{"id":114,"date":"2024-01-29T08:55:56","date_gmt":"2024-01-29T07:55:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/upwindbymerconcept.com\/accueil\/"},"modified":"2026-03-18T09:29:03","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T08:29:03","slug":"accueil","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/upwindbymerconcept.com\/en\/","title":{"rendered":"Welcome"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Advancing Diversity, Inclusion, and Excellence in Offshore Sailing<\/p>\n

Preparing a woman to take on the Route du Rhum 2026 in an Ocean Fifty \u2014 while helping reshape the future of offshore racing through inclusion, transmission, and performance.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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A pioneering initiative designed to promote diversity, inclusion, and sustainable excellence in offshore sailing.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Our vision<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>
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UpWind by MerConcept is a program designed to enable women and underrepresented profiles to access the highest level of offshore sailing \u2014 both on the water and beyond.<\/p>\n

Through a demanding sporting project, a strong collective dynamic, and concrete actions, UpWind is working to sustainably evolve the standards of the sport.<\/p>\n

At UpWind by MerConcept, we aspire to reshape the narrative of offshore racing, envisioning a sailing community that is safe, welcoming, and inclusive. Launched in February 2024 by MerConcept, with Founding Sponsor 11th Hour Racing, our new Ocean Fifty project will enable female sailors from all horizons to sail at the highest level, while benefiting from the best professional support available: whether at sea, in contact with the best, or on land, alongside highly qualified technical teams.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Our skipper
\nAnne-Claire Le Berre<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>

Anne-Claire Le Berre Takes the Helm: A New Chapter for UpWind by MerConcept<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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UpWind by MerConcept is proud to announce Anne-Claire Le Berre as the new skipper for the 2025-2026 seasons of Upwind, an initiative designed to promote diversity, inclusion, and sustainable excellence in offshore sailing created in 2024 by MerConcept with the support of Founding Sponsor 11th Hour Racing. This marks an exciting new chapter in the project\u2019s mission to empower professional female sailors at the highest level of offshore racing. Anne-Claire steps into the role following the inspiring leadership of Francesca Clapcich, who has been an integral part of UpWind\u2019s success over the past year and will continue to sail as part of the crew.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Meet Our Ambassador<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>
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After being skipper of Upwind by MerConcept for the first season, Francesca Clap<\/span>c<\/span>ich continues to mentor <\/span><\/a>the project as ambassador. The Italian sailor is one of the world\u2019s most versatile sailors, having raced at two Olympic Games, twice around the world, is part of the US America\u2019s Cup Team, and also has ambitions to race in the 2028 Vend\u00e9e Globe, solo, non-stop around the world.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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\u201cFrancesca is a clear plus for the UpWind project,\u201d commented C\u00e9cile Andrieu, Racing Director at MerConcept. \u201cShe is a true trailblazer – the first Italian to win The Ocean Race – and she brings skill, passion, and determination to our team. She is also a champion for diversity and inclusion, and with her leadership, we will break down barriers and work together to devise a sailing community that is welcoming and open to everyone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Our Team<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>
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Mid April 2024, after receiving 120 applicants, MerConcept and 11th Hour Racing hosted the selection of UpWind by MerConcept in Concarneau, Britanny, France.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0UpWind by MerConcept<\/em>\u00a0racing team.<\/p>\n

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Lisa Farthofer \ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddf9 (AUT), Anne-Claire Le Berre \ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7 (FRA), Elodie Mettraux \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udded (SUI), Thiphaine Ragueneau \ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7 (FRA), Michaela Robinson \ud83c\uddff\ud83c\udde6 (RSA), Sara Stone \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (USA), and Arianne van de Loosdrecht \ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddf1 (NED) will join Skipper Francesca Clapcich \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf9 (ITA) for the 2024 season of Ocean Fifty racing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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OUR THREE PILLARS<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>
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Performance<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A high-level sporting project structured around a major objective: the Route du Rhum 2026.
Preparation, discipline, learning, and commitment are at the heart of the program.<\/p>\n

Inclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Driving change in offshore sailing by making it more representative.
Creating opportunities, increasing visibility, and developing new role models.<\/p>\n

Transmission<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Sharing, inspiring, supporting.
UpWind is built as a collective ecosystem bringing together sailors, experts, partners, and emerging talent.<\/p>\n

In its first year, UpWind by MerConcept will provide women with opportunities for high-level performance offshore racing, both on the water and on the shore team. Our 2024 goal is to recruit six women to join our multihull training program, while also fostering a diverse team to support their racing program and facilitate learning within the offshore sailing ecosystem. We also have the ambition of accompanying one of them to the starting line of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

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Our Platform<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>
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Aligned with the Ocean Fifty boat and circuit, the project finds a natural ally in advancing the sport’s competitive landscape and opening doors to under-represented talent. <\/span><\/p>\n

MerConcept’s involvement reflects a strategic commitment to diversity, enhancing the competitive landscape while ensuring accessibility to a greater number of sailors.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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MerConcept’s Commitment<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>
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MerConcept, as an <\/span>entreprise \u00e0 mission<\/span><\/i> (a legal entity in France, similar to BCorp status, where a business pursues predefined social and environmental objectives along with tailored sustainability targets), stands as a leader in the sailing industry, embedding sustainability, social responsibility, and environmental principles into its operations. The launch of this new Ocean Fifty project aligns with these core values, demonstrating a dedication to progress beyond the racecourse, catalyzing change within the sailing community for a more inclusive and sustainable future for everyone.<\/span><\/p>\n

THE UPWIND COLLECTIVE<\/strong><\/h2>\n

UpWind is not a single trajectory.<\/p>\n

It is a collective made up of sailors, engineers, communicators, partners, and experts \u2014 all contributing to reshaping offshore racing.<\/p>\n

Every role matters. Every journey inspires.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Working in partnership<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>
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11th Hour Racing<\/a> joins UpWind by MerConcept as the Founding Sponsor. 11th Hour Racing is a global-reaching organization based in Newport, R.I., USA, that advocates for sustainability and ocean health, working to mobilize sports, maritime, and coastal communities with an innovative approach to inspire solutions for the ocean. The organization harnesses the power of sport to promote collaborative, systemic change through three primary areas of engagement: Sponsorships, Grantees, and Ambassadors.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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THE 2026 OBJECTIVE<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>
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One solo challenge. A collective mission.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2026, Anne-Claire Le Berre will take on the Route du Rhum in an Ocean Fifty \u2014
an extreme challenge in a class where women are still underrepresented.<\/p>\n

But UpWind goes beyond individual performance:
\ud83d\udc49 a team training and progressing together
\ud83d\udc49 a growing community
\ud83d\udc49 a new generation finding inspiration and opportunities<\/p>\n

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THE PROJECT IN ACTION<\/strong><\/h2>\n

UpWind is also a year-round impact platform:<\/p>\n

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    \ud83c\udfac A documentary mini-series exploring women in extreme environments<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    \ud83c\udfa4 Conferences, workshops, and speaking engagements (DEI, sustainability, sport)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    \ud83e\udd1d Collaborations with committed partners<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    \ud83e\udded Training and awareness programs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    \ud83d\udcf0 Ongoing media presence and editorial content<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>

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    UpWind by MerConcept<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Advancing offshore racing.
    Through more diversity, stronger transmission, and a new generation ready to take the helm.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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    Stories<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>
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