While competing in the 1994–95 BOC Challenge, Autissier's boat Ecureuil Poitou Charentes II was dismasted and severely damaged approximately 900 nautical miles (1,700 km) south of Adelaide, Australia.

Autissier was rescued on 1 January 1995 by a Seahawk helicopter launched from the Royal Australian Navy frigate, HMAS Darwin.

[3][4][5] On her return, her newly acquired reputation enabled her to obtain the financial support of the Vendée company PRB (“Building Coatings Products”) and to hire the architect Jean-Marie Finot and the builder Marc Pinta to build her a new "IMOCA Open 60" boat.

[6] With her new boat – the PRB, launched in July 1996 – she took part in the Vendée Globe 1996-1997, a non-stop race during which she was disqualified after stopping in Cape Town to repair a damaged rudder.

The searchers were unable to find him and Roufs disappeared at sea in his boat, Groupe LG 2 in January 1997.

[8] In 1999, during the 1998–99 Around Alone race, her boat PRB capsized approximately 1,900 nautical miles (3,500 km) west of Cape Horn.

[11] In 2012, she presented Les contes d'Isabelle Autissier, a program broadcast every Sunday on France Inter.