The UpWind selection begins!
I can’t believe this day has arrived.
Last June, at the end of The Ocean Race, my mind turned to ‘what’s next?’. I have always had the Vendée Globe in my sights - racing solo, non-stop around the world - but I also know that I never want to be ‘just’ another competitor. I want to give back to the sport that has given me so much - intense competition, life-long friends, worldwide travel, incredible highs (and at times deep lows) - but a sport that has pushed me, my mind, and my body to achieve things far beyond my imagination.
And so at the end of The Ocean Race I knew that my next project had to be something that would make a real difference. And from a seed of an idea last June about how we could bring more women into the highest levels of our sport, here we are today: Day 1 of the selection process for UpWind by MerConcept.
The UpWind Ocean Fifty emerges from the refit shed
©D.Lupion | MerConcept
16 female athletes from around the world have been chosen to come to the worldwide center of offshore sailing in Brittany, France, and the headquarters of one of the greatest modern names in the sport - François Gabart’s MerConcept. From 120 applicants, we selected 16 sailors from India, France, Spain, Belgium, The Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Poland, Italy, South Africa, and the USA. All of whom have demonstrated the skills to compete at the very highest levels of the sport - the Olympics, round the world races, the America’s Cup, and who were all looking for their next challenge and to race in multihull boats.
Selection processes are always nerve-wracking, I’ve been through so many myself - for the Olympics or when I first tried out for The Ocean Race. I remember the nervous anticipation, but also the excitement of what could come if I were successful. And something that’s been really important for me while we have been developing this week’s selection process is ensuring that this trial is also a growing opportunity for everyone; for me, for the candidates, for the wider UpWind team. It has to be a two-way relationship.
We are here to find the best team to race in this year’s Ocean Fifty circuit, but while we are doing that, these athletes are going to have the chance to soak up all that being immersed here at MerConcept brings, and being surrounded and observed by some of the most talented names in the sport including François, Charlie Dalin, and Tom Laperche. That’s pretty awesome!
There are some really cool projects out there for female sailors, ones that are doing a lot for the sport. Still, we were inundated with applications - over 120 in total in the end - and the caliber was so high. This goes to show that female sailors are craving for these kinds of opportunities. As a sport, we need to be running more initiatives like this, we need more sponsors like 11th Hour Racing supporting these programs, and more organizations and teams investing the time, and budget, into creating equity programs. Working together we really can make a difference.
Francesca Clapcich in front of the UpWind Ocean Fifty
© D.Lupion | MerConcept
As I write this, the night before we begin this process, I too feel the nerves. Nerves to be doing this the right way, to be ensuring all the candidates have a fantastic experience, that we pick the team that is going to perform at its best on the water, while also uncovering new talents. We won’t be able to take every candidate, but my mission this week is that everyone leaves Concarneau feeling they have had a great learning experience, have grown, been pushed, and challenged, while having a fun and positive experience in a professional environment.
I’m feeling the pressure myself, but also excited to see this come to life.
Andiamo!