Francesca Clapcich makes history as the first woman to win the IMOCA Globe Series; eighth place in the Route du Rhum seals the title
Italian-American offshore sailor, Francesca Clapcich, onboard 11th Hour Racing, has finished the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe, in eighth place, clinching the IMOCA Globe Series championship title – the first time a woman has won the offshore sailing championship title.
Clapcich crossed the finish line off Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, at 19:41 local time on November 12 [0041 UTC, November 13] after 11 days, 11 hours, 39 minutes, and 9 seconds, having raced 3,954 nautical miles across the Atlantic – her very first solo Atlantic crossing.
“I am super happy to be here in Guadeloupe, but that was a brutal race. It was a race of two halves, but between the boat and myself we showed that we can definitely fight for the podium. I was there … I was in the fight, even without the boat being 100%.
There were six sailors in contention for the IMOCA Globe Series title before the start of the Route du Rhum. Clapcich secured the title through a run of results across four of the five events of the season – the 1000 Race, the Vendée Arctique – Les Sables d’Olonne, The Ocean Race Atlantic, and the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe.
2026 IMOCA Globe Series overall podium
1st: Francesca Clapcich (ITA/USA) – 466 points
2nd: Sam Goodchild (GBR/FRA) – 430 points
3rd: Elodie Bonafous (FRA) – 388 points