Cole Brauer is a 29-year-old sailor from Boothbay, Maine, USA, who is breaking stereotypes and records in the sailing world. She is the youngest and only female competitor in the Global Solo Challenge, a non-stop race that starts and ends in A Coruña, Spain, and covers more than 30,000 nautical miles around the world.
She is also the first American woman to attempt this feat, and if she succeeds, she will join an elite group of less than 200 people who have ever completed a solo nonstop circumnavigation by the three Great Capes: Cape Horn, Cape of Good Hope, and Cape Leeuwin.
Early Life, Birthday, and Education
Cole Brauer was born in 1994 (age: 29 years, as of 2023), to David and Kim Brauer, who are both avid sailors and boat builders. She has a younger sister, Dalton Roberta Brauer, who is also a sailor. She grew up in Boothbay, a coastal town in Maine, where she learned to sail at a young age.
She participated in various sailing programs and races, and developed a passion for the sport. She was inspired by the legendary sailor Ellen MacArthur, who set the world record for the fastest solo circumnavigation in 2005.
Cole attended Boothbay Region High School, where she excelled academically and athletically. She was the captain of the sailing team, the cross-country team, and the basketball team. She graduated in 2012 as the valedictorian of her class.
She then enrolled at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where she majored in marine biology and minored in oceanography. She was also a member of the varsity sailing team, and competed in several national and international events. She graduated in 2016 with honors.
Cole Brauer Wiki/Bio
| Name | Cole Brauer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1994 |
| Place of Birth | Boothbay, Maine, USA |
| Parents | David and Kim Brauer |
| Sister | Dalton Roberta Brauer |
| Education | Boothbay Region High School (2012), University of Hawaii at Manoa (2016) |
| Major | Marine Biology |
| Sailing Team | University of Hawaii Varsity Sailing Team |
| Boat | Class40 yacht, First Light |
| Race | Global Solo Challenge (2023-2024) |
| Position | Second place (as of March 2, 2024) |
| Distance Covered | More than 20,000 nautical miles |
| Milestone | First American woman to round Cape Horn solo and nonstop (January 26, 2024) |
| Inspiration | Ellen MacArthur |
| Interests | Surfing, skiing, hiking, biking, reading, writing, watching movies, marine conservation |
Sailing Career and Achievements
After college, Cole Brauer pursued her dream of becoming a professional sailor. She moved to Newport, Rhode Island, where she worked as a sailing instructor, a boat captain, and a delivery crew. She also participated in various offshore races, such as the Newport Bermuda Race, the Marblehead Halifax Race, and the Caribbean 600. She gained valuable experience and skills in sailing different types of boats, such as monohulls, multihulls, and foiling boats.
In 2019, Cole bought her own boat, a Class40 yacht named First Light, which she refurbished and customized for solo sailing. She entered the Bermuda One-Two, a race that consists of a single-handed leg from Newport to Bermuda, and a double-handed leg back to Newport. She won the race in her class, and became the youngest and first female skipper to do so. She also set a new record for the fastest solo leg, completing it in 4 days, 18 hours, and 32 minutes.
In 2020, she announced her entry in the Global Solo Challenge, a new race that aims to provide an accessible and affordable platform for solo sailors to circumnavigate the globe. The race started on September 18, 2023, from A Coruña, Spain, and is expected to finish in April or May 2024. The race has no fixed route, but requires the skippers to pass by the three Great Capes and cross the Equator twice. The race also has no rankings or prizes, but focuses on the personal challenge and adventure of each sailor.
Cole is one of the 16 skippers who are competing in the race, and the only female and American among them. She is sailing on her Class40 yacht, First Light, which she has equipped with solar panels, wind generators, water makers, and satellite communications. She is also carrying a camera and a laptop, which she uses to document her journey and share it with her followers on social media and her website.
As of March 2, 2024, she is in second place in the race, and has covered more than 20,000 nautical miles. She has faced many challenges and dangers along the way, such as storms, waves, winds, icebergs, wildlife, loneliness, fatigue, and injuries.
She has also experienced many joys and wonders, such as sunsets, stars, dolphins, whales, albatrosses, rainbows, and friendships. She has shown remarkable courage, resilience, and determination in overcoming the obstacles and pursuing her dream.
On January 26, 2024, Cole Brauer achieved a major milestone in her sailing career: she rounded Cape Horn, the southernmost tip of South America, and the most notorious and feared cape in the world. She became the first American woman to do so solo and nonstop, and joined the International Association of Cape Horners, a prestigious club of sailors who have accomplished this feat. She received a congratulatory message from Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to complete a solo nonstop circumnavigation in 1968-1969.
Cole is now sailing in the Atlantic Ocean, heading towards the Cape of Good Hope, the second of the three Great Capes. She still has a long way to go before she completes her circumnavigation, but she is confident and optimistic. She hopes to inspire other women and young people to follow their dreams and passions, and to challenge themselves to do something extraordinary.
Spouse
Cole Brauer is currently single and has no husband or children. She is focused on her sailing career and her circumnavigation project. She says that sailing is her life and that she loves the freedom, the adventure, and the connection with nature that it gives her. She also says that sailing solo is a way of discovering herself and learning to trust her instincts and abilities.
When she is not sailing, Cole enjoys spending time with her family and friends, especially her sister, Dalton, who is her best friend and supporter. She also likes to surf, ski, hike, bike, read, write, and watch movies. She is a fan of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Marvel. She is also interested in marine conservation, and supports various organizations that protect the oceans and the wildlife.
Net Worth
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $2.48 million |
| 2023 | $2.73 million |
| 2024 | $3 million |
