Francesca Clapcich races with UBI MAIOR Italia deck systems
Alexandra
UBI MAIOR Italia is the official supplier of deck equipment for the IMOCA 60 belonging to Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing, providing deck systems intended for the high mechanical loads and harsh corrosion environment of long ocean legs and designed for repeated sea-trial stress cycles.
Partnership specifics and operational scope
The collaboration pairs the technical manufacturing capabilities of UBI MAIOR Italia with the operational requirements of skipper Francesca Clapcich, an Olympic sailor and The Ocean Race winner. The supplied deck equipment emphasizes reliability, performance, and maintainability under offshore conditions. The agreement covers keel, deck, and rig interface components that must perform under dynamic loading, rapid reefing maneuvers, and extended exposure to saltwater.
Why deck systems matter for IMOCA logistics
Deck equipment on an IMOCA 60 is central to onboard logistics: it determines sail handling efficiency, reduces on-deck crew workload, and affects turnaround times during race transitions. Systems that simplify control routing, lower spares inventory needs, and resist accelerated wear directly influence race strategy and safety margins on ocean legs lasting weeks.
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| Operational Need | UBI MAIOR Italia Response | Race Impact |
|---|---|---|
| High load handling | Reinforced fittings and tested fastenings | Lower failure risk in heavy-weather maneuvers |
| Corrosion resistance | Marine-grade materials and coatings | Extended service intervals; reduced maintenance |
| Serviceability at sea | Modular components and standardized spares | Faster repairs, fewer abandoned legs |
Voices from the project
Francesca Clapcich underlined confidence in the technical partner, framing the supply as an assurance of safety and efficiency for ocean racing. Raffaele Di Russo of UBI MAIOR Italia emphasized the human and technological dimensions of the collaboration, noting the intent to combine craftsmanship with practical offshore control solutions.
Development, testing, and innovation
The partnership is positioned as an R&D platform: deck systems will be subjected to iterative sea trials and fatigue testing to validate materials, attachment points, and control ergonomics. The development pipeline targets incremental improvements in weight distribution, control responsiveness, and corrosion mitigation — all critical when systems must operate reliably across multiple race seasons.
Key technical objectives
- Optimize load paths to reduce localized stress on deck laminates.
- Standardize parts to simplify logistics of spare inventories.
- Improve ergonomics for single- or short-handed sail handling.
- Test corrosion-resistant finishes under prolonged salt exposure.
Strategic and cultural dimensions
Beyond engineering, the collaboration signals a cultural stance: promoting a more inclusive and sustainable concept of ocean racing in line with the values advanced by 11th Hour Racing. This extends to public engagement, where reliable, thoughtfully designed equipment helps teams present safer, more accessible images of offshore competition and endurance sailing for sponsors and fans.
Implications for the broader sailing and rental market
Technologies proven on high-performance boats like an IMOCA 60 often trickle down to production craft and charter fleets. Improvements in modular deck fittings, standardized spares, and corrosion-resistant finishes can reduce maintenance costs for owners and charter operators alike, improving vessel uptime in marinas and rental programs.
Practical takeaways for charter and rental operators
- Adopt tested materials to lengthen service intervals for fleet boats.
- Use modular components to minimize inventory needs and downtime.
- Apply ergonomic designs to lower risk for less experienced renters.
Testing results and future development
While full test data remains proprietary, the collaboration will generate empirical feedback on component lifespan under repeated high-load cycles. Lessons learned are expected to guide next-generation deck systems tailored for endurance events and for owners seeking robust gear for blue-water cruising.
How this links to leisure yachting
Advances in ocean-racing deck equipment improve reliability of cruising and charter boats by offering systems that require less frequent replacement and simpler at-sea servicing. For renters and owners, that translates to safer sailing days, fewer interruptions, and more predictable maintenance budgets — benefits that resonate across marinas, coastal clubs, and charter operators.
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The collaboration between UBI MAIOR Italia and Francesca Clapcich highlights several important and interesting aspects: a technical focus on durability and serviceability, the cultural push toward inclusive and sustainable ocean racing, and a concrete pipeline for transferring racing-grade innovations into recreational and charter sectors, while also acknowledging that experiencing a new location is always a multifaceted process, where one learns about the culture, nature, the indescribable palette of local colors its rhythm of life and also the unique aspects of the service; if you are planning your next trip to the sea, you should definitely consider renting a boat (boat rentals, rent a boat, rent a yacht), as each inlet, bay, and lagoon is unique and tells you about the region just as much as the local cuisine, architecture, and language GetBoat.com
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In summary, the UBI MAIOR Italia – Francesca Clapcich partnership combines race-proven deck engineering with sailor-driven validation to advance safety, performance, and maintainability in offshore sailing. The work will inform future deck standards that benefit charter fleets and private owners, improving uptime in marinas and lowering operational friction for captains. For those looking to book a charter or explore destinations by water, platforms like GetBoat.com offer transparent listings with details on make, model, ratings, and options tailored to budgets and tastes — supporting unforgettable experiences across yacht, charter, boat, beach, rent, lake, sailing, captain, sale, Destinations, superyacht, activities, yachting, sea, ocean, boating, gulf, water, sunseeker, marinas, clearwater, fishing.
