© Marin Le Roux, polaRYSE | 11th Hour Racing
RACING CALENDAR
Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing’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.
2026
Start: May 3, 2026 I SOLO
1000 Race (formerly Bermudes 1000 Race)
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.
Start: June 7, 2026 I SOLO
Vendée Arctique-Les Sables d’Olonne
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.
Start: September 2, 2026 I CREW
The Ocean Race Atlantic
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.
Start: November 1, 2026 I SOLO
Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe
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.
2027
April, 2027
Rolex Fastnet Race
The Rolex Fastnet Race is one of the most iconic offshore sailing races in the world. First held in 1925, it starts in Cowes (UK), rounds the famous Fastnet Rock in Ireland, and finishes in Cherbourg (France), covering around 695 nautical miles.
Known for its tough conditions and strategic challenges, it brings together both professional and amateur sailors, making it a key event in the offshore racing calendar.
September, 2027
Défi Azimut - Lorient Agglomération
The Défi Azimut is a key IMOCA event held each year in Lorient, France. It serves as both a competitive race and a preparation milestone ahead of major offshore events.
Bringing together top IMOCA teams, it combines offshore racing, speed runs, and technical checks, making it an essential test for boats and crews at the highest level of ocean racing.
September, 2027
Transat Café l’OR
The Transat Café L’Or is a double-handed transatlantic race, sailed from Le Havre (France) to the Caribbean. Bringing together top offshore sailors, it is a major event on the IMOCA calendar.
Raced in pairs, it tests teamwork, endurance, and strategy across the Atlantic, making it a key milestone ahead of the Vendée Globe.
November, 2027
Retour à la Base
Retour à La Base is a solo transatlantic race for IMOCA sailors, sailed from the Caribbean back to Lorient, France.
Created as a key qualifier for the Vendée Globe, it tests sailors’ endurance and performance in demanding conditions, making it an essential milestone in the IMOCA racing calendar.
2028
April, 2028
The Transat CIC
The Transat CIC is a solo transatlantic race from Lorient (France) to New York (USA), raced by IMOCA skippers.
As a major event in the IMOCA calendar, it serves as a key test ahead of the Vendée Globe, challenging sailors with demanding Atlantic conditions and strategic navigation.
May, 2028
New-York Vendée - Les Sables d’Olonne
The New York Vendée is a solo transatlantic race from New York (USA) to Les Sables-d’Olonne (France), sailed by IMOCA skippers.
It is a key qualifying race for the Vendée Globe, testing sailors’ endurance, speed, and strategy across the Atlantic.
September, 2028
Défi Azimut - Lorient Agglomération
The Défi Azimut is a key IMOCA event held each year in Lorient, France. It serves as both a competitive race and a preparation milestone ahead of major offshore events.
Bringing together top IMOCA teams, it combines offshore racing, speed runs, and technical checks, making it an essential test for boats and crews at the highest level of ocean racing.
November, 2028
Vendée Globe
The Vendée Globe is the ultimate solo, non-stop, round-the-world sailing race, starting and finishing in Les Sables-d’Olonne, France.
Held every four years, it is considered the toughest challenge in offshore sailing, testing skippers’ endurance, resilience, and skill across the world’s most extreme oceans.
© Marin Le Roux, polaRYSE | 11th Hour Racing
The 2026 calendar is designed to push both me and the team {…} 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.
– Francesca Clapcich
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