Happy Friday everyone...
In today's newsletter:
- Transat Café L’OR: IMOCA leaders play light airs chess match north of the Canaries
- Jo Aleh and the difference between representation and tokenism
- One wave at a time: Francesca Clapcich tells her life story in a new book
- 2025 World Sailing Annual Conference gets underway in Dún Laoghaire
- The Mad Transatlantic Dash
- Holcim-PRB 'enters a new chapter in offshore sailing'
- Quiz Question...
Transat Café L’OR: IMOCA leaders play light airs chess match north of the Canaries
Five days into the Transat Café L’OR and the IMOCA fleet is playing a light airs chess match north of the Canaries – writes IMOCA Globe Series' Ed Gorman.
After five days at sea, the front group in the 18-strong IMOCA fleet in the Transat Café L’OR is bunched together in a large area of light winds north of the Canary Islands, with 11th Hour Racing currently in the lead.
On the way to this zone Jérémie Beyou and Morgan Lagravière on Charal were leading the charge south, followed by Sam Goodchild and Loïs Berrehar on MACIF Santé Prévoyance.
But in the last 24 hours a routing slightly to the west of that pair has paid off for Will Harris and Francesca Clapcich on 11th Hour Racing and the boats in their wake.
At the 12.00pm position schedule, 11th Hour Racing was making 8.4 knots and had a lead of 8.6 nautical miles over Charal in second place, with MACIF two miles back in third. She, in turn, was less than a mile ahead of Teamwork-Team SNEF, and with Allagrande MAPEI fifth, just over 11 miles off the leading pace...
Jo Aleh and the difference between representation and tokenism
Jo Aleh’s inclusion in Emirates Team New Zealand’s AC75 squad has reignited the conversation around gender quotas, tokenism, and what authentic inclusion really looks like in elite sailing, from the America’s Cup to SailGP and beyond – writes Kirsten Thomas on the Boating New Zealand website.
When Jo Aleh steps aboard Emirates Team New Zealand’s AC75, she does so as a sailor who has earned her place — not as a quota hire. A double Olympic medallist and world champion, she’s one of the sharpest tacticians in the sport. Yet even she concedes the awkwardness surrounding her selection.
In an interview with Radio New Zealand, Aleh said: “None of us like a quota. As a woman who’s been involved with yachting for a long time, I don’t want to be on something because of a quota, but you’ve kind of got to take what you can get sometimes.”
That honesty captures the paradox facing women in high-performance sport: you can’t prove what you’re capable of until someone gives you the chance but if that chance comes by rule rather than choice, your credibility risks being questioned from the start.
Quotas: the uncomfortable catalyst
The America’s Cup rule mandating one woman among the five-person crew isn’t universally liked. Team NZ’s CEO Grant Dalton told RNZ he was “quite verbally against it” because it felt tokenistic. He later admitted that without such a rule, “instinctively the guys are going to pick the guys.” That’s not hostility, it’s habit.
Change, especially in elite sport, rarely happens without a shove. The Women’s America’s Cup provided the proof of concept; the quota ensures the door stays open long enough for talent like Aleh to walk through.
Three sports, same blind spot
We’ve seen the same tension play out in SailGP, where every F50 team must carry at least one woman. On paper, it looks progressive. In practice, most female sailors have been placed in the strategist role, a position that offers visibility but often limits direct control of the boat. It can easily appear tokenistic, particularly when the strategist’s input depends on the helm’s willingness to listen.
There are exceptions and they matter. Martine Grael, the Olympic gold medallist, serves as skipper for the Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team, leading from the helm rather than watching from behind it. In the United States team, Anna Weis competes as grinder and jib trimmer, a physically demanding role that puts her right in the heart of the boat’s operation.
Those two stand as proof that ability, not gender, should determine position. But they also highlight how rare such examples still are...
One wave at a time: Francesca Clapcich tells her life story in a new book
Francesca Clapcich, the only Italian to have won The Ocean Race - and now aiming for the 2028 Vendée Globe - shares her story of the sea, her passion for adventure, and her courage in a newly published autobiography.
Arriving in bookshops on 14 November, and published by TEA (Tea Blu series), One Wave at a Time - Sailing the Sea, Sailing Through LIfe is the powerful and honest account of one of international sailing’s most versatile figures.
Clapcich was born and raised in Trieste, Italy, and is now an American citizen, residing in Park City, Utah. Having sailed across every ocean and raced on some of the most advanced race boats ever built, her next challenge is already mapped out: to qualify for the 2028 Vendée Globe, the legendary non-stop, solo round-the-world race, supported by her title sponsor, 11th Hour Racing.
Her book is far more than an account of a high-level sporting career – from her first outings on dinghies in the Adriatic to competing on cutting-edge IMOCA class yachts. It is also a searingly honest account of her life.
“Sailing completely changed my life. It has given me journeys, adventures, true friends, and a deep understanding of myself. I want to share my deep passion for the sport and give others the opportunity to experience what makes sailing so special, ensuring they too can be part of a safe and welcoming community for everyone,” said Clapcich.
With passion and resolve, Clapcich takes readers through a life in constant motion, a journey lived with commitment, honesty, and heart. In One Wave at a Time, she goes beyond her sporting achievements to reveal her true personal ‘race’. Clapcich shares her desire for inclusivity and equality in a sailing world that remains largely male-dominated, her commitment to environmental protection and sustainability, and her ongoing quest for self-discovery as both an athlete and a woman.
One Wave at a Time is a story of sea, soul, courage and determination, an inspiring read for sailing enthusiasts and newcomers alike. It is available in Italian in bookshops across Italy, and online worldwide from 14 November.
2025 World Sailing Annual Conference gets underway in Dún Laoghaire
The 2025 World Sailing Annual Conference kicks off on Sunday in the historic maritime town of Dún Laoghaire, bringing together over 400 international delegates to discuss, debate, and decide on the key issues shaping the sport.
The conference brings together the sport's key stakeholders — including Member National Authorities (MNAs), Class Associations, sailors, event organisers, and marine industry representatives — for a crucial week of meetings culminating in the World Sailing Council meeting and the General Assembly on 8 November.
This year's conference is pivotal, with a packed agenda focused on innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity. Key decisions will be made on the strategic direction of sailing, including Olympic sailing, advancements in the Para Inclusive Strategy, and the progression of the Sustainability Agenda 2030.
David Graham, CEO of World Sailing, said, "The Annual Conference is the most important week in our calendar, where the global sailing family comes together to collectively steer the future of our sport. This is a special occasion to champion our successes, speak openly about challenges, and create new opportunities for growth. We are thrilled to be back in Dún Laoghaire, a town with a rich sailing heritage, to make the critical decisions that will impact sailing at every level."
Councillor Jim Gildea, An Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, said: “We are proud to welcome the global sailing community back to Dún Laoghaire. This conference reflects our town’s enduring connection to the sea and our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity in sport.”
A significant outcome of this year's conference will be the election of two new Vice Presidents to the World Sailing Board. These elections are set to achieve a major milestone for the federation, resulting in a 50/50 gender split on the Board with four male and four female Vice Presidents.
Hosted by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Irish Sailing, the event is a welcome return to the Irish town, which last hosted the conference in 2012.
The week will also feature the prestigious World Sailing Awards and will conclude with the 2025 Development Symposium.
Open sessions of the conference will be streamed live on the World Sailing YouTube channel, allowing the global sailing community to follow the discussions.
The Mad Transatlantic Dash
When the clocks go back, the gales sweep in and the nights become unpleasantly long, its time for most normal people to lay up their boats or head for sunnier climes down south – writes PlanetSail's Matt Sheahan.
But not in the offshore rock star scene. For them, the end of October means it’s time to get out there and put hammer down across the Atlantic in a double handed race from Le Havre to Martinique, the Transat Cafe L’Or.
It’s a huge event in France and pulls in everyone from the most accomplished to the rising stars of the shorthanded offshore world. And the locals know it. It might be winter but the start is as much a festival of high tech sail as it it about a long distance event with a race village that pulls in thousands of spectators every day.
The boats are something else as well, with each of the four classes representing the leading edge of offshore racing from the massive 32m Ultims, to the insane Ocean Fifties that will blast their way around the two longest courses.
In the monohulls its the IMOCA 60 footers, several of which have come hot foot from The Ocean Race Europe, through to the biggest class of the four, the radical looking Class 40s.
In the first of several features based on this race, the boats and the characters involved, PlanetSail was there at the start in Le Havre to stroll the docks, talk to the key players and feel the vibe around one of France’s biggest offshore races.
Holcim-PRB 'enters a new chapter in offshore sailing'
The French global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions, Holcim-PRB, has announced a major change to its long time involvement sponsoring ocean racing – including the sale of the company's IMOCA.
Today, we announce an important step forward in our GO CIRCULAR sailing campaign – the announcement reads. After three successful years racing under the green and blue flag at the pinnacle of offshore competition, we are setting course for a new chapter.
We have decided to step back from our role as a primary sponsor in the IMOCA class and are now exploring new ways to continue contributing to the exciting world of offshore sailing, while honoring PRB’s proud legacy in offshore yacht racing.
The Holcim-PRB story is built on PRB’s renowned offshore racing tradition. Based in Vendée, PRB has been a pillar of IMOCA racing for over 30 years, with two Vendée Globe victories to its name: in 2001 with skipper Michel Desjoyeaux and in 2005 with Vincent Riou.
Since 1992, these triumphs have firmly established PRB as one of the most iconic and successful sponsors in solo ocean racing, creating shared pride among its employees, clients, and all those inspired by the great ocean races.
In 2022, PRB became part of the Holcim Group, opening a new chapter in its history with the launch of the Holcim–PRB partnership. As a joint sponsor, they went on to achieve multiple podium finishes in major races, including The Ocean Race (2nd place), the Course des Caps (3rd), and The Ocean Race Europe (3rd), as well as an impressive 6th place in the Vendée Globe.
These results reflect far more than rankings. They tell a story of human endurance, technical innovation, and resilience, a team that has consistently pushed boundaries in the world’s toughest waters.
“Offshore racing is an integral part of our DNA," said Olivier Troussicot, Directeur Général de PRB. "We are grateful for everything we have experienced, achieved, and celebrated throughout the years. Now we look forward with excitement to writing a new chapter, one that celebrates a commitment that is deeply rooted in our identity while embracing fresh ways to contribute to the sport we love.”
With IMOCA campaign budgets having grown significantly, Holcim and PRB have decided to evolve their sponsorship. For now, this means that the Holcim-PRB IMOCA is up for sale, as different strategic options are considered. Holcim and PRB remain committed to the world of offshore sailing and the values it represents. The aim is to inspire, unite, and make people dream through the values that drive the company forward: purpose, people and performance - encapsulated by team spirit.
Quiz Question...
Which city hosted the very first SailGP event back in 2019?
A) Sydney
B) San Francisco
C) Cowes
D) Marseille
Answer in the next newsletter...
Wednesday's answer: [CORRECTED] The only sailor to have won Olympic gold medals in both the Finn and the Star classes is is Britain's Iain Percy.
