Overview
Agricultural engineer specialising in the fishing sector, Writer and President of the French Branch of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Isabelle AUTISSIER is above all an exceptional French sailor.
She owes her fame to her love of sailing, which she discovered in Brittany, at the age of 6. A passion without limits which led her, in 1991, to become the first woman to sail round the world SOLO.
“Adventure is getting away from certainty”, she said.
Suffering an accident during the solo round the world race “Around Alone” in 1999, she changed tack and said goodbye to solo races, but has not given up, continuing to sail.... with a team.
She then turned to writing and published, in 2009, her first novel inspired by real events, “Seule la mer s’en souviendra” (only the sea will remember), prize winner at the 20th International Geography Festival.
Her numerous works include “Passer par le nord: la nouvelle route maritime” (the new Northern sea route) and “Salut au grand Sud” (greetings to the Southern Seas) written with Erik ORSENNA as ghost writer.
Woman of action but also of commitment, Isabelle AUTISSIER has devoted much of her time over the last 10 years to nature conservation, at the head of WWF France.
“The sea is emotion, but it’s also knowledge, without which no racing or sailing is possible. Discovering the laws that govern it is to learn to appreciate it and build its freedom”. Isabelle AUTISSIER will talk about some of the subjects she holds dearest: the WWF, the environment and BIODIVERSITY!
Photo Gallery