Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

Cole Brauer finishes the Global Solo Challenge in Second Place

by Cole Brauer Ocean Racing Media 7 Mar 2024 04:54 PST 7 March 2024
Cole Brauer finishes the Global Solo Challenge in second place © Alvaro Sanchis
Cole Brauer finishes the Global Solo Challenge in second place ©Alvaro Sanchis
previous next
  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5

Solo sailor Cole Brauer has become the first American woman to race solo, nonstop and unassisted around the world, finishing the Global Solo Challenge March 7, at 8:23am CET after 130 days at sea.

She finished in second place, setting a new Class40 around-the-world speed record and amassing 450,000 followers on Instagram in the process. At just 29 years old, Brauer was both the youngest skipper and the only female sailor in the fleet of 16 boats.

The "budget-friendly" solo sailing race will have professional and amateur sailors circumnavigating the globe via the three Great Capes, beginning and ending in A Coruña, Spain. The Global Solo Challenge has a pursuit start, meaning that competitors were assigned a start date based on a speed rating for their boat. The slowest boats left first and the fastest last. All other things being equal, the boats could be expected to finish around the same time, leaving the results up to the skill of the sailors and the weather conditions.

"It hasn't really hit me yet. Everyone's so excited, but for me it hasn't really sunk in that I now hold these records," says Brauer. "It just feels like I went for a little sail, and now I'm back."

"The race was for me. It was this amazing experience that I got to have, so I feel like the celebration at the finish is almost for everyone else who was involved with this. I already had the amazing experience, I already had the experience I went out there looking for. So this celebration at the end is for the team and the supporters."

Brauer left A Coruña, Spain, on October 29 with six other skippers. She led the group to the Equator and began picking off the competitors from previous starts. As she turned east and headed for Cape Horn, she began having autopilot issues, one of which led to a broach that tossed her across the boat and injured her ribs. There was concern that she would have to pull into port, but despite the injury, she was able to make the necessary repairs and continue sailing.

In the South Pacific, Brauer also began having trouble with her hydrogenerator, which supplies much of her power onboard, keeping her steering instruments, autopilot, watermaker, and Starlink going. Even with a back up system and regular maintenance, her power rationing lasted through the end of the race.

Her expert seamanship and technical know-how made her one of the top competitors of the race, but the hallmark of Brauer's campaign was her social media presence, which inspired the admiration of hundreds of thousands of followers. Her honest, chipper updates brought followers along for the ups and downs of four months on the seas. She received hundreds of comments from people saying that although they'd never sailed before, they were so amazed by her bravery, tenacity, and positive outlook.

"This monumental milestone is not just a physical triumph, but a testament to her courage in facing challenges head-on," says Project Manager Brendon Scanlon, about her rounding of Cape Horn, the last of the Three Great Capes, which benchmark the Global Solo Challenge course. "As she sails the rough seas and navigates life's complexities onboard, we celebrate the indomitable spirit that defines her remarkable journey."

"Very few people get this opportunity and fewer still actually succeed when they do. It's a small club of people who've accomplished this," says James Tomlinson, one of the team's photographers. "She might not have won the race, but in our eyes she's the champion."

After completing the Global Solo Challenge, Brauer hopes to campaign for the 2028 Vendée Globe—the highest level of solo circumnavigational races. Her race can be best followed at colebraueroceanracing on Instagram or on the Global Solo Challenge's race tracker: globalsolochallenge.com/tracking

Brauer is a Long Island native who began sailing while attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

After moving back east, Brauer spent several years captaining First Light, then called Dragon, for a previous owner who raced the boat primarily on the east coast and in Caribbean circuits. New owners purchased the boat in late 2022 and offered to let her continue sailing it for the 2023 season, during which Brauer won the Bermuda One-Two with co-skipper Cat Chimney. The duo were the first women to win the event in its 24-edition history. After that victory, Brauer set her sights on the Global Solo Challenge.

Related Articles

Sirena Yachts reveals Sirena 118 interior details
The owner's stateroom dominates the forward section Sirena Yachts has revealed details of the interior for its latest model, the Sirena 118. At below 300 GT, the 36m superyacht represents the birth of the Turkish shipyard's new, larger composite line. Posted on 14 Jun
Bulwarks and Bulldust – watch Episode Six
Episode Six is now live - Are boat shows still relevant? Episode Six - asks the question, 'Are boat shows still Relevant?' We also offer some thoughts on changes and updates. The final episode of Series One is now live Posted on 13 Jun
2025 Flotilla to Alaska Day 15
We left Khutze Inlet this morning just before 6am for our 55nm cruise to Lowe Inlet We left Khutze Inlet this morning just before 6am for our 55nm cruise to Lowe Inlet. Conditions were pretty much like this the whole day...a little wind, occasional chop, some current with us and some current against us. Posted on 13 Jun
Scania, Viking showcase renewable diesel
Mack Attack shows outstanding efficiency without compromise in performance of Scania V8 Engines Scania, one of the world's leading manufacturers of engines, announced today the successful demonstration of the performance and viability of renewable marine diesel fuel in a Viking 48 Convertible powered by twin Scania 1,150 HP DI16-liter V8 engines. Posted on 10 Jun
Introducing the new Oceanwalker S60e
The first power cat is scheduled for delivery in April 2026 Revolution Marine Group introduces the Oceanwalker S60e, a 60-foot solar-electric power catamaran poised to redefine eco-friendly luxury on the water. Posted on 10 Jun
2025 Flotilla to Alaska Day 12
Shearwater to Rescue Bay Our plan this morning was to leave Shearwater between 8:30am-9am. We were hopeful that the fuel barge had come during the night...Shearwater was out of diesel when we arrived! Posted on 10 Jun
Nordhavn 71 Roundtable Discussion
Some of the parent company's masterminds gathered in the saloon recently Recently some of the masterminds behind Nordhavn parent company Pacific Asian Enterprises gathered in the saloon of the brand new hull #3 of the Nordhavn 71 series to discuss the mechanics and nuances of the company's latest luxury model. Posted on 9 Jun
Marine Auctions: June online auctions
Bidding to open on Friday 20th June The Bidding for the June Online Auction will commence on Thursday 20th June and will end on Thursday 26th June at 2pm AEST. Posted on 7 Jun
Bulwarks and Bulldust – watch Episode Five
Episode Five - Shane Subichin, The Boat Works - is now up and running Watch along as we speak with Shane Subichin, GM at The Boat Works about his life from tinnies on Sydney Harbour to leading the team at the premier refit and maintenance yard on the Gold Coast. Posted on 6 Jun
New Formula 360 Crossover Bowrider
An exciting new generation of Formula dayboats has arrived An exciting new generation of Formula dayboats has arrived with the upcoming debut of the all-new Formula 360 Crossover Bowrider. Posted on 5 Jun
Palm Beach Motor YachtsMaritimo 2023 M600 FOOTER