Francesca Clapcich: There's something magic about the Route du Rhum
by Ed Gorman / IMOCA Globe Series 27 Oct 09:44 PDT
1 November 2026
Francesca Clapcich © Marin Leroux / polaRYSE / 11th Hour Racing
She's a newcomer to the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe, but it has not taken the Italian-American skipper Francesca Clapcich long to understand what makes this four-yearly solo classic transatlantic sprint so special.
As she put it after arriving in St Malo where her boat, 11th Hour Racing, is now docked in the race village: "I've been lucky enough to be part of really big events for a long time, so I understand this is a big one. But it's not just another event - there's something magic about it."
"It's my first time here in the village," she added. "It's pretty special to see what this race is really about. Not many people in our team have been involved in a race like this before, so it's a new experience for everyone. And the village gives us a chance to connect with the public and with local associations, and we've put together a really good program here and, so far, it's gone really, really well."
For Clapcich this 3,542-nautical mile race is the last challenge of a successful first full season on 11th Hour Racing that has seen her complete three races, with a best performance alongside her crew in The Ocean Race Atlantic when she finished a close second to Paul Meilhat and his team on United by the Ocean.
The net result is that she goes into her first Route du Rhum as the overall leader in the 2026 IMOCA Globe Series Championship. She will beat her nearest rival in the ranking to the title - the in-form Sam Goodchild on MACIF Santé Prévoyance - so long as she reaches Pointe-à-Pitre in the top-six regardless of whether Goodchild wins the race or not.
For Clapcich it is quite clear that this is the highpoint of her season - the big challenge that she has been working up to in earlier tests, like the 1000 Race and the Vendée Arctique, both of which she finished in fifth place. "It's a huge milestone," she said of the Route du Rhum. "And for me, it's not just another step towards the Vendée Globe, it's a really important race in its own right. As a team, we're clear about it: this is the objective of the season, and we want to do well. So we have to treat it as a major race, not just a box to tick in our Vendée Globe preparation."
Clapcich, 38, who grew up sailing in Olympic classes and ultimately The Ocean Race, is an experienced fully-crewed sailor and has come to solo offshore racing relatively late in life. It's a discipline that presents a test of will, of character and of self-reliance and she's eager to take on.
"For me, it's a big challenge," she said of racing alone. "It's something I want to prove to myself that I can do, and do it well. It's really about the challenge of managing the boat, the whole race on my own. I find that motivating - exciting, even."
She is well aware of the demands that a race of 11 days or so is going to make on her, and how different they are as a soloist compared to racing with a crew. "Sailing solo changes everything. In a straight line, the boat's performance is fairly similar, whether you're crewed or alone. But solo, you have to think about every manoeuvre - how long will it take, how much time a sail change will cost you. You have to think much more long term. With a crew you can sometimes get away with just pushing through. On your own, you can't do that."
Clapcich has prepared thoroughly. She knows that this race is not only about surviving an often tough opening few days on the wind into Autumnal depressions in the Bay of Biscay and north Atlantic and then the Trade Winds, but about the finish too.
"The whole race is hard," she said. "The start is one thing, but you also need to reach the finish, not fresh but with some brain power left. Rounding Guadeloupe isn't easy and that's where you can make big mistakes. So it's much more about managing yourself and knowing what you can rationally do with the boat."
A top-six placing sounds doable for Clapcich, but in reality there are plenty of skippers in the 22-strong IMOCA fleet in this 13th edition of the Route du Rhum, who will be fighting for those places. In addition to Goodchild, Clapcich will be up against her fellow countryman and fellow Route du Rhum IMOCA rookie Ambrogio Beccaria on Allagrande MAPEI. Others contending for the top-6 include Sébastien Simon on Groupe Dubreuil-Air Caraïbes, Jérémie Beyou on Charal, Boris Herrmann on Malizia 4, Elodie Bonafous on Association Petits Princes-Quéguiner, Corentin Horeau on MACSF and Violette Dorange on Initiatives-Cœur.
Clapcich's IMOCA campaign is ultimately focused on the 2028 Vendée Globe, but she is among the most motivated skippers in the Class when it comes to sharing her life values - her commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and to the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, plus highlighting the threat to the global climate and the importance of a sustainable existence.
In this race she wants to demonstrate to others that they can achieve their dreams, however demanding the challenge might be. "I've been inspired by other people throughout my life, especially women and sailors who achieved amazing things with their own projects," Clapcich explained. "Sometimes I feel a responsibility and that it's my turn to show that to someone else.
"At the end of the day. I am a pretty normal person," she added. "I'm no more special than anyone else. So it means a lot to me to show that you can follow your dreams and push hard. You might have nine doors closed in front of you - you only need one to open to make something happen."