A history-making second place for Francesca Clapcich and Will Harris onboard 11th Hour Racing in the Transat Café L’OR

Italian-American offshore sailor Francesca Clapcich and co-skipper Will Harris (GBR) onboard 11th Hour Racing have taken second place in the notoriously challenging Transat Café L’OR double-handed race across the Atlantic from Le Havre, France to Martinique in the Caribbean. The duo crossed the finish line just off Fort-de-France at 11:02:46 local time [15:02:46 UTC], after 12 days, 1 hour, 32 minutes, and 46 seconds of racing, 5 hours 47 minutes behind IMOCA Class winners, Charal. 

“It’s been a really special race,” commented Clapcich on the dock. “This result is for our entire team – there might have only been two of us onboard, but we couldn’t have done it without the support of our whole team around us.

“The last 12 days have been incredibly intense. We spent a lot of time hand steering and taking very little sleep, and that’s the cool part about it – pushing and being pushed all the time and having to fight back. It is a pretty cool way to race.”

It’s a history-making result for Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing. Clapcich is the first American woman to compete in the Transat Café L’OR, it’s the best result in 20 years for a woman in the IMOCA Class since Dame Ellen MacArthur also came second in 2005, and it’s the best result for a non-French IMOCA pairing since 2011. 

Clapcich said, “I grew up with Ellen being my hero and having my name a bit closer to hers, it’s an honor that I would never have dreamt of in my life. She showed the world what could be possible not only for women in the sport but for all sailors. I never really race to beat records or to be the first to do anything, but if it happens, it’s pretty cool. I hope it also opens the doors for other people to try to do the same.”

Clapcich and Harris were consistently in the top four, taking the lead of the 18-strong fleet as they headed towards the Canary Islands. After they left the archipelago to their right, turned west and picked up the trade winds, they lost the lead, but fought hard to keep up with Charal and eventual third place finishers MACIF Santé Prévoyance, moving into second place with just 400 nautical miles to go to the finish.

Clapcich and Harris sailed 5,503.49 nautical miles [6,333 miles | 10,192 kilometers] at an average speed of 19.01 knots [22mph | 35kmph].

Harris commented, “We went into the race saying we wanted to be in the top bunch, and coming second in the end … that’s definitely up there in the top bunch! We started this transat saying we wanted to sail our own race, do our own thing, and manage our own strategy. Out into the English Channel it was full on, we were really happy with how we managed the conditions and we made a nice choice coming into the Canary Islands, which put us in the lead. After that we just kept on trusting ourselves, kept on doing what we thought was right and it worked out and I’m really proud of us and the result we’ve fought for.”

It was the third time the international duo had raced together this year after competing in the Course des Caps and The Ocean Race Europe on the same IMOCA, which was then owned by Team Malizia. 

“Will is one of the best sailors I have ever sailed with – and one of the most complete – from performance of the boat to navigation to strategy.” Clapcich commented. “A lot of the nice calls we made on the racecourse were down to the work and the preparation that Will put into it in the build-up to the start. It’s been an amazing experience sailing with him.”

Harris shared a similar sentiment. “It has been a pleasure sailing with Frankie this whole race and this is up there as one of my top three results ever! We were always pushing the boat, working as hard as we could, but with a smile on our faces and – as an Italian – she always made sure we had good coffee onboard! She has great potential for the future of her Vendée Globe project and I’m glad to have been part of it.”

Jeremy Pochman, CEO and Co-founder of 11th Hour Racing said, “To see Francesca secure a podium finish in her first race as an IMOCA skipper speaks volumes about her focus, resilience, and leadership on the water. Her and Will’s performance throughout this transatlantic race reflects the spirit of teamwork and purpose that defines 11th Hour Racing. We’ve always believed in Francesca and the incredible potential she brings to this team – this result is a powerful reflection of that belief realized.”

The Transat Café L’OR was the first race for Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing in the long build-up to the 2028 Vendée Globe – a solo, non-stop circumnavigation. For the next three years Clapcich will compete in the IMOCA Globe Series – a collection of short-handed and crewed races – to gain points to qualify for the notoriously challenging race around the world.

Image credits: Jean-Marie Liot / Alea