Kirsten Neuschäfer, a 39-year-old sailor from South Africa, has made history by becoming the first woman to win the Golden Globe (GGR) Round the World Sailing Race, a notoriously challenging race that only a handful of people have ever completed. Despite sailing under the radar, Neuschäfer impressively climbed up the ranks to clinch the victory.

 

The Golden Globe, which originated in 1968, stands out for its unique feature that it is still being held under the same conditions as those of its early days. To compete in the race, one must adhere to certain rules such as continuous sailing without stopping, abstaining from communicating with anyone including family members, avoiding the use of modern technological devices such as GPS, and instead relying on a sextant for navigation like the sailors of old. Additionally, the boat must be built after 1988, and its hull length should not exceed 36 feet (11 meters). Competitors must sail alone for several months, enduring extreme weather conditions and facing the challenges of the sea.

 

 

Only 16 sailors participated in this retro race, which was organized for the third time this year. On September 4, 2022, these 16 sailors set sail from Les Sables d'Olonne in France, followed by millions of curious eyes from around the world. It was the first time that a female sailor participated in the race, and Kirsten Neuschäfer from South Africa, who sailed on her 1988 Cape George 36 "Minnehaha", was one of the youngest participants.

 

 

Kirsten Neuschäfer's adventurous spirit has led her on many incredible journeys. At just 22 years old, she cycled 15,000 kilometers across the African continent from Germany to her home in South Africa. She later pursued her love of boating, which she had developed as a child, and began taking documentary filmmakers and crews to remote locations from 2006 onward. One of the locations she traveled to was Antarctica, where she led a National Geographic team. The Golden Globe race was her first ever sailing race.

 

 

Kirsten Neuschäfer made history by becoming the first female sailor to participate and win the Golden Globe race, which started on September 4,2022 and enden on April 27,2023, after 233 days, 20 hours, 43 minutes and 47 second at sea. She completed the race on her boat “Minnehaha” and received a warm welcome from the crowd as she entered the harbor of Les Sables d’Olonne to the sound of a song written for her and her boat by Canadian singer Lennie Gallant. The second-place finisher, Abhlash Tomy, crossed the finish line a day later.

 

Kirsten Neuschäfer's positive attitude and regular updates where she always said "everything is fine" during the race earned her many fans among her fellow sailors, who communicated with each other via text messages. Despite her popularity, however, few expected her to win the race. Unlike some of her competitors, Kirsten was not well-known in the world of racing, nor did she have a major sponsor backing her. She simply loved sailing and was enjoying the experience. Additionally, Kirsten demonstrated her bravery and selflessness when she rescued Tapio Lehtinen after his boat sank, and he was stranded in the Indian Ocean for 24 hours.

 

This remarkable sailor, who does not complain, is undeterred by obstacles, and enjoys pushing her own limits while respecting the limits of nature, has become not only a significant record holder but also an inspiration to millions of people worldwide.

 

https://www.instagram.com/kirstenggr/

 

Photographs: Bertie Gregory (NatGeo), JL Lhomond, Nora Havel (GGR)