Getting into the rhythm of the 1000 Race onboard 11th Hour Racing

Getting into the rhythm of the 1000 Race onboard 11th Hour Racing © Francesca Clapcich

In her first solo race in the IMOCA Class, Francesca Clapcich onboard 11th Hour Racing, has been battling light winds across the mouth of the English Channel in the early stages of the season-opening 1000 Race.

After her first night at sea, the Italian-American skipper is edging her way around the western side of the big Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) off Ushant with a forecast that shows little wind for most of the day ahead.

It's a critical stage in the race, with the ever-present danger that her 60-foot IMOCA, 11th Hour Racing, might get swept into the TSS - a restricted zone used by commercial shipping - by the strong east-going tidal current. If that happens Clapcich will incur a time penalty.

This morning she was holding sixth place in the seven-strong fleet, about 18 nautical miles behind the leader, Sam Goodchild of Great Britain on MACIF Santé Prévoyance. 11th Hour Racing was making 1.4 knots with still about 220 miles to go to the Fastnet Rock off the southwest corner of Ireland, and all of it to windward.

In her first message from onboard, Clapcich sounded in her element as she settled into the routine of racing alone for the first time. She said she did not have the best of starts off Port-La-Forêt as the fleet sailed around the Glénan islands before heading northwest.

"After a couple of miles, I was really not as fast as the group ahead," said Clapcich. "I got stuck in a big right (wind) shift and less wind, so the approach to Les Glénan was quite painful. And then we are basically upwind and yeah, it's been tricky conditions, really light."

But that doesn't mean the 38-year-old former Olympic, Figaro and Ocean Race sailor, originally from Trieste in northern Italy, has been taking it easy. Far from it. Clapcich has been working her way through the gears - changing headsails - as she has tried to tease as much speed out of 11th Hour Racing as possible.

"I was on the J0 sail for most of the day, then I peeled to the J1 when it got a bit stronger, and then peeled back to the J0 (J0 is a bigger sail than the J1) - it's been quite physical," she said.

It has been a long first night at sea with little sleep as Clapcich has battled for position against her nearest rivals who include Frenchman Corentin Horeau, also on his first race in IMOCA on board MACSF, and the veteran IMOCA skipper Arnaud Boissières on board April Marine-Recherche Co-Partenaire.

Looking after herself is important, to keep both the physical and emotional energy consistent for the coming days. "I already had some food and I keep having snacks. I also had a couple of 20-minute naps, to make sure I get a little bit of rest and just try to manage myself."

Today the fleet will continue to sail slowly through the centre of the big high pressure area that is sitting at the western end of the English Channel. Light winds are forecast for most of the day before a north-northeasterly breeze starts to fill in this evening. At that point speeds will pick up again as Clapcich and her rivals continue, on the wind, moving north towards the Irish coast.

Follow the race here.