Plouarzel – Headland of Corsen – Brittany, France
Laëtitia Sanquer, founder of SIGNESCENCE, grew up on the banks of the Abers in Brittany, France, where the waves whisper secrets and wild plants dance in the wind. Daughter of a sailor father, she learned to sail even before knowing how to walk, feeling the sea as a protective presence and salt as a living memory. The ocean was her first playground, her guide and her mirror.
At 10 years old, life takes away her mother, swept away by Charcot’s disease. She suddenly becomes the guardian of her little brothers. In this early responsibility, she discovers the strength of care, the depth of commitment and the power to transform pain into presence.
At 25 years old, a new storm arises: the loss of hearing. Again, Laëtitia finds in adversity a breath of rebirth. Sign language becomes her language, a living bridge between two worlds, a light that connects what seemed separate. Her vulnerability becomes strength, her silence becomes dialogue.
In 2025, SIGNESCENCE was born: the translation of its journey into a collective mission. She works for an inclusive world, where every hand, every look, every gesture counts. And just as she takes care to connect humans, she watches over the ocean, transforming her love for the sea into concrete acts of preservation and restoration.
Today, Laëtitia walks between waves and hands, between the visible and the invisible, convinced that every encounter, every gesture, every breath can be a bridge. Her journey tells us that resilience and care can unite worlds and protect what is fragile: beings, bonds… and the sea.
What inspired you to become an 11th Hour Racing ambassador?
Our values align: the ambition to develop initiatives that advance ocean culture, equity, and inclusion in offshore racing and beyond. Acting as a deaf woman by 11th Hour Racing’s side gives me a particular responsibility to show that no one should remain at the dock, that everyone can participate, act, and connect with the ocean, even outside of traditional paths. Being an ambassador of 11th Hour Racing means transforming my singularity into strength to raise awareness among diverse audiences and share sustainable solutions for our ecosystems. It is combining this passion for the ocean with the desire to raise awareness, share, and mobilize around its preservation. My commitment is concrete, inspired by the love of life, respect for natural cycles, and the desire to act where urgency is real.
Why are you passionate about ocean conservation?
I’m passionate about protecting the ocean because it is for me a source of life, inspiration, and connection with the living. Since my childhood, the ocean has been my field of discovery, my space of freedom and wonder. Today, I wish to act so that it continues to be so for future generations.
Understanding complex interactions, respecting the cycles and beauty of what surrounds us. It’s a commitment that nourishes my creativity, my curiosity, and my desire to act concretely, every day, so that the world remains rich and vibrant.
Supporting the mission
Project name: SeaSign by Signescence
Project mission: Integrating space-based resources supporting ocean solutions and associated storytelling (art, science, and conservation).
