BELIEVE, BELONG, ACHIEVE is launched!
After almost a year of thinking, talking, researching, discussing, proposing, reworking, rewriting, and rethinking some more … the time has come. I am SO proud today to launch my campaign BELIEVE, BELONG, ACHIEVE with 11th Hour Racing and I am asking you all to come and join me in making positive change not just in the sailing world, but far beyond.
Let me explain what this campaign is all about …
© Giovannni Aiello | Team7SailingI’m a professional sailor, a mom, a wife, a daughter, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, an Italian, an Olympian, a ski instructor, a leader, a winner, an activist, and plenty more besides.
But I am not just one thing alone, no one is, and I want to live in a world where I can be any of these things, whenever I want, wherever I am, and whatever I do.
But it’s more than that.
I want to be treated fairly and included fully; I want to share experiences with people from different backgrounds, and I want them to feel safe to be all the things they are, too.
I want us all to belong.
If you've never had to change or hide who you truly are, if you've always been accepted as you are, perhaps you're not aware that not everyone has that luxury and I feel the privilege of that.
You might wonder why it matters. It matters because when we limit people, when we deny parts of them, we lock out potential, creativity, and progress. And in a world facing unprecedented challenges - societal divisions, environmental crises, widening inequality - we need every ounce of everyone's potential to break down barriers and find solutions. We need to find common ground among people and with our planet, not just for ourselves, but for every generation to come.
I’ve worked my entire life to become a professional, successful, sailor, and I am going to use my experiences, my platform, my voice, and my sport to begin to tackle this challenge. I want to inspire people to believe that there is a place for them, to open doors, and to foster inclusivity within the sailing community, creating a culture of belonging. It's about setting the highest standards of integrity, both on and off the water, embracing diversity as the catalyst for innovation, and taking proactive steps to address the disproportionate impact of our actions on marginalized communities worldwide.
Today, September 10, 2024 is Day One of what will be a long-term campaign with 11th Hour Racing - a true partnership to create really tangible solutions for success.
So what are we going to do?
BELIEVE, BELONG, ACHIEVE has three pillars - advocacy, education, and collective action.
We can’t do this alone - together we can do so much more, so we will support and advocate for other people and organizations working to bring increased equality and diversity into sailing, and sport in general.
To help educate ourselves and others, we have commissioned a research study to look into the scientific data behind the importance of belonging and how it can bring improved performance both to individuals and to teams.
We are designing workshops and digital courses to support people to bring a place of belonging into their organizations
And as our campaign grows and becomes more established, we will raise the issue of inequalities in sailing, sport, and society through collective action and seek legislative and regulatory changes that result in equal pay and a just climate action.
So come and join us!
I’d love to hear what you think, the challenges you have faced, and the solutions you have found, or want to put into place. You can contact me directly here.
Thank you everyone who has supported me so far through my career - I couldn’t have done it without you. I also feel incredibly honored, and privileged to have the support of 11th Hour Racing and their belief in me that together we can create tangible change for a just future for everyone.
Andiamo!
Francesca ‘Frankie’ Clapcich
she/her