Francesca Clapcich launches bid for 2028 Vendée Globe
Double Olympian and round-the-world sailor, Francesca Clapcich, along with her Title Sponsor 11th Hour Racing, have announced their ambition to see the Italian American on the startline of the 2028 Vendée Globe. The race has a formidable reputation - solo, non-stop around the world and is seen as the pinnacle of solo offshore yacht racing.
Team Francesca Clapcich Powered By 11th Hour Racing will purchase Malizia-Seaexplorer, the 60-foot IMOCA race boat that Boris Herrmann has just sailed around the world in the 2024 Vendée Globe. Clapcich will set up the team’s base in Lorient, France, the home of offshore yacht racing, alongside Herrmann’s Team Malizia, which will act as Technical Partner for the new campaign.
“To have 11th Hour Racing’s trust in me is an incredible honor, and my team and I are deeply proud to carry their mission around the world,” said Clapcich. “Sailing has shaped my life in so many ways, and this partnership allows me to give back to the sport and the ocean that has given me so much. 11th Hour Racing’s commitment to sustainability and social progress is truly inspiring, and I’m excited to work alongside them to drive real change—on the water and beyond.”
She continued: “Today is the first step in the long journey to the start line of the 2028 Vendée Globe. I've represented Italy twice at the Olympics, I've raced twice around the world as part of a team in The Ocean Race, and I've represented the USA in the World's oldest sporting trophy - the America's Cup. The Vendée Globe is the ultimate, solo, sporting challenge and for the next three and a half years my team's goal will be to compete in multiple sailing events in the IMOCA Globe Series, as I immerse myself in the world of solo offshore sailing.”
Clapcich first competed for 11th Hour Racing in The Ocean Race 2022-23, as part of the fully-crewed team which went on to win the round-the-world race, making her the first Italian to lift the coveted trophy in the fifty-year history of the race. For the past year, Clapcich has been skipper of UpWind by MerConcept, the first all-female crew competing in the Ocean Fifty Series, which is also supported by 11th Hour Racing, and she will continue to race for the team for the first half of this year.
“Francesca’s vision for the sport is bold and necessary,” said Jeremy Pochman, CEO of 11th Hour Racing. “She doesn’t just race—she leads. Her relentless drive and passion have made her a respected figure in the sailing world, and her commitment to advancing equity and sustainability aligns perfectly with our mission. By expanding this partnership, we’re not just backing a world-class sailor; we’re supporting a movement that’s redefining who gets to compete, lead, and shape the future of the sport.”
Clapcich will take ownership of the 60-foot race boat, Malizia-Seaexplorer, towards the end of 2025. “For this first attempt at the Vendée Globe I need a boat that has proven itself to be fast and also reliable. We've chosen Team Malizia to be our Technical Partner as they know the boat inside and out and will be able to set me up in the best possible way for an intensive immersion into this world of solo IMOCA offshore sailing. In addition, the team has a passion for creating solutions for the health of the ocean, and our planet, something that aligns well with our own mission and vision.”
Starting today, Clapcich will begin the long process of qualifying for the Vendée Globe, competing for the next four years in the IMOCA Globe Series, which will see her earn points racing in solo, double-handed (two people), and crewed race configurations. The first race as skipper of her new boat will be the Transat Café L’Or which sets off from Le Havre, France, on October 26, 2025, racing to Fort-de-France, Martinique in the Caribbean. Clapcich will announce her co-skipper for the Transat Café L’OR (formerly known as the Transat Jacques Vabre) in the coming months.
Alongside Clapcich’s racing schedule is her Believe, Belong, Achieve campaign designed to bring more equity and inclusion into the sport. “Belief and Belonging is critical to all of our successes. If my parents, coaches, and teachers hadn't believed in me as they did when I was growing up, then I wouldn't be where I am today, announcing my Vendée Globe campaign. I want to ensure that everyone has those same opportunities,” commented Clapcich.
Team Francesca Clapcich Powered By 11th Hour Racing is implementing a three-pronged approach to addressing the challenges that a lack of belonging, equity, and diversity brings to sports teams and beyond, through education, advocacy, and collective action. The team recently announced a groundbreaking research partnership with Leeds Beckett University in the UK and have started to roll out a series of peer-to-peer workshops, led by Clapcich herself, to encourage other athletes, leaders, and advocates to have a better understanding of the importance and value of belonging and how it can be implemented in their organizations.
“Belief and belonging bring better performance for everyone - for each of us individually and also for teams. Alongside my sporting campaign I’m working with scientists, experts, and creative partners to share these solutions for everyone to have the same opportunities, allowing them too to achieve their lifelong goals and ambitions,” concluded Clapcich.
