UpWind by MerConcept enters a pivotal season with 11th Hour Racing's continued support
by UpWind by MerConcept 14 Apr 13:19 UTC
UpWind by MerConcept enters a pivotal season with 11th Hour Racing's continued support © Guillaume Gatefait / UpWind by MerConcept
After two years of steady progression, UpWind by MerConcept is entering a defining phase in 2026. At its helm, French skipper Anne-Claire Le Berre, 44, from Brittany, is preparing to take on her most ambitious challenge yet: competing solo in the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe aboard an Ocean Fifty — a powerful and demanding multihull in offshore racing.
Sailing these high-speed trimarans alone requires an exceptional level of physical endurance, technical mastery, and mental resilience. Stepping onto the start line as a solo female skipper in such a competitive multihull fleet marks a major milestone — both for -Upwind by MerConcept and for the wider evolution of the sport.
This new chapter was officially launched in France alongside UpWind by MerConcept's Founding Sponsor, 11th Hour Racing, whose team spent several days immersed with the sailors and technical crew — reinforcing a shared vision built on performance, inclusion, and ocean stewardship.
A pivotal year for impact and representation
For 11th Hour Racing, 2026 represents more than a sporting milestone — it marks a turning point in the project's broader mission of promoting diversity, inclusion, and sustainable excellence in offshore sailing.
"This is the moment where the project moves from ambition to proof," said Lorraine McKenna, sponsorship director at 11th Hour Racing. "What's most powerful is not just seeing a woman on the start line of the Route du Rhum, it's the ripple effect we're now seeing across the Ocean Fifty class. Teams are evolving, habits are changing, and mixed crews are becoming standard. That kind of structural shift shows that impact is already under way, well beyond a single race."
A project reaching maturity
Two years after its launch, UpWind by MerConcept has reached a new level of maturity. The experience gained — particularly during the Transat Café L'Or — has helped structure the Upwind team and build a strong foundation. After two seasons focused on mastering the boat in crewed configurations, the transition to solo sailing is now fully embraced.
"These past two years have been incredibly rich, and the Transat Café L'Or was a real stepping stone for the entire team," explains Team Manager Louis Giard. "2026 represents the culmination of the project: bringing a female skipper to compete solo across the Atlantic on a multihull."
A boat optimized for solo performance
Over the winter, the Ocean Fifty UpWind by MerConcept underwent a key refit phase, specifically designed for solo racing — where every movement, every second, matters.
"The guiding principle was life onboard," says Louis Giard. "When sailing solo, everything needs to be within immediate reach to maximize responsiveness."
The cockpit was fully reconfigured: winch positions, onboard computer, and even the cooking area were optimized to reduce movement and increase efficiency. The team is also testing a custom-molded watch seat tailored to Anne-Claire Le Berre, allowing her to steer, rest, and monitor performance data simultaneously.
Additional protective elements were installed to further enclose the cockpit and improve onboard conditions. "These small changes make a huge difference," explains the skipper. "Being better protected allows you to stay sharp longer — and that's critical in solo racing."
Learning solo sailing, step by step
The transition to solo sailing is being approached methodically. After multiple crewed sessions and "simulated solo" training runs, Anne-Claire Le Berre recently completed her first night alone offshore in Brittany.
"I wasn't chasing performance — I was focused on building reference points, and this first solo sail went really well. The conditions were interesting, with some wind, which allowed me to move beyond a simple training sail. It was an important milestone, especially from a psychological standpoint. Sailing alone for the first time requires confidence, but everything felt smooth and controlled. This experience clearly validates my preparation, helps me build the right reflexes, and makes me feel ready for what's ahead. I'm really happy to have reached this step."
Each outing is designed as a learning exercise. The next key milestone will be a solo training delivery between Concarneau and Cascais, starting April 7 — a strategic route mirroring the early stages of the Route du Rhum: exiting Brittany, crossing the Bay of Biscay, and rounding Cape Finisterre. Following this, the team will resume crewed racing in the Mediterranean before shifting full focus back to solo qualification. "The goal is to complete the return route solo, with a 1,200-nautical-mile qualifying passage between Cascais and Concarneau," Anne-Claire explains.
An international, all-women crew launching the season in the Mediterranean
For the opening phase of the 2026 season, UpWind by MerConcept will race in crewed configuration, bringing together a truly international, all-women team across events in the South of France and Corsica — from Sainte-Maxime, often described as the quieter sister of Saint-Tropez, to Ajaccio.
The crew reflects the global ambition of the project:
- Lisa Farthofer (AUT)
- Anne-Claire Le Berre (FRA)
- Élodie Jane Mettraux (SUI)
- Mickaela Robinson (RSA)
- Sara Stone (USA)
Racing together in these early-season events allows the team to build cohesion, refine performance, and continue developing the collective strength that underpins the project.
Beyond performance, this diversity embodies UpWind by MerConcept's core ambition: to reshape the landscape of offshore racing and open new pathways for women at the highest level.