Francesca Clapcich on 11th Hour Racing in the 1000 Race - Day 5
by Team Francesca Clapcich 8 May 10:05 BST
8 May 2026
Francesca Clapcich on 11th Hour Racing in the 1000 Race - Day 5 © Francesca Clapcich / 11th Hour Racing
It's been a race of contrasts and no less challenging for that. And this morning - approaching the end of her fifth day at sea on board 11th Hour Racing - Francesca Clapcich is contending with tough upwind conditions in the Bay of Biscay.
After the flat calms of yesterday, the boat is now crashing into waves close to the Continental Shelf, where sea conditions can be treacherous. And on Clapcich's morning voice message you could hear the violent soundscape of her IMOCA, 11th Hour Racing, hard on the wind.
With around 140 nautical miles to the finish in Concarneau, Clapcich is continuing to hold fifth place in the seven-strong fleet and is around 12 miles behind Elodie Bonafous of France (Association Petits Princes-Quéguiner) in fourth position, and just over 100 miles behind race leader, Britain's Sam Goodchild on MACIF Santé Prévoyance.
"Definitely different conditions," summarized the 11th Hour Racing skipper, still sounding full of energy after what has been a tough five-day sprint. "It's really, really bumpy, the sea state is terrible and we are really close to the Continental Shelf so that doesn't help with the sea state, and it's getting worse.
"But all good on board and yeah, I've set up the final (leg) in a way that the boat is driving as best as I can," she added. "I mean, I cannot really keep up with the pace that Elodie and the guys in front are putting in. I am just trying to do my race. I don't want to make any mistakes. I'm really focused on the boat handling, the maneuvers and taking the good shift and then, at the end, it is what it is."
Clapcich also talked about the southerly option she took during the night after rounding the Trophée Gallimard virtual waypoint, 150 miles north of Cape Finisterre. Ahead of her she could see on her navigation software that both Bonafous and Violette Dorange, on Initiatives-Coeur, had sailed into a calm patch crossing a weather front. Clapcich decided to do something different, taking her own option by standing on, to the south, for an extra 14 or 15 miles.
"I was really aware of the rotation of the wind," she explained. "I didn't want to put myself in the same area as them and wanted to wait until the proper rotation of the frontal passage was through. I think it went well. I was fast into the shift, fast out of it - maybe I gained a little bit on them - not that much, but it was better than nothing."
Clapcich says all is well with the boat as her first solo race in IMOCA enters its final stages, but she is struggling a bit with trying to keep it moving fast through the waves in the fresh northeasterly breeze. She has managed to get some sleep in short naps.
"And yeah, only another 140 miles to go and heading to Concarneau and pretty happy to be going that way," she said. "It's been a really great experience, but I'll also be happy to get ashore."
Follow the race here.