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Ep189: Francesca Clapcich, Offshore Sailor, Preparing for Vendée Globe

April 30, 2025
Francesca Clapcich was born in Trieste, Italy and now lives in Park City, Utah with her wife (former Olympic and round-the-world sailor, Sally Barkow) and daughter, Harriet.

In our conversation, Francesca explains sailing, what it’s like to be out on the ocean with dolphins and other wildlife. Then she tells tales of the physical and mental preparations for the 2028 Vendée Globe, kid sports in Italy, building a diverse team, belief in yourself, belonging, and being a mom athlete. Our conversation couldn’t have been more full and wonderful.

Francesca has twice represented Italy at the Olympic Games, is a World Champion, European Champion, Italian Sailor of the Year. In 2023, competing with 11th Hour Racing Team, she became the first Italian to win The Ocean Race, the world’s longest and toughest team sporting event. Francesca is also the first female Italian to compete in the notoriously challenging Solitaire du Figaro, a solo multi-stage sprint around the coastline of France,. There she was presented with the Fighting Spirit award.

After studying nautical construction in high school, Francesca went on to earn a degree in sports science at San Raffaele University in Rome, with a thesis on Olympic Performance.

She then joined the Italian Air Force in their elite athlete program, where she served for nine years, finishing as a Senior Airman.

Beyond sailing, Francesca stays active in Park City. She is a qualified ski instructor, a CrossFit and weight-lifting coach, and she volunteers as an Emergency Medical Technician in her community for youth events. Francesca sits on the board of the Park City Task Force, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights in the community, building programs and events to expand the outreach of the organization, creating a safe place and access to support resources, sport and the outdoors for everyone in the region.

Francesca’s website
Francesca on Instagram and YouTube
Between Waves, a short film by Francesca & 11th Hour Racing
11th Hour Racing. (Inspired by the dynamics of sailboat racing and the urgency for climate action, 11th Hour Racing is committed to the health and resilience of ocean systems.)
Join Pip Hare, offshore sailor, for a look at the IMOCA, the 60 foot boat Francesca will be sailing in the Vendée Globe.
Transat Café L’Or
My conversation with rock climber & Founder of Flash Foxy, Shelma Jun. This is one of my all-time favorite episodes. She tells beautifully the value of working locally and taking small steps.

Other Hear Her Sports sailing episodes:
Olympian Sarah Douglas
Paralympian, offshore Sailor Hannah Stodel
America’s Cup design engineer Robyn Lesh
Olympian Helena Scutt