Solo Across the Atlantic: Frankie Clapcich's IMOCA 60 Prep

We follow Francesca 'Frankie' Clapcich before the Route du Rhum 2026 as she preps her foiling IMOCA 60 to race solo across the Atlantic. From 06:00 AM weather routing and 7-sail inventory calls to 20-minute micro-sleeps and 100kg sail maneuvers, step inside Team Francesca Clapcich powered by 11th Hour Racing in Saint-Malo. --- We follow Francesca 'Frankie' Clapcich in the days before the Route du Rhum 2026, as she prepares mentally and physically for the transatlantic race. Go inside Team Francesca Clapcich powered by 11th Hour Racing in Saint-Malo, France, for an unfiltered look at what it takes to launch a foiling IMOCA 60 singlehanded across the Atlantic Ocean. Solo ocean racing is a relentless test of seamanship, physiology, and preparation. With class rules restricting the boat to a 7-sail inventory and individual sails weighing nearly 100kg, every routing scenario matters before leaving the dock. Join Frankie alongside co-skipper Alberto Bona and Team Malizia's Boris Herrmann and Will Harris inside the 06:00 AM weather briefing as they debate VMG angles to the Cap Fréhel gate, port-gybe laylines, and whether to carry the specialized Quad or bridge a 5-hour gap without the FRO. On the dock, boat builder Antoine Breton and design engineer Noémie Provost explain how hull rocker and foil ergonomics prevent high-speed "wheeling" in heavy sea states, while mental coach Alexis Landais and strength coach Kilian Philippe guide Frankie through nervous-system regulation, 20-second box breathing, and 20-minute micro-sleep protocols. Plus, Frankie walks through her offshore layering system—from her favorite North Sails Gore-Tex Inshore Jacket built for sensitive skin at the neck and wrist seals to high-pile fleece insulation for freezing night watches. Whether you are trimming an IMOCA 60 on hydrofoils across the North Atlantic, managing apparent wind on a one-design racecourse, or riding high-aspect foils in open-ocean swell, the physics of lift, drag, and human endurance remain universal. North Sails powers Team Francesca Clapcich from custom 3Di offshore sail inventories above the deck to technical foul-weather apparel engineered to keep solo athletes dry, mobile, and focused from cold low-pressure fronts to warm trade-wind finishes. Learn more about Team Francesca Clapcich powered by 11th Hour Racing: https://www.francescaclapcich.com/ Video Chapters: 0:00 Rule #1 of Solo IMOCA 60 Racing: Stay on the Boat 0:38 Saint-Malo Countdown: Route du Rhum 2026 0:54 Frankie Clapcich's Path from Olympic Sailing to Offshore 1:33 The Mental Shift: Going Solo vs. Full Crew 2:04 The Physical Toll: Moving 100kg Sails Singlehanded 2:21 20-Minute Micro-Sleeps & Cockpit Alarm Systems 2:55 The 7-Sail Rule & 06:00 AM Weather Routing Briefing 3:21 Tactical Debate with Boris Herrmann, Will Harris & Alberto Bona 4:14 01:00 PM Boat Checklist, Foil Stability & Hull Rocker Physics 5:13 Jacklines, Tethers & Controlling What You Can Control 5:42 Pre-Race Mobility & 20-Second Square Breathing 6:26 Offshore Layering: North Sails Gore-Tex Inshore Jacket & Fleece 7:46 Dockside Goodbyes & Leaving Saint-Malo 8:44 Final Reflections: Showing People What Is Possible #NorthSails #RouteDuRhum #IMOCA60 #OffshoreSailing #11thHourRacing --- As the undisputed global leader in sailmaking, North Sails pioneers performance-led design and advanced 3Di engineering across all wind-powered sports. From offshore yacht racing and one-design fleets to high-speed foiling and windsurfing, we build the fastest, most advanced sails and rigs on the water. Discover more at northsails.com. https://www.northsails.com/pages/sails?utm_campaign=general_sailing_page_youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube Subscribe for more great videos: https://www.youtube.com/@North_Sails?sub_confirmation=1 --- "20261102 ROUTEduRHUM Doku Frankie H264 UHD 25p stereo25bit" ---