Cole Brauer Biography

Cole Brauer is an American sailor who became the first U.S. woman to race solo and nonstop around the world. A native of Long Island, she was always fascinated by sailing but found it too cost-prohibitive. While studying at the University of Hawai’i, she joined the sailing team and became captain by her junior year. 

Enamored by the sea, she moved to Boothbay, Maine, to pursue her passion. Brauer earned her 100-ton captain’s license in 2018 and worked delivering boats along the Atlantic coast while teaching at Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club. 

In 2023, with co-skipper Cat Chimney, she won both legs of the Bermuda One-Two race, the first all-female team to do so. Her historic solo circumnavigation came during the 2023–2024 Global Solo Challenge, sailing her Class 40 First Light. The journey wasn’t without its challenges, with Brauer suffering a cracked rib, severe seasickness, and autopilot malfunctions that made her 130-day trek spanning 27,000 miles arduous and, at times, very dangerous. 

She built a strong social following, documenting her trip going from 10,000 to 500,000 followers. A mentee of The Magenta Project and a Mustang Survival Ambassador, she advocates for women in sailing and environmental conservation, collaborating with groups like Rocking the Boat to engage youth and speak on mental fortitude and breaking through barriers.

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