First American Woman To Finish Solo Sailboat Race Around the World Nonstop in 130 Days

American Woman sailboat race solo race woman

By Jackelyn Cornejo , Parent Herald Mar 08, 10:05 pm

Navigating her sailboat alone through three oceans and complex factors, Cole Brauer achieved a historic feat upon her arrival in A Coruña, Spain.

First American Woman to Accomplish Continuous Solo Race Around the World

At 29, Cole Brauer became the first American female to complete a nonstop solo race around the world, covering a distance of generally 30,000 miles.

Standing at 5-foot-2 and weighing 100 pounds, Brauer was the youngest and only female among more than a dozen sailors in the Global Solo Challenge, which started in October from A Coruña.

Facing the uncertain circumstances of the journey, Brauer sailed along the west coast of Africa, rounded the Cape of Good Hope, risked eastward to Australia, confronted the tricky Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America, and sailed northeast across the Atlantic Ocean to Spain. She completed the race in 130 days.

Despite challenges like encountering 30-foot waves, sustaining injuries, and even administering her own IV for dehydration, Brauer maintained communication with her team and fans through satellite technology and social media.

Celebrating her achievement in A Coruña, she expressed the overwhelming nature of her accomplishment.

While Brauer is the first American female to complete a solo circumnavigation by sea, she is not the first woman globally to do so. Polish sailor Krystina Chojnowska-Liskiewicz obtained this in 1978, and Kay Cottee of Australia became the first female to achieve a nonstop solo voyage in 1987.

Brauer's journey displayed the mental stamina necessary for solo sailing, and crucial preconceptions about gender and physical size in the sport. Despite setbacks and doubts, Brauer's perseverance and flexibility were instrumental in her groundbreaking attainment, uplifting others to defy confidence in the process.

Cole Brauer Braved the Challenges of the 30,000-Mile Expedition

Cole Brauer, a 29-year-old from New York, has just obtained a groundbreaking milestone as the first American female to complete a solo, nonstop race around the world on board her 40-foot racing boat, First Light.

After a demanding 30,000-mile journey spanning 130 days, she arrived in A Coruña, Spain, where she conveyed her stunning feelings and celebrated with Champagne.

Securing the second position among 16 participants in the Global Solo Challenge, Brauer is the sole female and the youngest competitor in the event. Commencing in A Coruña, the circumnavigation race featured staggered starts based on performance characteristics. Starting on October 29, Brauer sailed down the west coast of Africa, across to Australia, around the tip of South America, and back to Spain.

Despite more than half of the competitors dropping out due to various challenges, Brauer persevered, facing dangers such as navigating the three "Great Capes" of Africa, Australia, and South America. Rounding South America's Cape Horn, often likened to climbing Mount Everest, presented a perilous combination of hazards, including a rise in the ocean floor, whipping winds, massive waves, frigid waters, and stray icebergs.

Sailing solo demanded not only being a skipper but also a project manager, involving steering the boat, fixing equipment, understanding weather conditions, and maintaining physical health.

The difficulty of the race was emphasized by Marco Nannini, the organizer of the Global Solo Challenge, who highlighted the relatively small number of people who have sailed solo around the world.

Brauer faced numerous challenges, from battling 30-foot waves that tossed her across the boat to sustaining a rib injury and administering her own IV for dehydration.

Despite the physical and mental hurdles, she stayed connected with her team and entertained herself with Netflix and video calls through Starlink satellites.

While technically alone on First Light, Brauer shared her journey with 450,000 Instagram followers, providing candid insights into life on the unforgiving sea.

Having learned to sail in college in Hawaii and defying stereotypes as a 100-pound young woman in a male-dominated field, Brauer's message to skeptics is a resounding "Watch me."

Emphasizing the importance of mental strength, she has become an inspiration for those who doubted her capabilities. Looking ahead, Brauer aims to continue her professional sailing career, already eyeing another around-the-world competition. However, her immediate post-race desire is to indulge in a croissant and cappuccino.