Cole Brauer, a 29-year-old from Long Island, New York, has become the first woman in the United States to sail solo nonstop around the world. She began her Global Solo Challenge on October 29, 2023, off the coast of A Coruña in northwest Spain. The contest attracted about 19 sailors, but only seven remained after some withdrawals. Brauer was the youngest contestant in the group. Brauer, who has a large Instagram following, documented her risky journey aboard her favourite racing boat, ‘First Light’. She shared every moment of the 26,000 nautical-mile voyage with her loved ones via social media. In one of the videos, she can be heard saying, “I can’t believe it guys. I sailed around the world” as she got closer to the finish line. “That’s crazy. That’s crazy. This is awesome. Let’s just do it again. Let’s keep going!”
Brauer has long aspired to be the first American woman to race around the world
According to her sailing profile on the Global Solo website, Brauer has long aspired to be the first American woman to race around the world and to show that the male-dominated sport can become more “open and less traditional”. “I will fight against the constant sexual, verbal, and physical harassment for not only myself but also for the Corinthian and Professional women sailors in this sport,” she stated, emphasizing how women sailors have been demanding equal pay. Throughout the challenge, Brauer sailed into the Southern Ocean and off the west coast of Africa. She worked out on the yacht and was always willing to share her harrowing sea adventures with her fans.
In December, she suffered a rib injury after being viciously tossed across the “First Light” by broaching, which occurs when a boat unexpectedly reverses direction toward the wind in unfavourable waters. On December 29, Brauer entered the Pacific Ocean, returning to the Atlantic on January 27. She finished her 100-day trek on February 5. Speaking with NBC, she stated, “Solo sailors must be able to do anything. You must be able to get up even when you are fatigued and fix everything on the boat.” Brauer graduated from East Hampton High School in 2012. Later, she attended the University of Hawaii, where she became interested in solo sailing. She added that her co-skipper, Cat Chimney, suggested this challenge to her since it matches her primary ambition of becoming the first American woman to race solo around the world. Krystyna Chojnowska-Liskiewicz, a Polish captain, was the first woman to sail alone around the world, travelling 31,166 nautical miles between 1976 and 1978.
