Three weeks before the start of The Ocean Race Atlantic, Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing will take its IMOCA on a three-city tour of the US East Coast, visiting organisations working on ocean health, inclusivity, and access to sailing.
The inaugural Changemakers Tour kicks off on August 14, 2026, following a transatlantic crossing from France. The team moves from Boston to Newport, Rhode Island, then New York City, where they start The Ocean Race Atlantic on September 1, racing back to Lorient, France.
Built around the team's Believe Belong Achieve framework, the tour connects Clapcich and her crew with students, sailors, and community groups across the three cities through sailing days, boat tours, speaking engagements, and career development opportunities.
"The Changemakers Tour revolves around championing the people who are creating a positive impact in their communities," Clapcich said. "Every stop, from Boston to New York, we'll have the chance to engage with really inspiring organizations, to listen to and learn from them, and also share a little more of our Believe, Belong, Achieve program."
She added that the tour carries real meaning for the wider team as well. "It is a chance to work alongside communities and contribute to the change they're making in places we don't always get to reach. That is what makes this tour so meaningful, and I cannot wait to see where it takes us."
Scheduled stops include Courageous Sailing in Boston, which has a long history of promoting access to the sport, the Community Boating Center of New Bedford where young adults will sail aboard the team's IMOCA, and the Billion Oyster Project on Governors Island in New York.
The tour also marks the launch of the team's first Believe Belong Achieve Internship Program. Three interns from Rocking the Boat, a Bronx, New York-based nonprofit and long-standing 11th Hour Racing grantee, will join the team in Newport for hands-on experience across the communications, technical, and operations teams. The organisation builds pride, purpose, and possibility through boatbuilding, rowing, and sailing.
Adam Green, Chief Executive Officer of Rocking the Boat, welcomed the placement. "Rocking the Boat is thrilled to make the most of this latest opportunity from 11th Hour Racing. We know that the three interns will have an unforgettable experience with Team Francesca. We are already looking forward to the stories they will have to tell."
For intern Jade Adon, the opportunity is already opening doors. "This internship is another door that Rocking the Boat has opened for me. I'm very excited to meet new people and feel what it's like to sail on an IMOCA!"
Michelle Carnevale, president of 11th Hour Racing, placed the tour within the organisation's broader mission. "We believe some of the most effective solutions for ocean health are already taking shape in communities around the world. Our role is to invest in the people and organizations driving that progress, helping connect, amplify, and accelerate their work. The Changemakers Tour brings together local leaders who are proving what's possible and uses the platform of sport to share their ideas with new audiences. We're proud to support Team Francesca in helping those stories inspire even greater action."
