Team Francesca Clapcich announces 2026 race calendar; Alberto Bona named as Co-Skipper
by Francesca Clapcich 28 Jan 01:33 AEDT
Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing team members spent two days team-building in Lorient, France © Eloi Stichelbaut / 11th Hour Racing
Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing has announced its racing calendar for the 2026 season, marking a critical first full year in Francesca 'Frankie' Clapcich's IMOCA campaign as she starts her build-up towards taking on the 2028 Vendée Globe - racing solo, non-stop around the world.
- 2026 race calendar announced by Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing includes the legendary single-handed transatlantic Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe.
- "Every start line is an opportunity to learn, improve, and get more competitive," commented Clapcich.
- Italian offshore specialist, Alberto Bona, joins the team as Co-Skipper and Sailing Performance Manager.
The team's 2026 program features four offshore races: the 1000 Race (formerly the Bermudes 1000 Race), the Vendée Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne, The Ocean Race Atlantic, and the legendary Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe. Together, they represent a demanding mix of fully crewed and solo racing focused on the Atlantic Ocean. All four races score ranking points for the IMOCA Globe Series - the annual World Championship of offshore sailing in which Clapcich finished in 5th place in 2025 - and the two solo races count towards Vendée Globe selection and qualification.
In parallel with the racing announcement, Team Francesca Clapcich has revealed that Italian offshore sailor Alberto Bona has joined the team as Co-Skipper and Sailing Performance Manager, strengthening the technical and sporting leadership of the campaign.
2026 racing calendar released
1000 Race
Start date: May 3, 2026
Kicking off the season from Port-la-Forêt, France, the 1000 Race is a 1,000-nautical-mile sprint out into the Bay of Biscay, designed to test speed, reliability, and decision-making early in the year. Raced solo, the event offers an ideal opportunity for early benchmarking against the IMOCA fleet and a chance to validate the IMOCA raceboat 11th Hour Racing's winter refit.
Vendée Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne
Start date: June 7, 2026
Launched in 2020 the Vendée Arctique will hold its third single-handed edition this season and the team's result will count towards Clapcich's Vendée Globe qualification. The race departs from Les Sables d'Olonne, France, and sends the competitors north into the Arctic Circle before returning to the west coast of France. Covering approximately 3,000 nautical miles, the race places a premium on preparation, robustness, and performance in cold, light, and often unpredictable conditions.
The Ocean Race Atlantic
Start date: September 2, 2026
The Ocean Race Atlantic connects North America to Europe in a fully crewed transatlantic race, blending raw speed with complex weather systems and high-intensity teamwork. Starting in New York and finishing in Europe (with the arrival port still to be announced), the race will see Clapcich sailing with a gender-balanced crew, reflecting a new race rule that encourages inclusivity and is backed by 11th Hour Racing as the race's official Impact Partner.
Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe
Start date: November 1, 2026
The 2026 race season will culminate with the iconic Route du Rhum, the solo transatlantic race from Saint-Malo, France, to Guadeloupe in the Caribbean. At approximately 3,500 nautical miles, the Route du Rhum, held every four years and also a qualifier for the Vendée Globe, is one of offshore sailing's most prestigious and demanding solo events, and a major milestone in Clapcich's solo campaign.
"The 2026 calendar is designed to push both me and the team," Clapcich said. "From shorter, high-intensity races to longer, solo transatlantics, every start line is an opportunity to learn, improve, and get more competitive. That's the mindset driving us this season."
Alberto Bona joins as Co-Skipper and Sailing Performance Manager
Alberto Bona's appointment as Co-Skipper and Sailing Performance Manager brings deep offshore solo experience and a shared performance-driven mindset to Team Francesca Clapcich. The Italian offshore specialist will work closely with Francesca and Technical Director Pifou Dargnies (FRA) on sailing performance, race preparation, and technical optimization.
Bona is one of Italy's most accomplished offshore sailors of his generation, with experience across the Class40, Figaro, and Mini 6.50 Classes. A Class40 World Champion and a proven transatlantic racer, Bona is known for combining sharp race instincts with a methodical, data-driven approach to performance.
"What attracted me to Francesca's team is the balance between ambition and purpose," said Bona. "There's a long-term sporting goal with a strong focus on doing things the right way every day - for people and for the planet. Francesca leads the team with determination, intelligence, and a real openness to learning. I'm excited to contribute my experience and work alongside the whole team to push the level of performance step by step," he commented.
"Alberto brings a rare combination of offshore instinct, technical understanding, and calm leadership," said Clapcich. "We've raced against each other, we've shared ideas over the years, and I trust the way he thinks. He knows what it takes to push performance without losing sight of reliability, and that balance is exactly what I need as a co-skipper."
Winter refit under way
The team's IMOCA, 11th Hour Racing, is currently in winter refit at the team's base in Lorient, France, the international home of offshore yacht racing, following a full season of racing and data analysis. Work under way includes a comprehensive structural inspection, systems upgrades, optimization of onboard ergonomics, and refinements aimed at improving reliability and performance across a wide range of conditions and crew configurations, reducing weight overall, and extracting more consistent performance - key priorities as the program intensifies heading into 2026.
In addition, the 60-foot boat has undergone a complete re-brand, which will be unveiled mid-March.
More details on crew configuration will be announced in the coming months.