Francesca Clapcich joins Team Malizia for The Ocean Race Europe
by Francesca Clapcich 13 May 14:45 BST
August 10, 2025
Team Malizia's crew for The Ocean Race Europe 2025 © Marie Lefloch / Team Malizia
Francesca Clapcich is joining Team Malizia as a co-skipper for the second edition of The Ocean Race Europe, the six-stopover tour around the continent, which sets off from Kiel, Germany, on August 10, 2025, and finishes six weeks later in Montenegro.
- Italian-American pro sailor Francesca Clapcich will co-skipper Team Malizia for The Ocean Race Europe.
- Clapcich will sail four legs of the six-stopover tour legs in the race which sets off from Kiel, Germany in early August and finishes in Montenegro in late September.
- The race will be Clapcich's second experience of competitive sailing onboard Malizia-Seaexplorer, the 60-foot IMOCA she will take ownership of with her sponsor 11th Hour Racing, in October 2025.
- Clapcich: "I'm looking forward to the high-intensity format and to racing with a high-performing team... as I'm purchasing the boat, it's an incredible opportunity to race with the very team who built her and knows all her secrets!
The Italian-American pro athlete is currently scheduled to join the German-flagged team for four of the five legs. Skippering Team Malizia will be Boris Herrmann (GER), who earlier this year celebrated his second Vendée Globe finish, the last one with Malizia-Seaexplorer.
The Ocean Race Europe will give Clapcich the opportunity to race onboard Malizia-Seaexplorer, the 60-foot IMOCA she will take ownership of in October 2025 with support from her Title Sponsor, 11th Hour Racing, as she starts the build-up to her first Vendée Globe campaign - racing solo, non-stop around the world - in 2028.
Clapcich said: "Boris has brought together a really impressive roster of sailors for The Ocean Race Europe and I'm looking forward to my first experience of the race. It's a cool event - the legs are short and it will be very intense, with very different sailing conditions over the course of the race - and with a stop at 'home' in Italy!"
"The race sets off from Kiel, Germany, and the fleet will sail through the North Sea before heading into the Atlantic as we race down the coast of Portugal for a fly-by near Matosinhos-Porto. We'll then sail through the Gibraltar Strait and into the Mediterranean Sea in late August, which is notoriously challenging at that time of year. It's going to be a really tactical race, with a lot of sail changes, and there won't be a lot of sleep! But a great opportunity for me to start to get to know the Malizia-Seaexplorer IMOCA in anticipation of me taking her over in early October. Exciting times ahead!"
Skipper Boris Herrmann commented: "Francesca is not only an incredibly skilled sailor and an Ocean Race winner, she also brings great energy and values around sustainability that perfectly align with our team. She'll no doubt learn a lot about this boat, but I'm equally, if not more, excited to learn from her experience and to compete together at the highest level."
Team Malizia has assembled a larger roster of sailors than the minimum required, including more women and nationalities than the rules demand. This reflects the team's values and long-term vision for equity and legacy in the sport.
While Clapcich is racing onboard, Team Malizia will continue its role in science and education, using their onboard laboratory to collect vital data on ocean CO2, oxygen, temperature, and salinity levels. Alongside the racing, they will host three My Ocean Challenge events in Kiel, Portsmouth, and Genoa, to inspire young people with knowledge and solutions for the climate crisis.
After The Ocean Race Europe, Clapcich will return to Team Francesca Clapcich powered by 11th Hour Racing and continue her preparation for the TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR - the double-handed [two sailors] race from Le Havre, France, to Fort-de-France, Martinique in the Caribbean. Her co-skipper will be announced in the coming weeks.
Team Malizia's crew for The Ocean Race Europe 2025
- Boris Herrmann (GER) - Skipper
- Will Harris (ENG) - Co-Skipper and replacement skipper
- Cole Brauer (USA) - Co-Skipper
- Loïs Berrehar (FRA) - Co-Skipper
- Francesca Clapcich (ITA/USA) - Co-Skipper
- Justine Mettraux (SUI) - Co-Skipper
- Antoine Auriol (FRA/GER) - Onboard reporter
- Flore Hartout (FRA/NED) - Onboard reporter
2025 The Ocean Race Europe course
Stopover 1: Kiel, Germany. Depart: Sunday, August 10 to Portsmouth, United Kingdom, ETA Thursday, August 14
Stopover 2: Portsmouth, United Kingdom. Depart: Sunday, August 17 to Cartagena, Spain. ETA Saturday, August 23
Note: Fly-by of Matosinhos, Porto, Portugal Wednesday, August 20
Stopover 3: Cartagena, Spain. Depart: Tuesday, August 26 to Nice, France, ETA Friday, August 29
Stopover 4: Nice, France. Depart: Sunday, September 7 to Genoa, Italy ETA Wednesday, September 3
Stopover 5: Genoa, Italy. Depart Sunday, September 7 to Boka Bay, Montenegro
Stopover 6/Finale: Boka Bay, Montenegro. ETA Monday, September 15