Francesca Clapcich, the Italian-American skipper who spreads energy

I was born in Italy in a realy small town where sailing is pretty much our first sport. My family had a sailing boat, so that was my really early on introduction to the sport and then, you know, a few years later I definitely fell in love with it and I kept competing since then. 

I do remember the first time my dad put me in a little optimist and I was super scared. I really didn't like it. That was my first not really good impression of sailing. But then after that I definitely learned how to do it better and you know, the love for the sport grew more and more. 

It’s been something i was thinking about since long time ago, it was never really a dream, but then I never really thought I could do a race like that alone. After the Figaro season I definitely enjoyed the challenge of solo sailing and at the finish of The Ocean Race in 2023 I knew I was ready to embark in this race. And I see it more as a challenge than a dream and I love the idea of the journey to get there.  

I definitely love to do a proper preparation to make sure I can be “relaxed” at the start and have all the pieces in my mind. The sport has already lot of unpredictables and I love to have things that can be predicted, clear and set. For me in the Vendée Globe the goal is of course to finish the race but a top 10 finish would be doable. I don’t think you can still compete to win without a new boat and in 2028 there is going to a good few of them. 

It brings a lot, you know, it's really the work ethic and the dedication that you did to put into it and the hours. And there is the teamwork and respecting your competitors. But at the same time making sure you respect your own team. There are a lot of people working to make this project successful. I think Olympic sailing is really teaches you really strong values about the sport. And it's something that you don't really forget. I was doing Olympic sailing for so many years of my life that is really ingrained in myself. I think it's not just just about what you're doing on the water, but it's about also like how you manage your campaign, how you manage your business, how you do a lot of things all with that same strength, with the same dedication. And and that's for me nothing else pushes you but gives you the same as Olympic sailing. 

Our campaign “Believe, Belong, Achieve” focuses on fostering greater inclusion and accessibility within the sport. The aim is to encourage more people to discover and embrace a discipline that I deeply love, and that I hope many more will have the opportunity to enjoy. 

In the past, I sometimes felt quite isolated as a woman in this environment. It is not a pleasant or empowering feeling, and it highlighted how important it is to create spaces where everyone truly feels they belong. With our team, we are committed to expanding this approach and ensuring that no one has to experience that sense of loneliness. 

We want people to feel welcomed for who they truly are, and to know that their place in this sport is legitimate. It’s an ambitious objective, and certainly not an easy one, but it’s a challenge that motivates me. For me, this project is a meaningful and necessary way to move the sport forward.