Please select your home edition
Edition
Exposure Marine

Celebrating Cole Brauer, America's newest sailing hero

by David Schmidt 12 Mar 2024 08:00 PDT March 12, 2024
Cole Brauer – First Light - Global Solo Challenge © globalsolochallenge

Years ago, a mentor told me that one of the biggest problems facing American sailing was a lack of heroes. I'd love to revisit that conversation now, as I'm happy to report that America has found its newest sailing hero. I'm even happier to report that this hero is Cole Brauer, the first American woman to sail alone and nonstop around the world via the three great capes and an absolute bad ass.

Regular readers of this newsletter will know Brauer's name from Sail-World's coverage of the ongoing Global Solo Challenge, a nonstop, around-the-world-alone pursuit-style race. The first GSC skipper to begin racing, Dafydd Hughes, crossed the starting line aboard Bendigedig his 1971 S&S 34, on August 23, 2023.

Brauer, who sailed alone aboard First Light, her Class 40, began racing on October 28, 2023.

While Hughes (and others) enjoyed a huge initial lead, Brauer sailed a smart, dedicated, and determined race. Impressively, Brauer, who was turned down to sail aboard a team in The Ocean Race for her physical size (she's not tall), started racking up the miles and the social media influence.

Soon, large swaths of the non-sailing public started tuning in to Brauer's epic circumnavigation.

Unfortunately for Brauer, Phillipe Delamare (FRA), who started sailing on September 30 aboard Mowgli, his Actual 46, managed to amass an insurmountable lead, both in miles and weather systems, and crossed the finishing line on February 24 after 147 days, 1 hour, 3 minutes, and 37 seconds at sea to take first place. His official corrected time over his 26,522 nautical-mile circumnavigation was 160 days, 3 hours, 8 minutes, and 48 seconds.

Brauer, who has been sitting in second place for months, crossed the finishing line on March 7 after 130 days, 2 hours, 45 minutes, and 38 seconds at sea. Brauer's official corrected time for her 27,916 nautical mile journey was 162 days, 15 hours, 27 minutes, and 3 seconds.

While one could argue that Brauer could have sliced a tiny fraction of time off her proud circumnavigation during her final hours at sea, the bold American sailor made the decision to intentionally slow her pace for the last miles, timing her arrival to match her vessel's moniker.

This touch, plus myriad others, helps conjure the term "class act" when describing Brauer, who—according to official race reports—is already talking about her plans to be on the starting line for the 2028 Vendee Globe. (We at Sail-World would love to see her win this largely Francophile affair!)

Hundreds of thousands of cheering fans, both physical and virtual (myself included in the latter category), cheered Brauer as she crossed the finishing line. Delamare—another class act—was on hand to present her with her trophy.

In all of my decades of covering sailing, I'm not sure I've seen more joy expressed by more people for a second-place trophy than I witnessed last week. I'll admit that I loudly cheered when I saw that Brauer had rounded Cape Horn (January 26, 2024, at 1230, UTC), and again when she crossed the finishing line.

But, for anyone who followed this story, this was always about something much bigger and bolder than a sailboat race.

Simply looking at photos of Brauer and Delamare on the dock together is the kind of thing that forges dreams, and I can only imagine what some young sailor out there, eyeing this imagery, will envision for her own bold future.

This, of course, is the real power of heroes: to light the fire of an otherwise-impossible dream in the hearts of others.

In this case, I hope it sparks an absolute wildfire for American sailing and especially for female participation—and leadership—in the sport.

While my mentor described the need for a sailing hero to help animate the then-flagging sailing industry, I'll go much bigger and argue that Brauer is exactly the kind of hero that America—and the entire world—needs right now. I've never met Brauer, but I know that offshore sailing is one of the absolute hardest pursuits—both mentally and physically—afloat, and one that requires a massive amount of gumption, self-confidence, and determination to pull off.

It's fair to say that Brauer, now a veteran of the Southern Ocean and all three great Capes, has exactly that. Better still, she accomplished this feat with the kind of heart, humility, and all-out commitment that's downright infectious. I, for one, cannot wait to watch—and again cheer on—Brauer's next adventures, and I also can't wait to see what future dreams, ambitions, and accomplishments her proud circumnavigation helps inspire.

As the saying goes, a butterfly flaps its wings...

May the four winds blow you safely home.

David Schmidt
Sail-World.com North American Editor

Related Articles

Getting excited for the Van Isle 360
Quoting a famous line from Pink Floyd's "Time" As I pack for the first half of the 2025 Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race, I find myself thinking about the last time I did this race, a certain Pink Floyd song, and the great adventuring, sailing and time with friends that awaits. Posted on 3 Jun
Robert Burke on HRCS's Dyckman Marina facility
Robert Burke discusses the upcoming closure of HRCS's Dyckman Marina facility Community sailing organizations are a fantastic and affordable way of drawing new sailors into the sport. Unfortunately, the Hudson River Community Sailing is being forced to close one of its two locations in January. Posted on 3 Jun
The call of the mighty
See the words Admiral's Cup and you immediately think approachable, real, hardcore action See the words Admiral's Cup and you immediately think approachable, real, hardcore action, braving the elements, and glory for the victorious. As an Australian, you have King Louie (the late Lou Abrahams), and the late Sir Jim Hardy as the poster boys. Posted on 1 Jun
Where to purchase adaptive sailing equipment
Seats, hoists, etc for sailors with a disability Several organisations have contributed their knowledge regarding where to purchase adaptive sailing equipment such as seats for dinghies and hoists for wheelchair users to get into boats. Posted on 1 Jun
America's Cup Power Plays
And Growing Sailing Through Learning There's always so much speculation and intrigue in-between each edition of the America's Cup. Everyone wants to know what is happening behind closed doors, inside the teams, and when the Challengers meet with the Defender. Posted on 28 May
Hyde Sails Flying Fifteen Video Tuning Guide
Ben McGrane explains how to get the most out of your B1 mainsail with B1 or 2H jibs Hyde Sails release new detailed video guide for tuning the Flying 15 for use with the B1 mainsail with B1 or 2H jibs. Posted on 22 May
Gladwell's Line: - May 22 - A big month
Kiwi's loss is Italy's gain - our thoughts on the hosting debacle. Kiwi's loss is Italy's gain - our thoughts on the hosting debacle. Paul Whiting's tribute - 45yrs on. Surprise winner of biggest ever two-handed nationals. Chalkie Bland remembered. Posted on 22 May
Puget Sound sailing, Etchells, J/70s, Cup news
Seeking Goldilocks conditions on Puget Sound, Etchells NAs, J/70 U.S. Nationals, AC38 news As the saying goes, 'you don't know unless you go'. While I've mostly heard this phrase applied to climbing, skiing, and mountaineering, four late-winter and springtime races on Puget Sound this year exemplified the fact that this line. Posted on 20 May
The appeal of offshore
Is there still appeal? Have we made it too onerous? Why would someone take it up now? I had been pondering. Yes. Marquee events have no issue attracting entrants. Middle Sea, Transpac, Cape to Rio, Fastnet, and Hobart all spring to mind instantly, but what of the ‘lesser' races? Lots of boats in pens (slips) a lot of the time Posted on 18 May
Banger Racing, Back Racing and No Racing
Racing on the cheap, a return to racing for young Aussies, and ILCA struggles We start with racing on the cheap at the Colander Cup, then focus on a return to racing for the Aussies at the Youth Worlds, moving on to a complete lack of racing at the ILCA Worlds, and then looking at how SailGP should be back out on the water. Posted on 14 May
Lloyd Stevenson - AC INEOS 1456x180px BOTTOMRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERSwitch One Design