to ski.

( SHE / HER )

Francesca Clapcich

Team CEO & Skipper

TC. Marie has worked in the sailing world for five years and is based in the home of offshore sailing - Lorient, France. An ocean-lover, when she isn't managing all things social and digital, she can be found on or near a beach sailing, surfing, and swimming.

( HE / HIM )

Thomas Crublé

Physio & ostheo

P.D. Based in California, Melinda has blended her passion for yacht racing—accumulating 20,000 offshore race miles—with her legal and management expertise, seamlessly integrating into the core management group of three America's Cup teams over 20 years.

( HE / HIM )

Pifou Dargines

Technical director

Based in California, Melinda has blended her passion for yacht racing—accumulating 20,000 offshore race miles—with her legal and management expertise, seamlessly integrating into the core management group of three America's Cup teams over 20 years.

( SHE / HER )

Melinda Erkelens

Business & commercial director

MH. Marie has worked in the sailing world for five years and is based in the home of offshore sailing - Lorient, France. An ocean-lover, when she isn't managing all things social and digital, she can be found on or near a beach sailing, surfing, and swimming.

( SHE / HER )

Maud Helfgott

Social & digital content creator

( HE / HIM )

Ryan Barkey

Rigger

LK. Based in California, Melinda has blended her passion for yacht racing—accumulating 20,000 offshore race miles—with her legal and management expertise, seamlessly integrating into the core management group of three America's Cup teams over 20 years.

( SHE / HER )

Louise Kergomard

Logistics & circularity manager

AL. Proudly Italian but with an international perspective, Carla’s passion for sport came from her father. She’s turned that passion into a career, both as a journalist and as a press officer for many national, and international events and athletes.

( HE / HIM )

Alexis Landais

Mental coach & head of human performance

Smiling woman wearing a blue t-shirt with logos and text, standing against a peach-colored background.

ML. Marie has worked in the sailing world for five years and is based in the home of offshore sailing - Lorient, France. An ocean-lover, when she isn't managing all things social and digital, she can be found on or near a beach sailing, surfing, and swimming.

( SHE / HER )

Marie Launay

Sports communication manager

Smiling woman with long curly brown hair wearing a blue team jacket with logos, standing against a beige background.

MM. The visionary powerhouse. A world-class athlete who has competed at the very highest levels of the sport, both inshore and offshore. When Francesca isn’t on the water, she can be found at home in the mountains teaching her daughter to ski.

( SHE / HER )

Marcella Mamusa

Junior preparateur

Portrait of a smiling woman with short curly hair wearing a blue jacket with logos and text, against a beige background.

OO. Based in California, Melinda has blended her passion for yacht racing—accumulating 20,000 offshore race miles—with her legal and management expertise, seamlessly integrating into the core management group of three America's Cup teams over 20 years.

( SHE / THEY )

Olive Okoro

Purpose & communications project manager

( HE / HIM )

Stuart McLachlan

Boat captain

Portrait of a smiling woman with wavy brown hair, wearing a white T-shirt with the text 'team FRANCESCA CLAPCICH' and a gold necklace, against a beige background.

( SHE / HER )

Allyson Mousselon

Team manager

Portrait of a woman with shoulder-length wavy brown hair, wearing a blue jacket with logos, smiling, against a beige background.

AMUN. The visionary powerhouse. A world-class athlete who has competed at the very highest levels of the sport, both inshore and offshore. When Francesca isn’t on the water, she can be found at home in the mountains teaching her daughter to ski.

( SHE / HER )

Amy Munro

Sustainable operations manager

VRM The visionary powerhouse. A world-class athlete who has competed at the very highest levels of the sport, both inshore and offshore. When Francesca isn’t on the water, she can be found at home in the mountains teaching her daughter to ski.

( SHE / HER )

Vittoria Ripa di Meana

General preparteur

Portrait of a smiling man with dark, curly hair wearing a blue jacket with logos for 11th Hour Racing and team Francesca Clappich.

KP. Proudly Italian but with an international perspective, Carla’s passion for sport came from her father. She’s turned that passion into a career, both as a journalist and as a press officer for many national, and international events and athletes.

( HE / HIM )

Kilian Philippe

Sports scientist

A woman with long brown hair wearing glasses and a blue t-shirt with logos and text, smiling at the camera against a tan background.

NP. Marie has worked in the sailing world for five years and is based in the home of offshore sailing - Lorient, France. An ocean-lover, when she isn't managing all things social and digital, she can be found on or near a beach sailing, surfing, and swimming.

( SHE / HER )

Noémie Provost

Design office engineer

Team Values & Behaviors

Stylized illustration of three diamond-shaped sparkles in pink, blue, and darker blue on a black background.

We’ve thought long and hard about who we want to be, how we want to behave, and what impact we want to have during our campaign. We have five Values and Behaviors we will look to apply in everything we do: respect, accountability, creativity, equity, and empowerment.

We are sharing our expected Values and Behaviors openly to make us accountable each and every day.

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