Born in Munich to a German father and a French mother, Isabelle JOSCHKE grew up between Geneva and the Paris region. Nothing about her suggested that she might one day become a sailor, and yet… The initial trigger was her family holidays in the Austrian lakes, where she discovered sailing aboard an Optimist. She was only five years old, but this experience had already given her a zest for the open ocean.
Fifteen years later, her passion for sailing definitively took hold during a training session at the Glénans sailing school. Whilst studying literature at the Sorbonne, Isabelle embarked on a yacht being delivered to Brazil. It proved to be a revelation: she would make the sea her profession. Having just graduated with a Masters in the Classics, she took two diplomas; one to become a sports instructor and the other a skipper.
At the start of her career, her voyages led her to the West Indies, to the United States and to Mediterranean waters. Passing through Lorient, she crossed paths with the Mini sailors and fell in love with the discipline. That’s all it took for Isabelle, then aged twenty-seven, to set sail on the crazy Mini Transat adventure and buy her first boat. In 2007, she participated in the event a second time and won the first leg of the transatlantic race. Her victory revealed the offshore racing world to her, which she will never leave.
At 40 years of age, Isabelle has a solid background in the domain of offshore racing, no matter what craft (Mini 6.50, Figaro, Class 40, IMOCA). Committed to gender equality, she has every intention of being a part of the very tight inner circle of women signed up to the start of a Vendée Globe and is seeking to participate in the 2020 edition.
At 40 years old, Isabelle has a solid experience in the world of ocean racing, which she was able to learn on board various boats (Mini 6.50, Figaro, Class 40, IMOCA). Committed to gender equality, she intends to join the very closed circle of women in the Vendée Globe. On November 8, 2020, she will set off on board the IMOCA MACSF. After a cautious start, the skipper came back in contact with the leading pack where she fought fiercely until January 9th, when her false keel cylinder broke, forcing her to abandon. After a technical stop in Salvador de Bahia, the sailor set sail again, determined to finish her journey. Joined by Sam Davies, also out of the race, Isabelle Joschke will finish her round the world voyage on February 24, thus completing her challenge.
She will be back at sea in 2021, still supported by MACSF, until the next Vendée Globe. She will take part in all the 2022 solo races and will be at the start of the double-handed races with Pierre Brasseur in 2023.
2022: Route du Rhum - 9th
2022: Défi Azimut - 14th
2022: Vendée Arcitque - Retired
2022: Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race - 5th
2021: Transat Jacques Vabre - 12th
2021: Défi Azimut - Lorient Agglomération - 8th
| Name | MACSF |
|---|---|
| Sail number | FRA 27 |
| Architect | VPLP - Verdier |
| Construction | 2007, Chantier Naval de Larros |
| Former names | SAFRAN, Quéguiner – Leucémie Espoir, Sensations i, Generali, Monin |
| Length | 18,28 m |
|---|---|
| Beam | 5,70 m |
| Draught | 4,50 m |
| Weight | 8 tonnes |
| Mast height | 29 m |
| Mast type | Wing mast |
| Foils | Yes |
| Sail area max. | |
| Upwind | 300 m2 |
| Downwind | 650 m2 |
Isabelle Joschke (MACSF) crossed the finish line of the twelfth edition of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe at 15:41:54 UTC on Tuesday. She finished ninth in the IMOCA class with a race time of 13 days, 2 hours…
•••The difficult conditions challenged the MACSF crew nicely, rewarding them with a strong 12th place in this 2021 edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre and some key learnings to take on. Isabelle and Fabien give us an insig…
•••Yes, it is indeed on the British side of the Channel that the traditional canons of the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes will release the competitors on the Rolex Fastnet Race course.
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