Francesca began sailing in her hometown of Trieste, Italy in 1999. After graduating from the Nautical Institute of Trieste and San Raffaele University with a Sport Science degree, she joined the Italian Air Force and served as a First Senior Airman.
Francesca competed with the Italian Sailing Federation between 2002 and 2017. She participated in the 2012 Olympic Games in the Laser Radial Class and the 2016 Olympic Games as crew in the 49er FX class. She won both the World and European Championships in 49er FX in 2015, and placed in the top five at the 2013, 2014 and 2016 World Championships and the 2013 and 2015 European Championships.
Most recently, Francesca was part of the Turn the Tide on Plastic team, competing in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-2018, and was the Skipper of the 90’ Maxi Golfo di Trieste Wind of Change.
She joins the American 11th Hour Racing Team for The Ocean Race in 2023. The American IMOCA, skippered by Charlie Enright, ended up winning the crewed round the world race with stopovers, but not without difficulty, as they were marred by a collision with Guyot environnement - Team Europe on the final leg.
Beyond the competition, The Ocean Race is an extraordinary human adventure. Six months on the move, punctuated by a magnificent competition at sea and the high points on land that have thrilled us all.
•••- More females also featured in other traditionally male-dominated roles, including onboard reporters and race jurors - The round-the-world Race is committed to driving greater equality and diversity within the event and…
•••It was a rollercoaster of a day here in Genoa, but after the World Sailing International Jury gave redress to the team for the no-fault collision moments after the start of Leg 7, it became a day of high emotion.
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