round the island yacht race

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Entries are now open for the 2024 Round the Island Race, which takes place on Saturday 15th June.

During our Early Bird entry period, anyone who entered during the standard entry period in 2023 can enter at the same price as last year - so do get your entries in early!

Notice of Race

Before making your entry make sure you read the Notice of Race, as there are a number of important changes this year.

About the Race

Everything you need to know about the annual Round the Island Race.

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Rnli: official charity.

The RNLI are the official charity of the 2024 Round the Island Race.

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Our expert team are standing by to answer your questions about the Race.

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Watling Streetworks Winter Series - 4 February 2024

Watling streetworks winter series - 3 march 2024, watling streetworks winter series - dec 24, 26 and 31 2023, watling streetworks winter series - 11 february 2024, watling streetworks winter series - 25 february 2024, round the island 2024, the ellan vannin maritime centre round the island race 2024.

The 2024 Ellan Vannin Maritime Centre Round the Island Race will start in Ramsey Bay, Isle of Man on SATURDAY 6th July  at 11.00 BST, HW is at 12.16 BST. The Round the Island Yacht Race is run annually by the Manx Sailing and Cruising Club in Ramsey, Isle of Man and we would like to thank Robin Bromley-Martin of The Ellan Vannin Maritime Centre for agreeing to sponsor the 2024 event.

A splendid array of trophies is available to be won, the most prestigious being the Coronation Cup, first awarded in 1953 and the Ramsey Town Trophy dating from just a little later. The 11.00 start time will mean that most competitors will unfortunately have to contend with night-time sailing this year. For the spectators there should be great views at the start in Ramsey Bay and from the Point of Ayre around midday onwards and from many viewpoints along the West, South and East coasts back to the finish off Ramsey Harbour.

Racing will be governed by the current World Sailing Racing Rules of Sailing with RYA and MS&CC prescriptions. The Race is open to all suitable monohull and multihull yachts.  There is no entry fee.

Downloads: Entry Form 2024  /  Race Notice 2024 .  The Sailing Instructions for this years event can be found at this link:  Sailing Instructions 2024 (Will be added once available)

Div. 1 IRC:- Class A and B (provisional split 0.943 / 0.942) – The Ramsey Town Trophy and other famous prizes.  Yachts in this division must hold valid IRC certificates.

Div. 2 NHC:- Class A, B and C (provisional splits 0.921 / 0.920 – 0.850 / 0.849) – The Coronation Cup and further famous prizes. Yachts in this division need not hold any official handicap.

Div. 3 Multihull: – The Corrin Trophy.  Yachts in this division need not hold any official handicap.

One design prizes will be awarded for any class of one design yachts (if 3 or more entered)

Other prizes for bilge keel yachts, line honours, best squadron, endeavour and best overall under NHC. The Race Committee will award NHC handicaps as required and determine class splits. NHC yachts, base numbers to be used and  need not hold handicap certificates . IRC Yachts must present valid IRC Certificates and comply with ORC Category 4 or minimum SSS number of 15. Equivalent safety standards will be required for all other entrants.

The prizegiving will take place on Sunday 7th July at 1300.

Further information, sailing instructions and entry forms, will be available on the club website and Facebook page or by emailing Brian Quayle at [email protected] .

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In pictures: Round the Island Race

The annual Round the Island Race is a one-day yacht race around the Isle of Wight.

Racing got under way off Cowes shortly after 08:00 BST.

The boats crossed the start line at Cowes in 10 separate groups, starting every 10 minutes until 09:30.

Spectators line vantage points along the island's coast to watch the race.

It takes between four and ten hours to complete.

The 50 nautical mile course sees the boats race anticlockwise round the island.

The boats passed round the Needles Lighthouse, along the south-west coast of the Island.

TSCHUSS2 was the first boat to cross the finish line taking four hours and 11 minutes to lap the Isle of Wight.

The race is one of the largest yacht races in the world

At a glance

The race sees over 6,000 competitors and 1,100 boats race a 50 nautical mile course round the Isle of Wight

It began with cannons firing at 08:00 BST at the Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes

The race pits Olympic and professional sailors against amateurs, with a unique handicap system meaning any boat can win its prize - the coveted Gold Roman Bowl

The first race took place in 1931 with 25 entries

• Published 1 July 2023

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Round the island race.

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Round the Island Race

Annual round the island race in memory of past commodore edward mcdill willman.

In 1966 the Key Biscayne Yacht Club hosted the first Round the Island Race. The legacy of this fun and competitive event preceded itself and fast became the most anticipated annual event on the Club’s calendar. This event welcomes sailboats of all sizes. The race starts in the waters of Biscayne Bay in front of the Key Biscayne Yacht Club, and the course continues south through the Stiltsville Featherbeds, past Cape Florida, north along the Atlantic coast of Key Biscayne, around a mark at the opening of Bear Cut at the north of the island, and back to the Key Biscayne Yacht Club.

The Round the Island Race was conceived in part by Passed Commodore Edward McDill Willman in 1966 together with Member Ray Sullivan. Thirty-one years later, on October 23, 1994, upon the passing of Willman, Sullivan was instrumental in dedicating all future Races to Willman’s memory. Members J.J. Donahue, Jack Fischer, and Leo Swayze may also be credited to the success and legacy of this event.

Five Interesting Facts About the Late Edward McDill Willman

• At 18 years old he was a dive bomber in WWII. His WWII bombing squadron was called the “Bombing Banshees.” Many years later he connected with Roger Currie at the Key Biscayne Yacht Club, who was also a dive bomber during WWII.
• With a nod to his WWII squadron, he named his two sailboats the “Banshee,” respectively.
• Willman was the third cousin to the late Marion Morrison, better known by his stage name John Wayne.
• He won over 200 blue water races in his day.
• Willman’s son, Todd Willman, wrote a biography about his late father called “On Wings Like Eagles.”

Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

Round the Island Race 2022: The course in detail

• Toby Heppell
• June 21, 2022

The Round the Island Race 2022 is a great day out, even for those of us who typically steer clear of a race course. But how do you get round the course safely among 1000s of other yachts? We take a look at the famous course.

2021 will mark the 90th anniversary of the Round the Island Race. Credit: Ian Roman

The Round the Island Race is something of a unique event in the sporting calendar and is one of the largest mass-participation events in the UK. There are few sports or pastimes that allow everyday folk to compete against professionals and Olympic medalists on an equal footing, but the Round the Island race 2022 will see this happening as 1000s of amateur sailors take part against some of sailing’s top professionals.

But putting the number of participants and the rock-star sailors to one side, the Round the Island Race is simply a cracking day out on the water. Few things can compare to the sight of 1000s of boats heading west down the Solent towards the Needles and that sight is particularly stunning from within the fleet itself.

Although regular racers will usually take part in the race and some big boats will be out looking to set new course records, a significant number of those taking part every year have either never raced before, or very rarely race.

For those of us less used to the cut and thrust of yacht racing, the number of boats in a small area of water all vying for position can be somewhat intimidating, but it is worth remembering that although the RTIR is a race (and trying to get the better of those boats around you is a major part of the fun) in truth most are there for an enjoyable day out and understand the racing is not too serious.

Starting the Round the Island Race 2022

Before looking at the Round the Island Race 2022 course, the first tricky part of the race to be negotiated is the start.

Typically the startline runs from the Island Sailing club, sitting towards the eastern end of Cowes ’ high street and runs out to an outer distance mark in the Solent itself.

Although 1000s of craft take part in the racing each year, the fleet as a whole is split into more manageable sized classes with boats of similarly matched sailing speeds grouped together.

As such the start is not quite as hectic as it would be were everyone to set off at exactly the same time. But that still represents a large number with which to share the same piece of water, so things can get a little spicy.

The absolute key to the Round the Island Race is keeping clear air. And happily for those not used to racing that largely means staying clear of other traffic.

To this end try to start clear of the bulk of the fleet – who may well all be fighting tooth and nail for the favoured end of the line.

Article continues below…

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Entries have now opened for the Round the Island Race 2021, which this year celebrates its 90th anniversary

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If you manage to find a decent lane of clear air, you should do everything you can to maintain it. This often means, even if you have right of way over another boat, it is usually worth bearing off to go behind them when crossing upwind – and this is true downwind too.

To prevent too much traffic bunching together the fleet starts go from fastest boats to slowest boats. This can lead to the slightly odd position that the fastest boat of the day can occasionally be on their way back up the solent towards the finish before the slowest boats have even set off.

But it does make like much easier as it is unlikely you will have to worry about too many boats in those fleets starting behind you catching up. It also means that over the first hour or so of racing the fleet has usually got a pretty good spread, so just staying out of trouble at the start should be your goal. You can focus on racing the boats around you a bit more once you’re further down the Solent.

If you are beating off the startline, try to have someone to leeward on the headsail sheet for the early part of the race so you can easily ease sheets and duck behind others. Make your intentions clear from a long way out from any crossing and let other boats know of your intentions.

The same applies downwind too, ignore tide, ignore right of way, ignore all other considerations, just try to keep some clear air over and above all else.

West Solent and Hurst Narrows

Although clear air is your key consideration, particularly in the early part of the race, there are some good rules of thumb to follow. Early on the tide should be under you, so try to stay in the deep water channel where possible.

Tidal complexity in the Solent is well covered with a double high tide and short duration ebb. There are whole books out there looking into the tidal complexities of the area.

In very light, northerly winds it can pay to take the north shore, but as this is such a rarity, it is best to discount this option and stick to the channel and the Island north shore.

Round The Needles

This is probably the most famous – and typically most feared – part of the race. It’s almost cliche to mention it, but don’t tangle with the Varvassi wreck near the Needles themselves, however inviting cutting the corner might seem. The four separate hunks of the wreck are difficult to place, so unless you really know what you are doing, keep clear.

Most will know to avoid the wreck, but a common error is to give too much space. If you overstand the Needles, you’ll often end up swept west by the tide, and the problem is exacerbated by the clump of boats rafted up trying to squeeze round the inside route, creating a windshadow beyond the Needles themselves.

Be cautious, but try to avoid falling into the trap of giving too much space and sailing far, far further than you need to. This is a natural compression point for the fleet, so often you can find yourself closing in on a number of boats who are going slowly. Remember you can ease your sails to slow down as you look for a suitable gap, and this can be preferable to trying to take the outside route.

This can also be one of the first of a series of tidal gates. The ideal race-winning rounding of the Island will see boats get to the corners of the Isle of Wight just as the tide changes and thus seeing fair tide the whole way around – it’s for this reason that in some conditions the race is so regularly won on handicap by some of the smallest boats in the fleet.

There’s little you can do if you don’t quite make a corner before the tide changes, but it is worth knowing what time the changes are and, if it’s looking tight, really focussing on making it around any corner as soon as possible.

South-west side and St Catherine’s point

Rock ledges are the main feature of this part of the course, and from Hanover Point to Atherfield Ledge they extend a good distance out into the channel from the island. It often pays to take an inshore route, but an echo sounder won’t help you in the approach to some significant ledges, such as Hardman Rock or Atherfield Ledge with their steep sides making for very sudden changes in depth.

Credit: Ian Roman

The coast is rock-bound from Rocken End via St Catherine’s Point to Dunnose Point and there are many offliers. Try to find a route that keeps your wind clear, minimises any adverse tide and gives a sensible margin over unexpected rocks. Watch out for serious overfalls in strong winds.

Sandown Bay and Bembridge Ledge

In light airs, the wind can become quite complex as you cross Sandown Bay. Many people are tempted to sail close to the shore as there is less tide, but often there is better breeze out in the stronger tide offshore, so consider this option in light wind races.

If you did choose to go close into Sandown Bay, you’ll want to head out into the channel fairly early as it very rarely pays to go close to Bembridge Ledge itself – though try not to overstand the buoy, which is a mark of the course. Once round the buoy, focus again on finding clear air, as this can often be a challenge at this pinch point where the fleet converges again.

Ryde Sands and Castle Point

You can stay out of the tide by sailing into the shallows of Ryde Sands and there is often a good benefit to be found by doing so, but you want to be mindful that you don’t run aground, for ease of mind try to keep a boat of a similar size inside your line in the hope they will give you early warning should grounding be likely. Once past Sandshead Post, the bottom shelves steeply – so keep an especially wary eye on the echosounder here, and consider heading out into the tide a little early, even if this means giving up some speed.

Credit: Paul Wyeth

Generally, it pays to go in close at Castle Point, but if there’s a lot of south in the wind, there’ll be no wind under the point at all. Again it is easy to get sucked into the windless spot before you realise it and the slow sail out is a frustrating experience. Much better to give the bay plenty of room.

In South Westerly winds, you may well find that the breeze increases significantly after Castle Point as the funnelling effect along the Solent comes into force.

There is a temptation to relax once Cowes is once again within sight but you still have a fair bit of sailing to do. And this last section can take longer than you think. Try to manage your crew’s expectations as people will be tired by this time and ready for that post-race beer. Alert crews can gain many places in the last two or three tacks simply by keeping their wits about them and there is nothing more thrilling than stealing a few places at the finish.

And then enjoy that beer or G&T and reflect on a fun day out for all.

The Round the Island Race 2022 is due to take place on Saturday 25 June. See the website for more information .

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Round the Island Race: everything you need to know

The 2023 edition of the Round the Island Race is fast-approaching, with hundreds of boats getting ready to line up for the 50-mile circuit of the Isle of Wight on Saturday 1 July.

Billed as “Britain’s Favourite Yacht Race” and organised by a small and experienced team at the Island Sailing Club in Cowes, the event sees amateurs in cruising yachts sail the same course as some of the biggest professional names who are competing on cutting-edge race boats.

It is a famously spectacular sight, with yachts and sails streaming down the Solent and round the island coast, taking anything between a few hours for the fastest and a full day for those enjoying a more leisurely day out.

This page links to all the info you need for entry, race day advice, branded kit and everything else you might want to know if you’re doing the Round the Island Race this year. See you out there!

The official race charity is the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. Read here about the trust’s campaign to mark its 20th anniversary this year, as it takes part with four boats and more than 20 young people recovering from cancer treatment.

This year Elliot Brown Watches will be awarding the winners of eight categories with one of their Bloxworth Heritage Diver Watches. A few years back, the Poole based watch manufacturer, put one of their watches through the ultimate test by strapping it to the bow of a boat competing in the Clipper Round The World Yacht Race. Around 50,000 nautical miles later, it was still keeping perfect time. The perfect sailor’s watch?

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Practical Boat Owner

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Entries opens for the Round the Island Race 2023

• Katy Stickland
• February 3, 2023

Entries have now opened for the Round the Island Race 2023, which will take place on the Isle of Wight on 1 July 2023

This year's event will be the 92nd edition of the Round the Island Race. Credit: Paul Wyeth Credit: Paul Wyeth

Entries are now open for the UK’s biggest yacht race – the Round the Island Race 2023.

The event – the fourth largest mass participation event in the country – is organised annually by the Island Sailing Club, based on the Isle of Wight .

Last year over 1,100 boats took part in the 50-mile race, crossing the start line in front of the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes.

Yachts of all sizes can take part in the Round the Island Race. Credit: Paul Wyeth

Line honours went to Julian Linton’s Grand Prix multihull N.R.B , which completed the circumnavigation of the island in a time of 4h19m. The first monohull to cross the finish line was Ian Atkins’ GP42 Dark’n’Stormy , in a time of 4h54m.

The Round the Island Race 2023 is expected to attract over a thousand entries – both pro and amateur –  with boats of all sizes racing on an equal footing on 1 July 2023.

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The race director, David Atkinson said: “We can’t wait for this year’s edition of the race; I’ve ordered a moderate south-westerly breeze and lots of sunshine! I’d say if you only race once this year, make it Round the Island Race – we guarantee you’ll have a wonderful time with your friends and family.

“Our team will be there to support all the competitors as they plan their race, including some great online tools such as blogs, videos and webinars. We know everyone loves to continue the fun onshore after the race so we’re planning some après-race parties on Saturday evening.”

Thousands of sailors take part in the Round the Island Race each year. Credit: Paul Wyeth

B&G will be the Official Race Marine Electronics Partner for the event.

Early bird deals for entrants to the Round the Island Race 2023 start from £127, and will run until 23:49 on 25 February 2023. After that, the entry fee rises to £130-£163 until 23.59 on 17 June 2023.

Late entries from 23.59 on 17 June 2023-12.00 on 28 June 2023 start from £260.

To enter the 92nd edition of the race or to read the 2023 Notice of Race go to: www.roundtheisland.org.uk .

Enjoyed reading Entries opens for the Round the Island Race 2023?

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Home » Events » Round the Island Race 2023 – Countdown to the race for all

Round the Island Race 2023 - Countdown to the race for all

The excitement is building for the iconic and much-loved Round the Island Race on Saturday 1st July 2023. It’s both a prestigious and a challenging race, and regularly attracts a diverse range of sailors from around the world – from professional racing teams, keen amateur racers and families ready for an enjoyable day out on the water.

All fleets follow the same 50 nautical miles course which circumnavigates the Isle of Wight in an anti-clockwise direction with the start and finish off Cowes. The Island Sailing Club (ISC), who have run the race for over 90 years, are delighted to announce that local resident, presenter and writer Alan Titchmarsh will be firing the cannons at The Royal Yacht Squadron to start the race at 08:00.

Alan said: “I’m delighted to have been asked to start one of the highlights in the Isle of Wight calendar. The Round the Island Race is very special and I wish every participant fair winds and a calm sea. Bon voyage!”

David Atkinson, Race Director said:  “We are delighted to welcome such a hugely varied fleet this year, both returning and new competitors. It’s such a great opportunity for race crews to test their sailing skills, teamwork, and strategy as well as having a great day on the water. There’s going to be a real battle for line honours this year and we can’t wait to see who will lift the hugely coveted Gold Roman Bowl. Then there’s over one hundred other prizes on offer, not forgetting the many personal races happening between our competitors. The long-range forecast is looking favourable and we’re hoping everyone will enjoy this spectacular race.”

Behind the scenes the race relies on the well-practised Race Management Team at the ISC and the support and dedication of over 150 volunteers who play essential roles in ensuring the smooth operation of the event. It can be a long day for some of the volunteers, especially those stationed on the Finish Line committee boat. The team need to accurately record the sail number and time of every boat as they cross the finish line, and transmit this info to the results team based in Regatta House to enable an almost live feed of results online.

Follow the Round the Island Race 2023

To help you choose a great vantage point to watch the race in person take a look at the Spectator Guide on the event website. The most popular Island vantage points are in front of the Royal Yacht Squadron and Cowes Green; The Needles; St Catherine’s Point; Culver Down and Ryde Pier. The guide gives likely times the fleet will pass the different places during the 50 nautical mile course. Follow the social media channels and the live Race Blog on the event website which will provide a running commentary on the progress of the race – along with pictures and video clips – from the first start at 08:00 through to the finish. Meanwhile, the Race Viewer tracking system will be monitoring the position of all 1,100 boats taking part, so you can see exactly where your favourite boats are on the racetrack.

Official Round the Island Race 2023 Village will be open to all

Nothing beats a chilled beer and a jovial debrief after completing the race! The Official Race Village hosted by the Island Sailing Club at Cowes Yacht Haven will be the place to be. It is free to enter and will welcome all competitors, supporters, spectators and visitors to enjoy drinks and food from 17:00 on Friday 30th June and throughout race day and evening until midnight.

Enjoy live bands on Saturday from 18:00 and soak up the atmospere. The Race Partners (Helly Hansen and B&G), Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, Project Q and the Island Sailing Club will have stands offering race support, discounts, games and giveaways.

B&G in partnership with Hudson Marine will be at the Race Village with their B&G Technical Support Vehicle, kitted out with all the latest electronics. The team will be on hand to offer support and have some cool giveaways.

Helly Hansen in partnership with the RNLI will hold a Lifejacket Clinic outside the Helly Hansen Cowes store (121 High St, Cowes, PO31 7AY) on Friday 30 th June, between 15:00 and 19:00. Visit their stand in the Race Village to take part in their ‘Ready Steady Crew’ challenge to race the clock and get dressed head-to-toe in an RNLI rescue outfit.

The Official 2023 Race Collection by Helly Hansen is available to order online (via the event website  roundtheisland.org.uk  and then pay/collect in the Helly Hansen Cowes store) or visit the store and enjoy shopping the wide range of branded kit.

Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust celebrates it’s 20th birthday on race day

Dame Ellen MacArthur is taking on the Round the Island Race 2023 in celebration of her charity’s 20th birthday. She will take the helm of the Trust’s flagship boat Solent Hero and will be accompanied by 24 young people following their cancer treatment aboard four yachts. Visit the Trust’s stand on Saturday 1st July in the Race Village for some fun family games.

This year, the charity is launching its #200for20 Birthday Challenge on the day of the Round the Island Race, with Dame Ellen encouraging entrants to raise £200 or £20 for the Trust’s 20th anniversary. Donations of £20 can be made by texting RACEFORALL to 70460* or visit their JustGiving page ‘2023 Round the Island Race’.

*Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message, and you will be opting into hearing more from the Trust (if you would like to donate but don’t wish to hear more, please text RACEFORALLNOINFO instead). 

The race is also supporting the new charity Project Q Foundation which raises funds and awareness to advance Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery locally, nationally and internationally. Visit their stand to talk to their passionate team about why this innovation is so important to support.

The official Weather Briefing, hosted by Penny Tranter, will take place at the Island Sailing Club on Friday 30th June at 18:00, all skippers are welcome and it will be available online from 20:00.

Still time to enter!

Late ENTRIES close at  12:00 on Wednesday 28th June, so if your boat isn’t already entered for the race, visit the event website for all the information you need and the online entry form.

Event Website: roundtheisland.org.uk Spectator Guide: Visit the event website ‘The Race’ section Social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and #RoundtheIsland #RaceForAll

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Dubois half tonner Alchemist sinks during Round the Island – video

• Helen Fretter
• July 5, 2016

RNLI action-cam video of the Dubois half tonner Alchemist sinking rapidly east of the Needles iduring this year's Round the Island Race

The Mudeford RNLI inshore lifeboat crew shot dramatic footage of the sinking of Alchemist during last Saturday’s JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race.

Alchemist , a 1977 Dubois-designed Half Tonner, was built in Cowes at the Lallows boatyard for lifetime owner Mark Wynter, who is Commodore of the Island Sailing Club, the organising club of the Round the Island Race. Wynter was not onboard during this year’s race, which saw two crew rescued from Alchemist as she sank rapidly in around 17 metres of water just east of the Needles in strong winds on 2 July.

It has been widely reported that Alchemist hit the wreck of the SS Varvassi , an infamous obstacle of the course created when a Greek cargo steamer ran aground in 1947. Despite attempts by the inshore lifeboat crew to pass a pump to the crew onboard Alchemist, and to attach a stern towline, the beautifully varnished wooden yacht was taking on water rapidly and sank in Scratchells Bay. Both crew were rescued safely by the RNLI RIB, and an RNLI crewman was recovered from the water immediately after.

Besides competing in almost every Round the Island Race since her launch, Alchemist was a familiar sight on the Solent for nearly 30 years, and a frequent competitor in the JOG (Junior Offshore Group) races across the Channel. Many key figures in Cowes sailing community enjoyed their first taste of yacht and offshore racing onboard the Half Tonner. Yacht designer John Corby posted via social media “Seeing it under construction at Lallows when I was about 15 was one of the things that made me want to build boats.”

Both the RNLI and independent lifeboats were also called to multiple incidents during the day, including a dismasting, rudder and steering failures, and an injured crew member who was transferred to land after two boats collided.

She’s the first American woman to sail around world solo in race — and she’s from Maine

A s the sun rose, only one mile separated Cole Brauer from the coast of A Coruña in Spain, where a crowd of supporters eagerly awaited her arrival after 130 days alone at sea. The 40-foot yacht First Light sliced through the waves, its blue and red sails emblazoned with “USA 54″ billowing against the wind. Victory in sight, Brauer stood at the bow and spread her arms wide, a firecracker sparkling in each hand. As she neared the finish line, the 29-year-old sailor hollered and cheered, flashing a wide smile.

At 8:23 a.m. on March 7, Brauer made history. Four months after setting sail from A Coruña for the Global Solo Challenge , Brauer became the first American woman to race around the world without stopping or assistance. The youngest skipper and the only female competitor, Brauer finished second out of 16 racers.

“I’m so stoked,” Brauer, of Boothbay Harbor , Maine, said in a livestream as she approached the end . She wore a headlamp over her beanie with the words “wild feminist” across the top, and a couple of boats trailed her. “I can’t believe it. I still feel like I’ve got another couple months left of this craziness. It’s a really weird feeling.”

As she circumnavigated the globe by way of the three great capes — Good Hope, Leeuwin, and Horn — Brauer documented the arduous 30,000-mile journey in full on her Instagram feed. She amassed hundreds of thousands of followers, introducing many of them to the sport and upending stereotypes of a professional sailor.

Brauer, who is 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs just 100 pounds, has long defied expectations and overcome skepticism in reaching the pinnacle of the yachting world.

“I’ve always been not the correct mold. I had a guy who used to always tell me, ‘You’re always on trial because the second you walk in the door, you have three strikes against you. You’re young, you’re a woman, and you’re small,’” she recalled in a recent interview. “Now with my platform, I don’t have to be as careful about what I say or do because people care about me because of me — not because I’m a sailor.”

In her videos documenting her long days at sea, she was often vulnerable, crying into the camera when First Light had autopilot issues and sea conditions caused the boat to broach , throwing her hard against the wall and bruising her ribs. She was giddy, showing off her new pajamas on Christmas Eve and dancing in a pink dress on New Year’s Day . As her popularity soared, she was a guide for the uninitiated, providing a breakdown of her sailing routes , her workouts and meals, and how she replaces equipment alone .

A native of Long Island, N.Y., she spent her childhood on the water, kayaking with her sister across the bay to school and finding comfort in the roll of the tide. She went to the University of Hawaii at Manoa , where, longing to be back on the ocean, she joined the sailing team. Brauer learned quickly, becoming a standout and winning the school’s most prestigious athletics award.

After college, she moved to the East Coast, hoping to start a career in sailing. But she found it difficult to break into the male-dominated industry.

“It was very difficult. I got a lot of ‘nos’. A lot of, ‘No way, we want nothing to do with you. You’re a liability,’” Brauer recalled.

Undeterred, she took whatever job she could, often for little pay.

Brauer found her footing in Boothbay Harbor , where her parents, Kim and David, were living. She coached the junior sailing team at the yacht club and met yacht captain Tim Fetsch, who became her mentor. While talking with Fetsch one night over dinner, Brauer shared her goal of competing in the prestigious Ocean Race , known as “sailing’s greatest round-the-world challenge.”

He sent her “ Taking on the World ,” Ellen MacArthur’s book on finishing the Vendée Globe, a solo round-the-world race, at 24. She cried while reading it.

“They allowed me to flourish in Maine,” she said.

With Fetsch, she delivered boats to Mystic, Conn., and Newport, R.I., a sailing capital where Fetsch introduced her to his connections and she “was accepted pretty early on as as a worker bee.”

Her big break arrived when she became the boat captain for Michael Hennessy’s Class40 Dragon . She spent several years captaining Dragon and delivering it to races along the East Coast and the Caribbean.

In 2022, she was invited to try out for the Ocean Race. But after the two-week trials in France , where she sailed with a fully crewed team, she was dismissed. They told her she was too small.

“They didn’t want the 100-pound girl unless you were, you know, one of those big guys’ girlfriends, and I was not going to be that,” she said.

Describing the story to a couple of friends after the trials, Brauer made a vow — “I guess I just gotta go around the world alone.”

“It’s almost good that it happened because I needed that to push me over the edge,” she said. “I needed them to make me feel so little that I would do anything to be big.”

Later that year, Dragon was sold to a pair of brothers, who renamed it First Light and said Brauer could keep sailing it for the season. In June, Brauer and her co-skipper, Cat Chimney, became the first women to win the 24th Bermuda One-Two Yacht Race . After the victory, Brauer was prepared to take a break from competition and enjoy a “gorgeous Newport summer.”

Her sponsors had other plans. “You need to take the momentum with this win,” Brauer recalled the brothers saying. “This is probably your one and only chance to really show the world, and we’re willing to help.”

She set her sights on the Global Solo Challenge . First Light underwent a refit. With little time to prepare, Brauer suffered panic attacks and became worryingly thin. But the sailing community rallied around her and she assembled her team.

“Newport said, ‘You are our child, and we’re going to take care of you,’” she recalled.

Brauer took off from Spain on Oct. 29, and her online profile began to rise as she chronicled the voyage. The sudden isolation was overwhelming at the start, bringing her to tears at least once a day.

At one point in the race, while bobbing along in the Southern Ocean, things looked bleak. She was in excruciating pain after being slammed into the side of the boat and could hardly move. First Light was having issues with its autopilot system and she kept having to replace deteriorating parts.

“It took the entire team and my own mental state and my mother and my whole family to kind of be like, ‘You’re tough enough, like you can do this. You can get yourself out of this,’” she said.

In a race where more than half the competitors pulled out, their boats unable to withstand the harsh conditions, Brauer often listened to music on headphones to lower her anxiety.

“This is your everything. You don’t want to lose it,” she said. “Mentally, no one in the entire world knows what you’re feeling. They can’t understand the weather or the wind patterns.”

Her team monitored her by cameras and she spoke each day to those close to her, including her mom, whom she FaceTimed every morning. Sometimes they would just sit in silence. Brauer found comfort interacting with her Instagram followers, who peppered her with questions about sailing terminology and sent her messages of affirmation.

She made a ritual of watching the sunset and sunrise, each different than the last.

“Those were the most magical moments,” she said. “No obstructions, no buildings, no cars to ruin the sound.”

As she approached the finish, she described how surreal it felt that the journey was about to be over.

“It’s such a weird feeling seeing everyone. I’m trying to learn how to interact again with people, so we’ll see how this goes,” Brauer said with a slight smile and laugh on her livestream. “I don’t really know how to feel. I don’t really know how to act. I don’t really know how to be.”

A record on the high seas: Cole Brauer becomes first US woman to sail solo around the world

On Thursday, Cole Brauer made history, becoming the first American woman to sail solo nonstop around the world. The 29-year-old from Long Island, New York, celebrated at the finish line in Spain by drinking champagne from her trophy.

Friends, peers and sailing enthusiasts had been cheering Brauer on since last October, when she embarked on her more than four-month journey.

Race organizer Marco Nannini told USA TODAY he started the Global Solo Challenge to "create a platform for sailors like Cole to showcase her skills and move on to a pro sailor career."

While at sea Brauer kept her more than 400,000 Instagram followers updated − and entertained − with videos from onboard First Light. The trip was extremely challenging and physically exhausting, Brauer said in one video from December.

In the post, she describes how frustrated she felt when she had to fix and replace different parts of the boat.

"I don't want you guys to think I'm like Superwoman or something," Brauer said. "Right now I've been feeling just broken," she added, describing how she had to fix the boat's autopilot system after injuring her torso against the side of the boat's hull amid intense waves.

Who is Cole Brauer?

Brauer is from Long Island and competed for the University of Hawaii sailing team. She went to high school in East Hampton, New York, her university team website says. She was the youngest of more than a dozen sailors, or skippers, in the Global Solo Challenge.

The professional sailor lives in Boothbay, Maine, and during the spring and summer, she can be also found in Newport, Rhode Island, gearing up for races, the Newport Daily News reported last year .

Brauer has sailed on First Light, a 40-foot yacht, for over five years, the outlet reported.

"I always said I wanted to race around the world in this boat," she told the newspaper.

From above and below First Light's deck, Brauer shared aspects of her journey with followers and die-hard sailing fans.

On New Year's Eve, she donned a dress and danced at midnight , and in another post, she showed off how many pull-ups she can do.

As the only woman racing solo, nonstop around the world in the first Global Solo Challenge, Brauer said she was determined to prove there's nothing women and girls cannot accomplish.

"I push so much harder when someone's like, 'No, you can't do that,'" Brauer told NBC Nightly News . "And I'm like, 'OK, watch me.'"

Brauer is the first American woman to sail solo around the world. But Kay Cottee of Australia was the first woman in the world to accomplish the milestone, sailing off from Sydney Harbor in Australia in November 1987 and returning 189 days later.

On her profile page on the Global Solo Challenge website, Brauer said she wanted to send a message to the sailing community that it's time to leave its male-dominated culture in the past. In the profile, Brauer took aim at a lack of equal pay and what she describes as harassment in the sailing industry.

"Just as well as this community has built me up it has broken me and my fellow female teammates down. I am doing this race for them," Brauer said.

Brauer and her spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

How long was Cole Brauer at sea?

Brauer was sailing for over four months after departing on Oct. 29.

She finished second in the race, behind a sailor who departed about a month before she did.

The start times differed because that first place boat, Phillipe Delamare's Mowgli, is much slower, Nannini said, explaining the race's staggered start times.

"The format means that if you enter on a slow, small boat you can still win, which makes it much more inclusive than an event where a bigger budget is a definite advantage," he said.

France's Delamare will win first-place prize money of 7,500 euros (about $8,140), Brauer will win 5,000 euros (about $5,430) and the third place finisher will win 2,500 euros (about $2,710), Nannini said.

How dangerous was Cole Brauer's sailing race?

A medical team including a nurse and a physician trained Brauer and sent her on her journey with medicines and medical supplies, in case of any health issues, according to her Instagram account.

Early in the race, Brauer administered her own IV with a saline solution after she became dehydrated, according to one video posted to her social media.

Brauer's most serious health scare happened in early December when she said gnarly ocean conditions caused the boat to jolt, throwing her across the inside of the boat and slamming her hard against a wall.

Her ribs were badly bruised as a result, and her medical team told her to alternate between taking Advil and Tylenol, Brauer said on Instagram.

"Rigging up a sleeping seat belt has been added to my priority list," she said in the post's caption. "I know I'm very lucky that this wasn't a lot worse."

What is the Global Solo Challenge?

The inaugural Global Solo Challenge is a nonstop sailing race in which competitors departed last year from A Coruña, Spain.

The race encompasses nearly 30,000 miles and takes place mostly in the southern hemisphere.

After leaving waters off the coast of Spain, sailors travel south and around Africa's Cape of Good Hope. The race then includes the two other capes that together make up the famous three great capes: Australia's Cape Leeuwin and South America's Cape Horn.

About half of the other competitors dropped out of the race, according to racing data posted online by the Global Solo Challenge.

Delamare finished the race late last month after embarking on his journey in late September 2023, according to race data.

Contributing: Associated Press

She’s the first American woman to sail around world solo in race — and she’s from Maine

A s the sun rose, only one mile separated Cole Brauer from the coast of A Coruña in Spain, where a crowd of supporters eagerly awaited her arrival after 130 days alone at sea. The 40-foot yacht First Light sliced through the waves, its blue and red sails emblazoned with “USA 54″ billowing against the wind. Victory in sight, Brauer stood at the bow and spread her arms wide, a firecracker sparkling in each hand. As she neared the finish line, the 29-year-old sailor hollered and cheered, flashing a wide smile.

At 8:23 a.m. on March 7, Brauer made history. Four months after setting sail from A Coruña for the Global Solo Challenge , Brauer became the first American woman to race around the world without stopping or assistance. The youngest skipper and the only female competitor, Brauer finished second out of 16 racers.

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“I’m so stoked,” Brauer, of Boothbay Harbor , Maine, said in a livestream as she approached the end . She wore a headlamp over her beanie with the words “wild feminist” across the top, and a couple of boats trailed her. “I can’t believe it. I still feel like I’ve got another couple months left of this craziness. It’s a really weird feeling.”

As she circumnavigated the globe by way of the three great capes — Good Hope, Leeuwin, and Horn — Brauer documented the arduous 30,000-mile journey in full on her Instagram feed. She amassed hundreds of thousands of followers, introducing many of them to the sport and upending stereotypes of a professional sailor.

Brauer, who is 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs just 100 pounds, has long defied expectations and overcome skepticism in reaching the pinnacle of the yachting world.

“I’ve always been not the correct mold. I had a guy who used to always tell me, ‘You’re always on trial because the second you walk in the door, you have three strikes against you. You’re young, you’re a woman, and you’re small,’” she recalled in a recent interview. “Now with my platform, I don’t have to be as careful about what I say or do because people care about me because of me — not because I’m a sailor.”

In her videos documenting her long days at sea, she was often vulnerable, crying into the camera when First Light had autopilot issues and sea conditions caused the boat to broach , throwing her hard against the wall and bruising her ribs. She was giddy, showing off her new pajamas on Christmas Eve and dancing in a pink dress on New Year’s Day . As her popularity soared, she was a guide for the uninitiated, providing a breakdown of her sailing routes , her workouts and meals, and how she replaces equipment alone .

A native of Long Island, N.Y., she spent her childhood on the water, kayaking with her sister across the bay to school and finding comfort in the roll of the tide. She went to the University of Hawaii at Manoa , where, longing to be back on the ocean, she joined the sailing team. Brauer learned quickly, becoming a standout and winning the school’s most prestigious athletics award.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by COLE BRAUER OCEAN RACING (@colebraueroceanracing)

After college, she moved to the East Coast, hoping to start a career in sailing. But she found it difficult to break into the male-dominated industry.

“It was very difficult. I got a lot of ‘nos’. A lot of, ‘No way, we want nothing to do with you. You’re a liability,’” Brauer recalled.

Undeterred, she took whatever job she could, often for little pay.

Brauer found her footing in Boothbay Harbor , where her parents, Kim and David, were living. She coached the junior sailing team at the yacht club and met yacht captain Tim Fetsch, who became her mentor. While talking with Fetsch one night over dinner, Brauer shared her goal of competing in the prestigious Ocean Race , known as “sailing’s greatest round-the-world challenge.”

He sent her “ Taking on the World ,” Ellen MacArthur’s book on finishing the Vendée Globe, a solo round-the-world race, at 24. She cried while reading it.

“They allowed me to flourish in Maine,” she said.

With Fetsch, she delivered boats to Mystic, Conn., and Newport, R.I., a sailing capital where Fetsch introduced her to his connections and she “was accepted pretty early on as as a worker bee.”

Her big break arrived when she became the boat captain for Michael Hennessy’s Class40 Dragon . She spent several years captaining Dragon and delivering it to races along the East Coast and the Caribbean.

In 2022, she was invited to try out for the Ocean Race. But after the two-week trials in France , where she sailed with a fully crewed team, she was dismissed. They told her she was too small.

“They didn’t want the 100-pound girl unless you were, you know, one of those big guys’ girlfriends, and I was not going to be that,” she said.

Describing the story to a couple of friends after the trials, Brauer made a vow — “I guess I just gotta go around the world alone.”

“It’s almost good that it happened because I needed that to push me over the edge,” she said. “I needed them to make me feel so little that I would do anything to be big.”

Later that year, Dragon was sold to a pair of brothers, who renamed it First Light and said Brauer could keep sailing it for the season. In June, Brauer and her co-skipper, Cat Chimney, became the first women to win the 24th Bermuda One-Two Yacht Race . After the victory, Brauer was prepared to take a break from competition and enjoy a “gorgeous Newport summer.”

Her sponsors had other plans. “You need to take the momentum with this win,” Brauer recalled the brothers saying. “This is probably your one and only chance to really show the world, and we’re willing to help.”

She set her sights on the Global Solo Challenge . First Light underwent a refit. With little time to prepare, Brauer suffered panic attacks and became worryingly thin. But the sailing community rallied around her and she assembled her team.

“Newport said, ‘You are our child, and we’re going to take care of you,’” she recalled.

Brauer took off from Spain on Oct. 29, and her online profile began to rise as she chronicled the voyage. The sudden isolation was overwhelming at the start, bringing her to tears at least once a day.

At one point in the race, while bobbing along in the Southern Ocean, things looked bleak. She was in excruciating pain after being slammed into the side of the boat and could hardly move. First Light was having issues with its autopilot system and she kept having to replace deteriorating parts.

“It took the entire team and my own mental state and my mother and my whole family to kind of be like, ‘You’re tough enough, like you can do this. You can get yourself out of this,’” she said.

In a race where more than half the competitors pulled out, their boats unable to withstand the harsh conditions, Brauer often listened to music on headphones to lower her anxiety.

“This is your everything. You don’t want to lose it,” she said. “Mentally, no one in the entire world knows what you’re feeling. They can’t understand the weather or the wind patterns.”

Her team monitored her by cameras and she spoke each day to those close to her, including her mom, whom she FaceTimed every morning. Sometimes they would just sit in silence. Brauer found comfort interacting with her Instagram followers, who peppered her with questions about sailing terminology and sent her messages of affirmation.

She made a ritual of watching the sunset and sunrise, each different than the last.

“Those were the most magical moments,” she said. “No obstructions, no buildings, no cars to ruin the sound.”

As she approached the finish, she described how surreal it felt that the journey was about to be over.

“It’s such a weird feeling seeing everyone. I’m trying to learn how to interact again with people, so we’ll see how this goes,” Brauer said with a slight smile and laugh on her livestream. “I don’t really know how to feel. I don’t really know how to act. I don’t really know how to be.”

Shannon Larson can be reached at [email protected] . Follow her @shannonlarson98 .