NEWSLETTER
AUGUST 26, 2026

TEAM FRANCESCA CLAPCICH

TOUCHES DOWN IN NEW YORK

© Meredith Rodgers / 11th Hour Racing

After two incredible weeks of The Changemakers Tour visiting Boston and Newport, RI, Team Francesca Clapcich docked this morning at 8:00am in Brooklyn Marina, New York.

Along the way we have met inspiring organizations, incredible young adults, and innovative community groups — with many of them joining us onboard for a sail on our 60-foot race boat 11th Hour Racing.

Now it's New York's turn! Over the coming days, we'll connect with even more of you while gearing up for The Ocean Race Atlantic, a 50/50 split gender crewed race starting September 1 from New York to Lorient, France.

THE OCEAN RACE ATLANTIC

START > SEPTEMBER 1, 2026
NEW YORK > LORIENT

© Eloi Stichelbaut - polaRYSE / 11th Hour Racing

Skipper Francesca Clapcich (ITA/USA) will be joined by Alberto Bona (ITA), Elodie-Jane Mettraux (SUI), and Will Harris (GBR), with Julien Champolion (FRA) sailing as the team’s Onboard Reporter (OBR). The 3,200 nautical mile [3,452 mile | 5,556 kilometer] race will leave New York on September 1, and the lead boats are expected to arrive in the Brittany port of Lorient around September 8-10.

THE BELIEVE BELONG ACHIEVE INTERNS’ EXPERIENCE

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND

A brand new initiative for the team this year has been the Believe, Belong, Achieve Internship Program. Designed to give young adults the chance to gain resume-enhancing experience in a professional sports team, our inaugural program has been run in partnership with Rocking The Boat a Bronx-based non-profit organization focused on youth development through boat building, sailing, and environmental science.

For the Changemakers Tour we have been joined by three of Rocking the Boat's young adult sailing instructors, who are spending time with our technical and communications teams.

Watch the video above to find out more about Jade, Myah, and Hailley!

FIRST STOP OF THE CHANGEMAKERS TOUR

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

© Maud Helfgott - polaRYSE / 11th Hour Racing

Boston, Massachusetts was the first city on the team's three-week-long Changemakers Tour through New England.

11th Hour Racing, our title sponsor, and the team spent months planning the schedule visiting people, organizations, and community groups that are all making a positive impact in their community and demonstrating the true values of our Believe, Belong, Achieve program.

NEXT UP, A TRIP TO THE HOME OF OUR TITLE SPONSOR

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND

© Maud Helfgott - polaRYSE / 11th Hour Racing

Next up was a trip to the home of our title sponsor, 11th Hour Racing - Newport, RI. From a workshop with teamFAME at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, to sailing with the young adults of Community Boating New Bedford, to bike riding lessons to a talk at the New York Yacht Club. It was a busy week!