Ocean Impact honours
Team Francesca Clapcich wins Ocean Race Atlantic sustainability challenge.
Photography by The Ocean Race
18 September 2026
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Team Francesca Clapcich powered by 11th Hour Racing has been named overall winner of the Racing for the Ocean Teams Challenge following the inaugural Ocean Race Atlantic.
The team, which finished second on the water in The Ocean Race Atlantic 2026, took the top sustainability honour at the event’s Awards Night in Lorient, France.
The Racing for the Ocean Teams Challenge recognises teams for their efforts to reduce their environmental footprint and create a positive impact beyond the racing itself.
Team Francesca Clapcich was recognised for initiatives spanning carbon reduction, ocean science communication, education and greater equity and access within sailing.
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The campaign’s Believe, Belong, Achieve initiative supports female leadership development and mentoring through The Magenta Project, while women represented 65 percent of the team during the transatlantic event.
Skipper Francesca Clapcich said creating greater access, equity and inclusion in sailing was central to the team’s purpose.
It’s really something close to my heart and it’s a great honour and privilege to be able to win a prize for it,” Clapcich said.
Created in collaboration with IMOCA and supported by 11th Hour Racing, Impact Partner of The Ocean Race Atlantic, the challenge assessed the six competing teams against 30 sustainability criteria.
These covered operations, science, education, sustainable boatbuilding, climate impact and advocacy as the IMOCA fleet raced from New York to Lorient.
Sustainability awards
Race winner United by the Ocean also collected the award for lowest carbon footprint, while team member Vittoria Ripa di Meana received the award for best individual effort.
Team Malizia and Team Francesca Clapcich shared the Access and Equity award, recognising their work to promote equity and inclusion during the event.
MSIG Europe and Embrace the Challenge jointly received the award for best ocean science communications and outreach.
Each winner received a trophy made from recycled ocean plastic and €1,000 for their nominated Impact Partner project.
The Ocean Race Ocean Impact Director Lucy Hunt said Team Francesca Clapcich stood out for its ambition and commitment throughout the challenge.
They are very invested in sustainability, protecting the ocean and ensuring there is more access to the ocean and our sailing industry,” Hunt said.
The initiative was first introduced during The Ocean Race Europe 2025, when Holcim PRB took the overall prize, and was expanded for The Ocean Race Atlantic with additional award categories.
The Ocean Race Atlantic 2026 was the first point-to-point competition in The Ocean Race’s more than 50-year history and featured a mandatory 50-50 gender-balanced crew requirement.
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