Isabelle Autissier

In 1991/2 Isabelle finished 7th in The BOC Challenge, becoming the first woman to race competitively around-the-world solo. It was this success that prompted her to give up teaching and devote herself entirely to ocean racing.

While competing in the 1994/5 BOC Challenge, Autissier’s boat Ecureuil Poitou Charentes II was dismasted and severely damaged 900 nautical miles (1,700 km) south of Adelaide, Australia. She was rescued on 1 January 1995 by a Seahawk helicopter launched from the Royal Australian Navy frigate, HMAS Darwin.

On her return, she obtained sponsorship from PRB to commission designer Jean-Marie Finot and builder Marc Pinta to produce a new IMOCA Open 60 boat – PRB – to take part in the 1996/7 Vendée Globe solo non-stop round the world race. A damaged rudder forced Autissier to retire in Cape Town, but far from being down and out, she set off again once repairs had been made, to complete the course outside of the competition. Conditions were extreme, but despite this, Autissier turned round in the middle of a storm, along with other competitors, to try to find fellow competitor Gerry Roufs, whose Argos distress beacon had stopped emitting. Sadly, neither Roufs nor his boat, Groupe LG 2 were found and Autissier resumed racing, fighting extreme conditions that led to several capsizes. Remarkably, Isabelle finished just four days behind the winner.

During the 1998/9 Around Alone race, her boat PRB capsized 1,900 nautical miles (3,500 km) west of Cape Horn. The yacht remained upside down until Italian skipper Giovanni Soldini came to her rescue.

 She went on to compete in the 1997/8 Whitbread Round the World Race on the all-women entry EF Education.

In 1991, she founded the International Monohull Open Class Association (IMOCA) with Christophe Auguin, Alain Gautier and Jean-Luc Van Den Heede, to represent all skippers of IMOCA 60 monohulls.

Isabelle continues to sail extensively, and is currently sailing across the Pacific Ocean