Francesca Clapcich's 2025: Built on miles and belief

11th Hour Racing © Marin Le Roux - polaRYSE / 11th Hour Racing

From Frankie

Only a few days before the end of the year and it's time for some reflection.

I am not going to share sailing stats, racing updates, or performance KPIs but an open letter for people to take and bring closer to their heart and find some introspection.

I'm writing this blog a few hours after the end of my first Mer Montagne Trophy (a four-day competition held in a mountain resort, bringing together sailors and mountaineers) and while ski touring at 3,000m and missing a good chunk of oxygen, I realized how important it is to breathe and take some time to dig deeper into our emotions, into our fears, and understand what brings us that oxygen back.

I read an article a few days ago about 2025 being the Year of the Snake for the Chinese zodiac calendar, and we are moving into the 2026 Year of the Horse. I don't like snakes - it's one of my few phobias - so at first I was not super keen to get into the details... but I took the chance! The Year of the Snake is traditionally linked with wisdom, intuition, and transformation - the Snake being seen as intelligent, strategic, and observant, a zodiac sign that prefers depth and clarity over speed or chaos.

Much like the snake shedding its skin, Snake Years symbolize renewal, release, and the process of letting go of whatever no longer fits. It's a period that encourages people to slow down, tune in to their instincts, and make intentional decisions.

Mmm... interesting I thought.

Snake years are an internal reset. A time to process, reorganize and prepare for what comes next. So what is next?

The Year of the Horse is traditionally associated with energy, ambition, and forward momentum. In the Lunar zodiac, the Horse is seen as confident, expressive, and fast-moving. It's a sign that values action over being slow or analytical. It's a period that inspires people to take initiative, embrace change, and follow ideas that may have been created quietly in the background.

11th Hour Racing - photo © Marin Le Roux - polaRYSE / 11th Hour Racing

Long story short, I feel 2025 has been a year of massive changes and changes come often with challenges. But challenges do come with growth and this is the 'one thing' that if I had to pick I would choose from 2025. Growth.

We started this incredible IMOCA project and it's been a continuing learning process, from securing sponsorship from 11th Hour Racing until 2029, to purchasing the boat, to finally even standing on the podium in our first race. I did grow as a sailor, as a leader (hopefully!), and most importantly as a human being.

On the personal side of life, 2025 brought challenges too, and as the Snake says, letting go is part of the process to get into 2026. I do believe in love, forgiveness, community, and the power of good actions that as people we can do to make this journey called life more purposeful and less painful.

I started therapy (yes, hear that! Mental health is a big deal) and it helped me feel the pain, understand the emotions behind it, and move into creating the space for more happiness instead. A person really close to me told me "we live once, we should be doing it with fulfillment, happiness, and purpose even if in the process of creating that for ourselves we have to go through pain".

Behind Frankie's happy smile there is also the human side of fear, uncertainty, and sadness that make me feel human and possibly more balanced. I do love to smile but sometimes a good cry is good too!

This is where 2026 comes into play and where turning into the new Horse year can be a good thing. I want to embrace change, I want to be confident, and express my emotions as my fullest, walking into the new year with strong ambitions and empathy.

In sharing these words I'm also sharing a part of me that I normally keep really hidden. I'm sharing vulnerability and in sharing vulnerability I also hope to make people feel that it's ok to not be ok and to find tools and solutions to live as a good Horse should live. I don't have a crystal ball to read into the future but I do know what I'm taking with me to make it a good year: purpose, forgiveness, family, friends, people that push me everyday to become a better version of myself, a sponsor that believes in me more than myself, team members, and love.

Love for this half-broken world, love for the people that need it the most, love for the ones that lost hope in it, love for our planet and our people. My little one would sing: "But your mama always said, 'Look up into the sky, find the sun on a cloudy day'".

I do hope you all will find your sun, that you will embrace being a strong Horse and you will find true joy in living this life. We all go through challenges and change, you are no exception!