Clapcich makes history as first American woman to take on Transat Café L'OR double-handed race
by Team Francesca Clapcich 26 Oct 16:29 GMT
26 October 2025
Transat Café L'or Le Havre Normandie 2025 Start © Marie Lefloch | 11th Hour Racing
At 1430 local time [1330 UTC], Italian American pro sailor, Francesca Clapcich crossed the startline of the Transat Café L'OR in her 60-foot foiling IMOCA, 11th Hour Racing, becoming only the first American woman, and second Italian woman, to take on the notoriously challenging 4,350 nautical mile [5,351 miles | 8,612 kilometer] double-handed sprint across the Atlantic. Clapcich is racing with the highly-experienced British offshore sailor Will Harris as co-skipper.
As they waved goodbye to their shore team and the representatives from title sponsor 11th Hour Racing, Clapcich said, "This is a very special moment after two years of build-up. Today is the first day we go racing as Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing, and without them we would not have an IMOCA on the dock or this team around us. It's as much Will's and my race as it is for each and every one of them. It is really special to share this day with so many people that I trust, that I love working with, and that I share most of my life with. It's a great day!"
After crossing the startline in full flying foiling mode in 20 knots of north-westerly breeze and with a choppy sea state, the 18-strong IMOCA fleet completed a short coastal course, passing two marks along the north Normandy coast before heading out into the English Channel. The first 20 hours of the race will be critical for the crews as they battle upwind conditions with over 35 knots [40mph | 65kmph] of wind forecast.
Clapcich commented, "In these first few hours, you can definitely lose the race, but you probably can't win it. So we're focused on keeping the boat in one piece and getting through to the first ridge in good shape. We've got a roadmap for how we want to position ourselves, and the objective is to stick to our plan - to sail our own boat, in our own mode, without getting too caught up comparing with others. We'll race smart and conservative at first, and then be ready to put all the horsepower back into the machine later on."
"The next 12 hours are about survival," said Harris. "We want to keep the boat in good shape and get through the first 48 hours safely. Obviously we want to stay in the front pack, that's the goal, but there is no point in taking rash decisions - we are going to have 35 knots, maybe 40 knots [46mph | 74kmph] in the English Channel - it's going to be intense.
"Francesca and I have a good plan on what we are going to do and just have to execute it, look after ourselves, and once we get past Ouessant [Ushant] we can start to breathe a sigh of relief and get stuck into the rest of the race. It is going to be challenging navigation wise but I'm excited for it."
Jeremy Pochman, CEO of 11th Hour Racing, said, "Francesca represents a new generation of sailors who are exceptional athletes and powerful role models for what it means to lead with purpose. As she becomes the first American woman and only the second Italian woman to compete in the Transat Café L'OR, she's breaking barriers and helping make sailing more inclusive and accessible. We're proud to stand alongside her, as her courage and determination remind the sailing community - and beyond - that success isn't just crossing the finish line; it's about opening doors for those around you and who will come next."
The Transat Café L'OR race for the IMOCA Class is anticipated to take between 12-16 days. After crossing the Bay of Biscay, the IMOCA fleet will head south to the Canary Islands, leaving the archipelago to starboard [on their right hand side] before they head across the Atlantic, destination Fort-de-France, Martinique. The duo are anticipated to arrive at the Caribbean island around November 9.
Follow the progress of Clapcich, Harris, and 11th Hour Racing in the Transat Café L'OR through the daily race reports and tracker at francescaclapcich.com.