Cole Brauer | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 24, 1994 |
| Alma mater | University of Hawaiʻi |
| Occupation | Sailor |
| Known for | First American female single-handed non-stop circumnavigation of the globe |
Cole Brauer (born May 24, 1994) is an American sailor. [1] She was the first woman from the United States to race single-handed around the world nonstop. [2]
Brauer grew up on Long Island, New York, and attended East Hampton High School, graduating in 2012. [3] [4] She attended the University of Hawaiʻi, where she studied nutritional science and competed for the college's sailing team, later becoming the team's captain. [5] [6] Although she initially planned to become a doctor, she decided to become a sailor after learning the sport in college. [1]
After graduating, Brauer moved to Boothbay, Maine, where she currently lives. [2] [3] [5] There, she began teaching at Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club, and working as a sailor to deliver boats on the Atlantic Coast. [3]
In 2018, Brauer earned her 100Ton Captain's License. [3]
In June 2023, Brauer and her co-skipper, Cat Chimney, won both legs of the 668-nautical mile Bermuda One-Two race from Rhode Island to Bermuda and back, the first women to do so since the race's inception. [3] [4] [6]
She finished 2nd in the 2023–2024 Global Solo Challenge on March 7, 2024, sailing a Class40 boat named First Light, making her the first woman from the United States to sail single-handed around the world nonstop and unassisted, and also setting a new around-the-world speed record for the class. [2] [7] [8] She had started the race on October 29, 2023, and was the only woman and the youngest among the 16 competitors. During the 130 days on her boat, she injured a rib, suffered dehydration, and gave herself IV fluids. [1] [5] She was able to connect to the Internet via Starlink satellites, and established an influential social media presence, introducing a new audience to the sport. [9] [10]
She also trains in Newport, Rhode Island in the summer. [11]
Brauer received Mystic Seaport Museum’s America and the Sea Award for 2024. [12] She also received US Sailing's 2024 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year award. [13]