Cole Brauer Finishes Global Solo Challenge in A Coruña — Second Place and a New Class40 Record

When Cole Brauer crossed the finish line of the Global Solo Challenge in A Coruña, Spain, early this morning, she was greeted by a crowd of fans, friends, and family she had not seen in four months. Among those on the dock was Philippe Delamare, the race winner aboard his Actual 46, Mowgli, who—despite often being in the headlines of his own accomplishment—presented Cole with the silver trophy.

“He gave me the cup and said, ‘I look at you, and I see that you are the next generation of sailor,’” Cole recalled. “That’s really the only time I started to cry.” Even after the jubilant reception, she said the achievement still feels unreal. “It just feels like I went for a little sail, and now I’m back,” she added, reflecting the quiet wonder many sailors describe after long ocean passages.

At 29 years old, Cole finished second overall and became the first American woman to successfully complete a nonstop, unassisted circumnavigation via the Great Capes in the Global Solo Challenge. She was both the youngest skipper in the 16-boat fleet and the only woman to start the race. Her accomplishment has captured global attention and brought solo offshore racing into a broader public conversation.

Cole’s online following swelled dramatically over the five months of the race, growing from roughly 13,000 to more than 400,000 followers. That audience proved intensely engaged: some supporters traveled from the United States to see her finish in Spain, while others tuned in from home with elaborate livestream setups. One fan shared that Cole’s voyage inspired them to make major life changes in pursuit of greater fulfillment.

Supporters and Cole’s shore team gathered at Marina Coruña before dawn, boarding a small flotilla of chase boats to meet her as she returned under the cover of darkness. After scanning the horizon, they eventually spotted the faint green shimmer of her tricolor among the other lights and tracked her approach. As the shoreline crowd watched, Cole executed a few tacks on the final leg—moves that gave the chase fleet a rare, close-up view of the seamanship often hidden behind her social media posts.

Dawn arrived gently over a pastel sky—fitting for a boat named First Light. Cole started a live stream as she neared the finish, narrating her maneuvers and emotions. At 8:23 a.m. local time on March 7, 2024, having departed on October 29, 2023, she officially crossed the line and completed the Global Solo Challenge. Flares lit the morning like fireworks, part of the rituals she had most looked forward to after months at sea.

Cole’s finish set a new Class40 around-the-world speed record and introduced tens of thousands of non-sailors to the niche world of solo ocean racing. The spectacle—equal parts athletic feat and human story—resonated far beyond traditional sailing audiences and turned her voyage into a mainstream media event.

Back on the dock, well-wishers and media swarmed Cole. Local supporters presented a soccer jersey bearing her name and the number 54—her Class40’s race number—while champagne sprayed and friends handed her a cappuccino and the croissants she had been dreaming about since the Southern Ocean. For Cole, the return felt intimate and almost casual; for family and fans, it underscored the enormity of what she had accomplished. The morning was full of hugs, tears, and long-awaited reunions.

People frequently ask Cole what comes next. Officially, she plans to take some time off before returning to sailing. Unofficially, she has hinted at ambitions for future round-the-world campaigns, including the possibility of moving up to an IMOCA 60 class. For now, First Light will be hauled out for maintenance and storage until conditions in the Bay of Biscay improve and it is safe to relocate the boat to France.

For more information about the race and to follow Cole’s ongoing work, search for the Global Solo Challenge and Cole Brauer on their official sites and social media channels.