Team Francesca Clapcich takes top spot in The Ocean Race Atlantic

Team Francesca Clapcich powered by 11th Hour Racing have been recognised for their effort to reduce their environmental footprint and create a lasting positive impact.

During the inaugural edition of The Ocean Race Atlantic 2026, which was won on Thursday by United by the Ocean, teams weren’t just competing to be first to the finish line, they were also taking part in the Racing for the Ocean Teams Challenge.

At the Awards Night over the weekend, Team Francesca Clapcich was crowned overall winner of the Racing for the Ocean Teams Challenge, recognized for their exemplary sustainability leadership and commitment to sustainability.

Driven by initiatives to minimise their carbon footprint, advance ocean science communication, and actively engage with The Ocean Race Learning programme, the team sets a powerful standard for environmental stewardship.

Beyond their ecological impact, the campaign champions equity and access through its ‘Believe, Belong, Achieve’ initiative, supporting female leadership development and mentorship via The Magenta Project. Boasting one of the highest proportions of female representation in the race at 65%, Team Francesca Clapcich also inspired young minds worldwide by hosting a virtual sailor visit live from the mid-Atlantic

Francesca Clapcich, skipper of the 11th Hour Racing boat said: “Of course it´s part of our work that we´re doing! So the purpose is to try and bring more access and equity and inclusion into the sport; it´s really something close to my heart and it´s a great honour and privilege to be able to win a prize for it - but that´s what we´re doing every day, we don´t need prizes, we just need to keep changing the status quo of the industry”.

Created in collaboration with IMOCA, and with the support of 11th Hour Racing, the Impact Partner of The Ocean Race Atlantic, the challenge saw the six teams measured against 30 sustainability criteria spanning operations, science, education, sustainable boat building, climate impact and advocacy, as they raced from New York, United States to Lorient, France.

Along with an overall winner, a number of new accolades were up for grabs that recognise the teams and individuals making the strongest contribution to ocean health, climate action and equity:

Lowest carbon footprint: won by United by the Ocean

Paul Meilhat, team skipper, said: “The carbon footprint is an interesting topic, but it’s something we’ve been working on a lot as a team and we’ve always tried to minimise it. I think where we’ve made gains is that we’ve had a lot of people travelling by boat, and very few people have flown to the United States. And we’ve kept our stay as short as possible and streamlined our logistics as much as possible. That’s what we’ve been trying to do."

Best effort for an individual team member: won by Vittoria Ripa di Meana, United By the Ocean
"I think it’s great that there are awards for teams," Ripa de Meana said. "It’s important to highlight the initiatives we’re trying to implement, to inspire others to do the same. I’m happy to know that when you believe in a more sustainable lifestyle, people around you notice your choices."

Access and Equity: this was a joint win shared between Team Malizia and Team Francesca Clapcich, in recognition of their efforts to champion equity and inclusion throughout their participation in the event.

Best ocean science communications and outreach: won jointly by teams MSIG Europe and Embrace the Challenge
Conrad Colman, skipper of MSIG Europe said: “Obviously, I’m really pleased because the values we bring with us through our project are something that’s close to my heart. It’s my hope that we’ll always sail without using fossil fuels and that we’ll raise awareness of the need to protect the oceans. We have the best playground there is, so naturally we must protect it."

The winners were announced at The Ocean Race Atlantic Awards Night in Lorient on 12th September, with each receiving a trophy, crafted from recycled ocean plastic, and €1,000 for their Impact Partner project to support positive environmental and social change.

Lucy Hunt, Ocean Impact Director at The Ocean Race, said: “The effort and determination that we saw in the epic battle on the water, has been mirrored in the Racing for the Ocean Teams Challenge.

"Team Francesca Clapcich stood out for the ambition and commitment they have shown throughout the Challenge, they were a very competitive team both on and off the water. They are very invested in sustainability, protecting the ocean and ensuring there is more access to the ocean and our sailing industry. Their example shows what is possible when teams use their platform to drive meaningful change and make a difference both on and off the water.”

Last year, The Ocean Race Europe 2025 saw the first-ever Racing for the Ocean Teams Challenge, with Holcim PRB taking the prize. For The Ocean Race Atlantic 2026, the competition was expanded to include new accolades to reflect the strides that are being made by the IMOCA fleet towards a more sustainable future.

The Ocean Race Atlantic 2026 is the first point-to-point competition in The Ocean Race’s 50-year history. In collaboration with Impact Partner, 11th Hour Racing, the event is powered by a shared mission to drive meaningful impact for our blue planet by advancing ocean science and literacy, demonstrating sustainable event excellence, and championing equity and inclusion through the first-ever mandatory 50-50 gender-balanced crew.