Skippers Will Harris and Francesca Clapcich celebrate aboard 11th Hour Racing after finishing second in the Transat Café L’OR on Friday in Fort-de-France, Martinique. The duo’s podium finish marked the best IMOCA result for a non-French team since 2011 and the highest finish by a woman in the class in two decades. Photo: Transat Café l’Or 2025

FORT-DE-FRANCE, Martinique — Kamas resident skipper Francesca Clapcich and British co-skipper Will Harris secured second place on Friday in the Transat Café L’OR, completing the double-handed transatlantic race aboard 11th Hour Racing in 12 days, 1 hour, 32 minutes, and 46 seconds. They crossed the finish line off Fort-de-France at 11:02:46 local time (15:02:46 UTC), finishing just under six hours behind the IMOCA Class winners, Charal.

This result marks several significant milestones: Clapcich became the first American woman to compete in the Transat Café L’OR, achieved the best result for a woman in the IMOCA Class in 20 years, and — alongside Harris — earned the highest finish for a non-French pairing since 2011.

Francesca Clapcich and Will Harris approach the finish line in Fort-de-France, Martinique, under stormy skies at the end of the Transat Café L’OR. They secured second place in the IMOCA Class after 12 days at sea, marking a milestone finish for the international duo. Photo: Jean-Louis Carli / Alea

“This result is for our entire team,” Clapcich said at the dock. “There may have only been two of us onboard, but we couldn’t have done it without the support of our whole team around us.”

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A Race of Endurance and Precision

Clapcich and Harris maintained a top-four position throughout the 5,503-nautical-mile course from Le Havre, France, to Martinique, briefly taking the lead as they approached the Canary Islands. After losing ground in the trade winds, they fought back to secure second place in the final 400 nautical miles. They averaged 19.01 knots (22 mph) across the Atlantic in one of the most demanding offshore challenges in professional sailing.

Crew members greet skippers Francesca Clapcich and Will Harris aboard after their second-place finish in the Transat Café L’OR. The international team celebrated the milestone result off the coast of Fort-de-France, Martinique, after more than 12 days at sea. Photo: Jean-Louis Carli / Alea

The last 12 days have been incredibly intense,” Clapcich shared. “We spent a lot of time hand-steering and took very little sleep. That’s the exhilarating part—constantly pushing ourselves and having to fight back.”

Sailing Into History

Clapcich, who has represented both Italy and the United States, described the finish as “an honor” that brought her closer to her childhood sailing hero, Dame Ellen MacArthur, who last finished second in this same class in 2005.

“I grew up with Ellen as my hero,” she reflected. “She showed the world what was possible not only for women in this sport but for all sailors. I don’t race to beat records or be the first, but if it happens, it’s pretty cool. I hope it opens doors for others to follow.”

The IMOCA 11th Hour Racing powers through the final miles toward Fort-de-France, Martinique, under heavy skies. Skipper Francesca Clapcich and co-skipper Will Harris secured a second-place finish after nearly two weeks at sea, capping an intense transatlantic race with a history-making result. Photo: Jean-Louis Carli / Alea

Harris echoed this sentiment, calling the campaign a personal highlight. “We went into the race wanting to finish in the top group,” he said. “Coming in second is definitely a great achievement. We trusted ourselves, made our own decisions, and I’m proud of how we sailed.”

Building Toward the Vendée Globe

This race marked the first official outing for Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing, a campaign aimed at qualifying for the 2028 Vendée Globe, the solo, non-stop circumnavigation recognized as one of the toughest events in world sport. Over the next three years, Clapcich plans to compete in the IMOCA Globe Series, earning points toward entry in the Vendée.

Skippers Francesca Clapcich and Will Harris share a smile during post-race interviews in Fort-de-France, Martinique. The duo celebrated their second-place finish in the Transat Café L’OR, marking a landmark achievement for both sailors and the 11th Hour Racing team. Photo: Jean-Louis Carli / Alea

Jeremy Pochman, CEO and co-founder of 11th Hour Racing, praised the result as a strong indication of future success. “To see Francesca secure a podium finish in her first race as an IMOCA skipper speaks volumes about her focus, resilience, and leadership,” he stated. “Her and Will’s performance reflects the spirit of teamwork and purpose that defines 11th Hour Racing.”

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Francesca Clapcich and Will Harris celebrate with champagne after crossing the finish line in Fort-de-France, Martinique. The 11th Hour Racing duo secured second place in the Transat Café L’OR, marking a standout performance in the demanding transatlantic race. Photo: Jean-Louis Carli / Alea

For Harris, who has now completed three major events alongside Clapcich, the collaboration has been based on mutual respect and humor. “It’s been a pleasure sailing with Frankie,” he said. “We were always pushing and working hard — but with smiles on our faces. As an Italian, she made sure we had good coffee on board.”

Clapcich laughed at the remark but remained focused on the future: “This is just the beginning,” she said. “The Vendée Globe is the goal, and this race was a significant step toward that dream.”