Cole Brauer takes fans on a solo sailing race around the world

Video dinners, spa days, stuffed animals, favorite hoodies and cozy, colorful fleece blankets. Cole Brauer's Instagram feed hardly resembles the work of someone sailing around the world on a 40-foot sailboat as part of the Global Solo Challenge. But Ms. Brauer, 29, is not an offshore racer like the others.
In 2022, Ms. Brauer tried her hand at another competition, the Ocean Race, considered the pinnacle of professional ocean racing. The sailors in this race are highly trained, wear matching bad weather clothing and benefit from corporate sponsorships. And most of them are men. Ms. Brauer, who had logged thousands of miles on high-performance offshore racing boats, felt ready to join their ranks.
But after competing in trials in France, Ms. Brauer was told she was “too small for the Southern Ocean” and sent back.
ImageMs. Brauer accumulated a wealth of professional experience on different types of boats before embarking on the Global Solo Challenge.Credit...Richard Mardens
Despite her small size, she measures 5 feet 1 inch — Ms. Brauer rounded Cape Horn, Chile, on Jan. 26, the last of three major capes on her journey to complete the Global Solo Challenge. It's a feat that most of the Ocean Race sailors chosen in his place have never attempted. And although she is the youngest competitor in the race, she is ranked second overall, just days from the finish line in La Coruna, Spain.
Along the way, she's had tearful reports of breakages and failures, moments of awe at fiery sunrises, dance parties and "shakas" signs at the end of each video. garnered a following that eclipsed any sailor or online sailing event, even the Ocean Race and America's. Cup, a prestigious race better known to the general public.

Fashion Mar 7, 2024 0 11 Add to Reading List

Cole Brauer takes fans on a solo sailing race around the world

Video dinners, spa days, stuffed animals, favorite hoodies and cozy, colorful fleece blankets. Cole Brauer's Instagram feed hardly resembles the work of someone sailing around the world on a 40-foot sailboat as part of the Global Solo Challenge. But Ms. Brauer, 29, is not an offshore racer like the others.

In 2022, Ms. Brauer tried her hand at another competition, the Ocean Race, considered the pinnacle of professional ocean racing. The sailors in this race are highly trained, wear matching bad weather clothing and benefit from corporate sponsorships. And most of them are men. Ms. Brauer, who had logged thousands of miles on high-performance offshore racing boats, felt ready to join their ranks.

But after competing in trials in France, Ms. Brauer was told she was “too small for the Southern Ocean” and sent back.

A woman dressed in a sleeveless red jumpsuit holds a railing with her left hand and a piece of veil with her right hand.

Despite her small size, she measures 5 feet 1 inch — Ms. Brauer rounded Cape Horn, Chile, on Jan. 26, the last of three major capes on her journey to complete the Global Solo Challenge. It's a feat that most of the Ocean Race sailors chosen in his place have never attempted. And although she is the youngest competitor in the race, she is ranked second overall, just days from the finish line in La Coruna, Spain.

Along the way, she's had tearful reports of breakages and failures, moments of awe at fiery sunrises, dance parties and "shakas" signs at the end of each video. garnered a following that eclipsed any sailor or online sailing event, even the Ocean Race and America's. Cup, a prestigious race better known to the general public.