South African sailor Kirsten Neuschäfer achieved a historic feat by becoming the first woman to win a solo, round-the-world yacht race.
Kirsten Neuschafer: Gqeberha-born sailor makes history in global yacht race
As reported by News24, the 39-year-old sailor from Gqeberha sailed into the history books after crossing the finish line of the 2022 Golden Globe Race off Les Sables-d’Olonne in France on the evening of Thursday, 27 April 2023.
Neuschäfer embarked on the 48 000 km journey on 4 September 2021 and spent almost 235 days alone at sea.
Neuschäfer’s victory was all the more impressive considering she had to contend with a dramatic mid-ocean rescue when one of her fellow competitors got into trouble and needed urgent assistance.
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The South African sailor proved her mettle, overcoming challenges and obstacles on her way to victory.
In a press statement, SA Sailing president Michael Robinson hailed Neuschäfer as a trailblazer and a true inspiration.
“South Africa has had other sailing heroes like Bertie Reed and John Martin who have done the circumnavigation, but Kirsten is the first South African to do it non-stop and unassisted. How’s that for a gender statement? We are so proud of Kirsten.
“She has made not only the country’s sailing community but the whole of South Africa proud and provided an exceptional example to both women and men of what’s possible with incredibly hard work and determination,” he said.
Before embarking on the challenge, Neuschäfer spoke about her love for adventure and the unknown. She relished the prospect of undertaking these adventures alone, knowing that she only had herself to rely on when out at sea. For Neuschäfer, these solo adventures were not just about testing her physical limits but also about discovering her inner strength and potential.
This is not the first time Neuschäfer has embarked on a massive solo adventure. A few years ago, she cycled solo around 15 000 km down the African continent from Europe to South Africa.
