Alexia Barrier

Alexia Barrier grew up on the Cote d’Azur. At three years old she started sailing with her parents. From them she inherited her extreme passion for the ocean. At 12 years old while following a race on TV she knew she would sail single handed around the world. Sailing teacher from the age of 15 she also worked for the yachting industry as a co-skipper or sailor while studying sports managment at UFE-STAPS Nice. Competitive sports have always been part of her life. At 25 she decided to start a career as a professional sailor. At 40 she has an impressive series of awards, run over 200.000 nm and participated in 17 transatlantic races. No doubt her somehow eclectic journey is part of her force today. Calm and determined Alexia considers step by step the stages of her career, one race after another with one long term objective allowing her to constantly go straight forward. In February 2018 she acquired a 60 feet monohull - an IMOCA - that has already accomplished six races around the globe, allowing her to head for the Vendée Globe 2020, a single handed sailing-race around the world without stops and without assistance. Project 4MYPLANET Beyond the sportive challenge, Alexias motivation and her deep love for the ocean led her to the foundation of a research program for the ocean: 4myplanet. In 2010 she started a single-handed journey around the world on a 60 feet boat to collect data on the state of the ocean. During five month and 20.000 nm she collected more than a million samples of data for ocean-scientists and researchers. She also shared her data and experiences with pupils in schools for educational purposes and to share her passion. Today the concept of collecting scientific-data on racing boats is shared by others in collaboration with UNESCO and the 4myplanet educational program is perpetuated with education kits for every ocean race and followed by 5000 scholars.