Sailing Electronics Leader, B&G, Joins Forces with Renowned Skipper Francesca Clapcich on her Vendée Globe 2028 Campaign

B&G, the world-leading supplier in sailing electronics, has embarked on a partnership with Team Francesca Clapcich, supporting the Italian American skipper in her campaign to compete in the 2028 Vendée Globe. Clapcich’s 60-foot foiling IMOCA, 11th Hour Racing, will be armored with the company’s navigation systems, well-equipped for the intensities of modern offshore foiling racers. B&G, celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2026, carries with it a formidable legacy in ocean racing, experienced in steering winners to victory in both the Whitbread Round the World Race and The Ocean Race since its inception in 1973. Its systems, developed in extreme offshore environments, are designed for rapid reaction times, ensuring stability even when boat speeds cross the 30-knots threshold. For Clapcich, B&G’s hardware isn’t just hardware; it becomes her eyes and senses on the waters, helping her navigate wind shifts and sea conditions with ease. The comforts of technology onboard, allowing her to manage the boat’s flight trim and other aspects with utmost clarity, are indeed a game-changer. With 2026 marking a pivotal turn in Clapcich’s journey towards the 2028 Vendée Globe, the skipper has wasted no time in adjusting to solo racing with a fully-packed racing calendar. Her sailing season debut was the solo 1000 Race in May, scheduled to be followed by the solo Vendée Arctique on June 7 from Les Sables d’Olonne, France. Her only fully crewed race for 2026 - The Ocean Race Atlantic - will see her team race from New York, USA, to Lorient, France before she goes back to solo and ends the year with the iconic Route du Rhum race from St Malo, France to Guadeloupe in the Caribbean. B&G’s systems will remain an indispensable asset on her voyage, offering her the tools needed to interpret true wind data and safely handle maneuvers at sea. Matt Eeles, Product Director for B&G, has expressed pride in the partnership with Francesca and her team, whose pioneering spirit and history of success mirrors B&G’s own ambitions and values. This collaboration remains rooted in a mutual love for sailing, a sport that reinforces respect for the natural world and connects people with the elements.