HER RACE IN FIGURES
Finish time: 09:03
Race time: 8 days, 20 hours, 1 minute and 11 seconds
Gap to the winner: 5 hours, 55 minutes and 21 seconds
Distance covered: 3,272.27 nm
Average speed: 15.4 knots
HER RACE IN BRIEF
For Francesca Clapcich, this Vendée Arctique – Les Sables d’Olonne was nothing short of a giant leap into the unknown. Her first encounter with high latitudes aboard an IMOCA, a solo voyage to the Arctic Circle, and the longest solo race at sea of her entire career: there was no shortage of challenges. Yet the Italian-American sailor never seemed intimidated by the scale of the task.
A symbolic milestone in her development
What followed highlighted one of her greatest strengths: her ability to keep an open mind. In a race where the situation was constantly changing, Francesca Clapcich took care to navigate without becoming fixated on her own assumptions. Off the coast of Ireland, as well as during the weather transitions that punctuated the downwind leg, she constantly reassessed her options, was willing to revise her plans and sought to understand the situation before reacting. A valuable quality in a race where stubbornness is often more costly than changing one’s mind.
But what will perhaps be most memorable about this week at sea is the mindset displayed by the sailor. Even when tired, in the midst of manoeuvres, with nights too short, and after having to deal with a sudden and unwelcome encounter with a fishing net, her enthusiasm remained undiminished. “I love racing, I love sailing and I love being here,” she kept repeating just a few hours before the finish. A philosophy that saw her through to the final miles, when she still refused to follow the others, choosing instead to take her own chances.
Finishing fifth, Francesca Clapcich leaves not only with a solid result. Above all, she leaves with a wealth of experience. More than a week alone on board, sometimes rough conditions, the Far North, managing fatigue, strategic choices and a constant battle with particularly seasoned sailors: all valuable lessons in her.
HER FIRST REACTION
“I’m absolutely exhausted; I haven’t slept for nearly 24 hours. I tried to make up the lost ground right to the very end. What matters most is that I’ve gained confidence in myself and in my boat. It’s been a great learning experience in a very unusual race. It was very special to reach the Arctic Circle, to go to that strange place with the cold, the fog and the strange feeling of being extremely alone there.”
