It takes determination, hard work, and a whole lot of courage to join the round-the-world club. Recently stepping into this elite class of circumnavigators is New York native, Cole Brauer. The 29-year-old skipper sailed her way into U.S. history as the first American woman to race solo around the world. Early this past Thursday morning, Brauer concluded her 30,000-mile adventure when she pulled into A Coruña, Spain after enduring a grueling 130 days at sea.
Beginning her journey on October 29, Brauer and her 40-foot racing boat, First Light, placed second out of 16 eager sailors who raced across the water in the Global Solo Challenge, a circumnavigation race that began in A Coruña. This diverse collection of sailors represented 10 different countries, all aiming to complete the round-the-world challenge. Bauer’s journey took her sailing down the west coast of Africa, over to Australia, and around the tip of South America before finally returning to Spain.
The 5-foot-2 powerhouse was the only woman, and the youngest competitor, in the event, inspiring young girls and women on the eve of International Women’s Day. Brauer remarked on her historic sail, saying that it would “be amazing if there was just one girl that saw me and said, ‘Oh, I can do that too.’” But it is not just Brauer’s history-making sail as the first female to complete the solo journey that is inspiring; her endurance, determination, and resilience that propelled her across the finish line is a testament to the power inside everyone.
Despite not taking up sailing until 2014 when she headed to the University of Hawaii for college, Brauer already proved herself a force across the sailing landscape before the Global Solo Challenge. Feeling most at home on the water, after college Brauer went pro with her new passion and became the first woman to win the Bermuda One-Two race last summer. But Brauer’s goal has always been to be the first American woman to sail around the globe.
Unfortunately, as all competitors may be able to attest to, the Global Solo Challenge does not just have moments of triumph and joy; it is a physical and mental test on competitors who need to remain in control when the weather takes a turn for the worst. Brauer’s months-long journey was fraught with danger and challenges, facing the unpredictability of Mother Nature. In a clip shown by NBC Today, viewers witness Brauer hurled across First Light’s cabin during one of the many storms the young sailor endured during her journey across the sea. Tackling 30-foot waves, Bauer suffered a broken rib, and other clips reveal her self-administering an IV.
While the race may have been solo, Brauer was anything but alone aboard First Light. Brauer has a supportive team based in New England that she kept in constant communication with. Video calls with her family through Starlink satellites and Netflix entertainment helped keep the powerhouse company throughout her treacherous journey, and with her 450,000 Instagram followers, Bauer’s travels were filled with cheers and well-wishes—all the way back to the finishing port in Spain.
Arriving ready for a cappuccino and a croissant, Bauer exclaimed, “I can’t believe it guys. I sailed around the world… That’s absolutely crazy. This is awesome. Let’s just do it again. Let’s keep going!” The accomplished sailor hopes to further her professional career, after her snack of course.
