Cole Brauer is the recipient of the prestigious 2024 Young Voyager Award. This award recognizes a young sailor who has made one or more exceptional voyages, demonstrating exceptional skills and courage.
Cole Brauer, a 30-year-old sailor who lives in Newport, Rhode Island, made history at the age of 29 by becoming the first American woman to sail around the world, non-stop, singlehanded. Her remarkable journey of 130 days aboard the Class 40 First Light in the Global Solo Challenge not only showcased her racing skills and seamanship but also earned her a second-place finish in the race.
More than half of Brauer’s competitors were unable to finish the race, which required sailing south around Africa, over to Australia, and across the Pacific Ocean to South America before returning north to Spain. Challenges she faced included injuring her rib after being thrown around by a massive wave, becoming severely dehydrated, and handling many boat repairs—all while informing and entertaining a social media audience that soared to nearly half a million.
Brauer, a native of East Hampton, New York, became a championship sailor while attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She was named the 2017 Jack Bonham Award winner, considered the most prestigious award of the university’s athletics department. While at UH, she was a member of three national championship-qualifying teams and was a two-time Intercollegiate Sailing Association Academic All-American Team member. Brauer was selected to the Dean’s List from 2013 to 2016 and was the sailing team’s top scholar-athlete in 2016, according to the university’s news department.
Her passion for the sea led her to drop plans to enroll in medical school, and she dedicated her life to sailing. In 2023 she and co-skipper Cat Chimney became the first all-female team to win the Bermuda 1-2 race, crossing the line more than 12 hours ahead of the next competitors in both legs. Brauer’s hands-on, intimate relationship with First Light, which she soloed for the first leg of the race, paid off.
The CCA recognizes that the preparation and organization required for such an endeavor are tremendous achievements on their own for a young person. Throughout her around-the-world race, Brauer captivated a tremendous following, promoting the sport of sailing and the adventurous use of the sea. Her ability to manage the duty of online documentation while navigating the world’s remote oceans inspired countless fans and brought widespread attention to the challenges and triumphs of solo sailing.
The CCA is proud to celebrate Cole Brauer’s achievements and her contribution to the sailing community. Her courage, determination, and passion for the sea exemplify the spirit of adventure and seamanship that the Young Voyager Award seeks to honor.