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Team Francesca Clapcich set off for The Ocean Race Atlantic start line

by Team Francesca Clapcich / 11th Hour Racing 1 Sep 19:41 BST
Team Francesca Clapcich touches down in New York © Team Francesca Clapcich

In light wind, humid, and misty conditions, the six IMOCA race boats in The Ocean Race Atlantic left the dock at Brooklyn Marina, waving goodbye to friends, family, and shore crew on the dock as they started the long 120 nautical mile sail to the offshore startline.

The crew of Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing - Frankie, Will Harris, Elodie Mettraux, Alberto Bona, and onboard reporter Julien Champolion, have a fast and furious Atlantic crossing ahead of them, anticipated to be arriving in Lorient, France around September 8.

For now, the start is expected to be at 0600 EST (1000 UTC) when the six-strong fleet will cross a virtual startline and the race will be live.

Starting safer
Inside the race to keep whales and sailors out of each other's way

The offshore startline of The Ocean Race Atlantic is thanks to the work of The Marine Mammal Advisory Group - in close collaboration with The Ocean Race Atlantic organizers and teams - to minimize the risk to marine mammals - one exclusion zone, one dataset, and one hazard report at a time.

Emily Caroe, an ambassador for the Marine Mammal Advisory Group and head of communications and purpose for Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing, finds out more about what the group is up to from Damian Foxall.

Read more here...

Last weather briefing
A straight-line dogflight to Brittany

"Not many maneuvers for us this time. It's going to be about pure boat speed, start to finish, a drag race for most of the way across."

For this race, Will Harris will be on navigation duty. His job will be to get the boat pointing in the right direction as much as possible, and build our strategy around the weather. We asked him for an overview of the upcoming race situation.

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11th Hour Racing 2nd in The Ocean Race Atlantic
Team Francesca Clapcich cross the finish line just 8 minutes and 56 seconds behind the race winner Francesca Clapcich (ITA/USA) and her crew onboard 11th Hour Racing - Will Harris (GBR), Elodie-Jane Mettraux (SUI/FRA) and Alberto Bona (ITA), with Julien Champolion (FRA) as the team's onboard reporter - have finished second in The Ocean Race Atlantic. Posted on 10 Sep Francesca Clapcich in The Ocean Race Atlanic Day 8
"It's going to be pretty nerve-wracking" The final day of a thrilling Ocean Race Atlantic and for Francesca and her crew on 11th Hour Racing, and onboard reporter Julien Champolion - the battle for the podium and the win is going right down to the line. Posted on 10 Sep Francesca Clapcich in The Ocean Race Atlanic Day 7
"The finish can be really tricky" With just over 500 nautical miles to go on the seventh day of The Ocean Race Atlantic, Francesca and her crew on 11th Hour Racing are still right in the battle for the podium, and possibly more, as they sail fast towards the finish off Lorient. Posted on 9 Sep Francesca Clapcich in The Ocean Race Atlanic Day 6
"We are definitely focusing on speed" After losing the lead to DMG MORI Global One yesterday, both 11th Hour Racing and United by the Ocean have made big gains again as Day 6 has progressed, with the two chasing boats still right next to each other, but only a couple of miles behind. Posted on 8 Sep Francesca Clapcich makes history in The Ocean Race
Live call with United Nation Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean, Peter Thomson Francesca Clapcich onboard 11th Hour Racing joins first-ever live call with United Nation Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean, Peter Thomson, while racing in The Ocean Race Atlantic. Posted on 7 Sep Francesca Clapcich in The Ocean Race Atlanic Day 5
The rich are NOT getting richer as the team head into lighter winds Often in sailing it is said that the 'rich get richer' meaning that the leading boat keeps increasing its margin over its pursuers. This is not the case as day five of The Ocean Race Atlantic draws to a close. Posted on 7 Sep Francesca Clapcich in The Ocean Race Atlanic Day 4
"It is impossible to rest onboard, we are just trying to keep everyone in one piece" The conditions are absolutely brutal onboard 11th Hour Racing on day four of The Ocean Race Atlantic, but Francesca, Alberto, Will, and Elodie have not taken their collective foot off the gas and have increased their lead at the front of the fleet. Posted on 6 Sep Francesca Clapcich in The Ocean Race Atlanic Day 3
Taking the lead of the six-strong fleet The third day at sea for 11th Hour Racing has seen Francesca and her crew - Elodie-Jane Mettraux, Alberto Bona, and Will Harris - take the lead for the first time in the race, with the boat smashing along in the Gulf Stream at over 30 knots of boatspeed. Posted on 5 Sep Francesca Clapcich at The Ocean Race Atlanic day 2
"it's uncomfortable riding, especially inside" The second day at sea in The Ocean Race Atlantic onboard 11th Hour Racing has seen Francesca and her crew maintain third position in the six-strong fleet as the charge to the east continues, with around 2,500 nm still to sail to the finish at Lorient. Posted on 4 Sep Francesca Clapcich in The Ocean Race Atlanic Day 2
The boats negotiate a light wind patch in the Gulf Stream After one day racing in The Ocean Race Atlantic, Francesca and her crew on 11th Hour Racing are handily placed in third position in the six-strong Ocean Race Atlantic fleet, as the boats negotiate a light wind patch in the Gulf Stream. Posted on 3 Sep
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