11th Hour Racing Loses Bowsprit in Route du Rhum
The bowsprit on the 11th Hour Racing boat sheared off during the Route du Rhum, and crew member Ambrogio Beccaria retired after a back injury.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Running
The bowsprit on 11th Hour Racing broke about 450 nautical miles west of Horta in the Azores while the boat was reaching at 14 knots, with the team then in fourth place. Ambrogio Beccaria injured his back in a fall in the cockpit and retired from the race, while Francesca Clapcich was not hurt.
Why it matters
The loss of the bowsprit forced the crew to contend with a damaged rig with 1,780 miles still to sail to the finish. For international followers of the transatlantic solo and double-handed race, the incident shows how a single structural failure can end a boat's competitive position mid-race.
The race is currently a 1,780-mile sail to the Pointe-à-Pitre finish, and the boat was making 14 knots under J3 and mainsail when the breakage occurred. The source does not report whether the team will continue racing after the bowsprit loss.
The players
11th Hour Racing
A sailing team competing in the Route du Rhum transatlantic race with a sailing program backed by a sustainability-focused ocean initiative.
Ambrogio Beccaria
An Italian sailor on the 11th Hour Racing crew who injured his back in a cockpit fall and retired from the race.
Francesca Clapcich
A sailor on the 11th Hour Racing crew who was not injured when the bowsprit broke and who said she is determined to finish as competitively as possible.
The details
The bowsprit sheared off at the stem as the boat reached at speed during the fifth night at sea. The J0 sail dropped into the water in darkness and wrapped on the J2 forestay while Francesca Clapcich was setting the Fractional Code Zero sail.
Timeline
Fifth night at sea: the bowsprit broke on 11th Hour Racing.
This morning: the boat had 1,780 miles left to sail to the finish.
Season Trajectory
Mid-race structural failures such as this one can reshape a team's standing in a long-distance race like the Route du Rhum. The 11th Hour Racing boat's position in the fleet changed sharply once the bowsprit was lost.
Fans following the Route du Rhum can track 11th Hour Racing's remaining 1,780 miles to see whether the boat continues to the finish. The team's fourth-place standing at the time of the break may change as the race proceeds.
The takeaway
Structural failures can end a team's race in an instant, so crews rely heavily on rigging reliability over long ocean legs. The incident underscores how much of an endurance race depends on equipment as well as skill.
Further reading
Explore more Running coverage for context on endurance competition.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Yachtsandyachting.
