Meet our Squad – 7 female athletes to join our racing team

Mid April 2024, after receiving 120 applicants, MerConcept and 11th Hour Racing hosted the selection of UpWind by MerConcept in Concarneau, Britanny, France.

After four days of physical and mental tests, individual interviews, and on-water racing, seven female athletes have been selected to join the very first UpWind by MerConcept racing team.

Lisa Farthofer (AUT), Anne-Claire Le Berre (FRA), Elodie Mettraux (SUI), Thiphaine Ragueneau (FRA), Michaela Robinson (RSA), Sara Stone (USA), and Arianne van de Loosdrecht (NED) will join Skipper Francesca Clapcich (ITA) for the 2024 season of Ocean Fifty racing.

The five-Act 2024 season of the Ocean Fifty series kicks off at the end of May and includes an east/west transatlantic race, three Grand Prix events, and one Mediterranean crossing:

Act 1: Saint-Malo, May 22-26

Act 2: Pornichet, La Baule, June 20-24

Act 3: La Route des Terre-Neuvas, Saint Pierre and Miquelon to Saint Quay Portrieux, France, depart: August 27

Act 4: Med Max Occitanie, Port-Camargue, France to Saïdia Resort, Morocco, depart September 29, arrive October 3

Act 5: Saint Maxime, France, October 16-20