A moment to breathe and reflect after the Transat Café L'OR
by Francesca ‘Frankie' Clapcich 15 Nov 09:18 PST
Francesca Clapcich and William Harris on 11th Hour Racing finish 2nd in the IMOCA division of the Transat Café L'OR 2025 © Jean-Marie Liot / Alea
I think I'm only just starting to realize what Will and I have achieved - finishing second in the Transat Café L'OR. It's still quite fresh, but when I stop for a moment it begins to sink in.
The last few months have been a whirlwind. Someone said to me the other day, "You really haven't stopped this year," and I laughed - because it's true. Between the Course des Caps, The Ocean Race Europe, and now the Transat Café L'OR, it's been nonstop. And that's not even counting the Ocean Fifty Grand Prix with UpWind by MerConcept at the start of the year, which feels like ages ago! So yes - I think I need a little time to pause, take a breath, and really soak it all in.
Building a campaign at full speed
It's hard to believe it's been less than a year since this project really began. Back in February, we signed our sponsorship agreement with 11th Hour Racing with a view to be taking on the Vendée Globe, and that's when everything started moving fast.
From there, it was one big milestone after another - paying the first deposit on the boat, the racing with Team Malizia in the summer, the delivery to Le Havre, and then the purchase of the boat itself - while we were sailing to the start of our first race! Every step felt like a big leap forward.
It's been intense, but everyone on the team has worked so hard, putting not just time and effort but heart and emotion into our project. When I'm out on the water, I feel that - I feel like I'm sailing for all of them. It's not just about me. It's about honoring all the people putting in the extra hours, going the extra mile, to make this campaign possible. That's a big motivation for me, and honestly, a real privilege.
Crossing the line
Crossing the finish line in Martinique was... different. For eleven and a half days, Will and I kept things simple. We were so focused, there wasn't time or space for big emotions - just, "Okay, this is going well, but we've got another 800 miles to go, another 500 miles..." and so on.
We never let ourselves think, "This is happening..." Even when we moved into second place, it was always, "Keep racing... keep racing..."
Then, just a few hours before the finish, we got this big wind shift and suddenly it all got tense again - MACIF gybed, and we were like, "Okay, what's going to happen now?" And then the shift came back in our favor. That was the first time it felt real. At that point, something major would have had to go wrong to change the outcome.
When we rounded the mark near the finish, that's when I finally let myself feel it - "This is really happening". Happiness, relief, disbelief, all mixed together. Seeing our team out there on the RIB, hearing the cheers - that was emotional. And then I spotted Lorraine McKenna, the Sponsorship Director from 11th Hour Racing, who came out to celebrate our finish and UpWind's, and she just said, "I wouldn't miss this for the world."
That moment meant a lot. You suddenly realize how many people are behind you, even when you don't see them every day.
Making a mark
People have said to my team, "I didn't know Francesca before this race, but I definitely know her now." That makes me smile. I'm not sure about making a mark, but I do hope this race showed people something.
I've always been quite humble - I don't like to say, "Look at me, I'm the best!" But I've done a lot in this sport: two Olympic Games, a world championship title, a European title, The Ocean Race, and now a podium finish in an IMOCA. I'm 37, not that old, but my background is pretty broad.
So when people say that they didn't know me before, I think that's just because they weren't looking beyond their own circle. There are so many incredible athletes doing amazing things - just because they're not in our immediate orbit doesn't mean they're not out there performing.
If anything, I hope this campaign helps show other sailors - especially those still in Olympic classes for example - that there are other pathways after that chapter. Offshore sailing, IMOCA, multihulls... these are worlds where experience, discipline, and passion can take you far.
What's next
For now, I'm going to enjoy a few more days in the Caribbean - not the worst place to recover in November! Then it's home to see my daughter, who's getting ready for the ski season. She's been waiting for me to get back so we can hit the slopes together, and I've promised her a big bear that I brought from Le Havre.
I'm looking forward to going home - to just being 'Mama' again, to recharge a bit. She's this little ball of energy who fills the room with love and chaos, and it's exactly what I need right now.
After that, it'll be time to regroup with the team, debrief, and start planning the winter - what we want to improve, what we want to develop on the boat. There's a lot to come, and I can't wait to keep building from here.
Andiamo!