A bold new livery for Francesca Clapcich’s Imoca, which has returned to the sea in Lorient ahead of the season’s first event: the 1000 Race, which starts on May 3, 2026, from the French port of Port-la-Forêt. Clapcich, fresh from last year’s second-place finish in the Transat Café l’Or, teamed with Will Harris, is entering the 2026 season with a completely revamped boat and a packed schedule. The winter refit of Team Francesca Clapcich’s Imoca Powered by 11th Hour Racing, lasted four months and included a new branding designed by Stefano and Marco Schiavon of Van Orton Design, who expressed their instantly recognizable style. This style has earned them collaborations with companies such as Marvel and Disney, and with rock stars such as Jovanotti, Pearl Jam, and Bon Jovi.
Believe, Belong, Achieve
“It’s truly exciting to see our campaign come to life in such a spectacular way,” commented Francesca Clapcich, who has made the words Believe, Belong, Achieve the cornerstone of her campaign. “I’ve dedicated my career to trying to adapt to sailing, and now I want sailing to adapt to more people, so that everyone can believe in themselves, feel part of a fair and sustainable world, and achieve their dreams. Believing means showing what’s possible: if you can see it, you can become it. Belonging means building teams and communities that create opportunities for everyone and protect the environment. And achieving means promoting the collective action needed to create real, lasting change for people and the planet. I think Stefano and Marco have perfectly brought these deeply held beliefs of mine to life.”
An Explosion of Color
The central image of the graphic is a face composed of intertwined human silhouettes, a visual metaphor representing community, connection, and mutual support. The design abandons the black outlines characteristic of the studio’s previous work in favor of a more fluid and textural approach, in which layers of imagery blend together to reflect the people who support the athlete. A rich and dynamic color palette, rooted in the team’s brand colors and expanded with additional hues for visual depth, gives the boat a look unlike any previously seen on an IMOCA.
A snapshot from the presentation held in Lorient on Wednesday, March 24. © Maud Helfgptt – polaRYSE / 11th Hour Racing
1,600 Hours of Work
“As Francesca takes on one of sailing’s most demanding challenges, this boat will travel the world carrying a visual message that reminds us how the health of our oceans depends on all of us,” said Jeremy Pochman, CEO and co-founder of 11th Hour Racing. “When people can identify with a project like this, they tend to feel more engaged and motivated to take action. We hope it sparks curiosity, discussion, and ultimately, action wherever it goes.”
French naval graphic designer Jean-Baptiste Epron, who physically transferred Stefano and Marco Schiavon’s graphic design to the hull, spent over 1,600 hours painting the sails and hull, using 11 colors mixed by the team’s official paint supplier, Boero Yacht Coating.
Francesca Clapcich and her Imoca shortly before the launch, which took place the day after the presentation in the port of Lorient. © Eloi Stichelbaut – polaRYSE / 11th Hour Racing
Frankie’s 2026 Calendar
Three solo races and one crewed one. This is the schedule for Francesca Clapcich and her Imoca Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing. It begins with the 1000 Race, a solo race starting on May 3rd from Port-la-Forêt. This is followed on July 7th by another solo race, the Vendé Arctic, on the Les Sables d’Olonne course—a buoy positioned beyond the Arctic Circle—Les Sables d’Olonne. The third event, The Ocean Race Atlantic, a fully crewed race, departing from New York in September and heading to Barcelona. Finally, the Route du Rhum, the solo race from France to Guadeloupe, departing on November 1st from Saint-Malo.
Emilio Martinelli
