Please select your home edition
Edition
Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design

Francesca Clapcich & 11th Hour Racing launch campaign to foster belonging and drive climate justice

by Francesca Clapcich 10 Sep 10:12 PDT
Francesca Clapcich & 11th Hour Racing launch campaign to foster belonging and drive climate justice © Guillaume Gatefait / MerConcept

Double Olympian, America's Cup athlete, and record-breaking round the world sailor, Francesca Clapcich, has announced a new global campaign that will foster belonging and drive climate justice.

Supported by her partner, 11th Hour Racing, Clapcich will launch a series of practical and academic initiatives that will help tackle discrimination and climate change through education, advocacy and collective action. From grassroots to elite level sport, the programs will empower athletes, coaches, fans, and the wider sporting community to embrace the values of belief and belonging, to achieve positive change for their performance, for people and for the planet.

The Italian/American sailor, who grew up in Trieste, Italy and now lives with her wife and daughter in Park City, UT, USA, has personally experienced the challenges of not being truly accepted for who she is, and not having equal opportunities or benefits from her sport.

"Belief and belonging matter because when we limit people, when we deny parts of them, we lock out potential, creativity, and progress. I've personally experienced the challenges of not being truly accepted for who I am, and not having equal opportunities or benefits from my sport and now I have the privilege of feeling free to be who I am and using my voice for more than just myself. When everyone believes in themselves and feels they belong, we can all achieve more together." - Francesca Clapcich

A self-professed outdoor enthusiast who lives in the mountains and races on the ocean, Clapcich sees a clear connection between strong, united teams and effective climate action. She believes that a lack of belonging prevents individuals and teams from fully optimizing their performance and it holds back effective climate action by missing out on solutions achieved via meaningful conversations with those most affected by it.

While promoting solutions to engender inclusion and belonging in the sport of sailing, Francesca is also advocating for climate justice. She believes in a collective responsibility to listen to the voices of the most vulnerable communities affected by climate change in order to take action that truly supports all people and our planet.

"My ambition is that our BELIEVE, BELONG, ACHIEVE campaign will help raise awareness of social and climate injustices, break down barriers, and change the status quo, while working with others on solutions to help accelerate a transition to a more fair and just society, for everyone. Fostering belief and belonging in sport enables everyone to fulfill their potential and when we apply these principles to the challenges our planet is facing, we can uncover better solutions to tackle climate change by centering decision-making through the voices of those most affected," said Clapcich.

The first phase of the BELIEVE, BELONG, ACHIEVE campaign is already under way with the commissioning of a research study which will explore how 'belief' and 'belonging' both optimize achievement in elite and grassroots sailing and can enable more effective climate action. In addition, Clapcich's team is devising a series of training programs, workshops, and digital courses focused around the role of belief and belonging in effective teams and the importance of being able to bring ones full self to teams at all levels to drive optimum performance. The first data sets and early conclusions from the research study will be published later this year.

Clapcich launched her campaign the day after the worldwide premiere of Between Waves at the ONA Short Film Festival in Venice, Italy, which features life-changing stories of outdoor sports, nature, and environmental awareness. The film, produced by 11th Hour Racing, documents Clapcich's early years as she overcomes personal grief after the death of her greatest ally - her father - and which drove her ambition to represent Italy at the Olympic Games, something she achieved in both 2012 and 2016.

As 11th Hour Racing continues to broaden its work beyond environmental sustainability and ocean health, supporting Francesca Clapcich is part of its commitment to setting new benchmarks for inclusivity and equity, reshaping the sport to be more accessible and environmentally responsible.

Jeremy Pochman, CEO of 11th Hour Racing commented, "Francesca is committed to breaking down barriers, advocating for equal pay, and building a sports community that values diversity and belonging. Her focus on ensuring equal opportunities for everyone in sports, particularly sailing, aligns perfectly with our vision for inclusivity and equity in the sport. We are proud to support her BELIEVE, BELONG, ACHIEVE campaign. This campaign will bring the same solution-based focus to the long-term strength and health of the human side of sport, building off the material and operational sustainable successes we have created together in the past."

In 2024 and 2025 Clapcich's sporting focus is racing in the Ocean Fifty Series, skippering UpWind by MerConcept. She's the first female skipper in the 24-year history of the race series and she leads the very first all-female team. In addition, she is a member of the New York Yacht Club American Magic team for the first-ever Puig Women's America's Cup, which will take place in Barcelona, Spain, in October 2024. Clapcich's next sporting goal is to race in the 2028 Vendée Globe and if she does, she will become the first person in the world to compete in all the 'big four' sailing events - The America's Cup, The Ocean Race, the Olympics, and the Vendée Globe.

Related Articles

11th Hour Racing debuts new film in Venice, Italy
Featuring sailor Francesca Clapcich at ONA Short Film Festival 11th Hour Racing is thrilled to announce the world premiere of its latest film, "Between Waves," featuring renowned Italian sailor Francesca Clapcich. Posted on 4 Sep
11th Hour Racing sponsors IMOCA
To further advance sustainability and diversity in offshore racing 11th Hour Racing announced today it will join forces with the International Monohull Open Class Association (IMOCA) to drive sustainable innovation and support opportunities for female sailors within competitive sailing. Posted on 14 May
11th Hour Racing sponsors UpWind by MerConcept
Supporting a more inclusive and diverse offshore sailing community 11th Hour Racing announced today the new sponsorship of UpWind by MerConcept, to recruit, train, and support a team of six female sailors as they compete in the Ocean Fifty offshore sailing circuit. Posted on 13 Feb
11th Hour Racing sponsor Francesca Clapcich
Expanding its work beyond sustainability On the heels of The Ocean Race win by its sponsored team, 11th Hour Racing is expanding its work beyond sustainability and ocean health to champion diversity, opportunity, and access in sailing. Posted on 1 Feb
11th Hour Racing: When the dust settles
The end of the year is always a moment for reflection The end of the year is always a moment for reflection. Even in our wildest dreams, we couldn't have imagined how this year would unfold - from the highs and lows of the race itself, to the incredible welcome home in Newport. Posted on 16 Dec 2023
Top sailing team releases impact report
Detailing the integration of sustainable practices within the four-year campaign Professional US sailing outfit 11th Hour Racing Team has released an Impact Report detailing the integration of sustainable practices within the four-year campaign. Posted on 14 Nov 2023
1th Hour Racing Team - New behind the scenes video
The Art of Branding: 11th Hour Racing Team's vibrant identity by Van Orton Design When art meets performance, the result can be spectacular. The creative duo behind Van Orton Design, Marco and Stefano Schiavon, are proof of this concept. Their vibrant branding took the world stage with 11th Hour Racing Team during The Ocean Race. Posted on 14 Oct 2023
It's a double win for the 11th Hour Racing Team
Adding The Ocean Race In-Port Race Series Trophy to the overall race title 11th Hour Racing Team has won the Genoa In-Port Race, the final battle of The Ocean Race 2022-23, bagging the US team the top spot in the overall In-Port Race Series. Posted on 1 Jul 2023
11th HRT wins with focus on sustainable future
First US team to win iconic race is inspired by commitment to a sustainable future Placing ocean health and sustainability at the heart of all operations, U.S.-flagged 11th Hour Racing Team successfully fulfilled its mission by capturing an historic win in The Ocean Race. Posted on 1 Jul 2023
11th Hour Racing Team wins The Ocean Race 2022-23
After the Jury awarded 11th Hour Racing Team 4 points of redress 11th Hour Racing Team has won The Ocean Race 2022-23, the world's longest and toughest team sporting event - the first time a US team has won in the 50-year history of the Race. Posted on 29 Jun 2023
Rooster Wetsuit RangeVaikobi 2024 FOOTERSOUTHERN-SPARS-MISSY-FURLING-BOOMS-728-X-90 Bottom