Seamaster 2025: "We'll be hearing a lot more about her" - Cole Brauer honoured
Max Gasser
· 18.01.2025
She crossed the finish line of the Global Solo Challenge in the first light of day on 7 March 2024 with her "First Light". By finishing in second place, the newcomer not only earned great respect in the sailing world, but also became the first American woman to complete a round-the-world race. But there is something else that makes her story so outstanding: the 30-year-old was alone on board for 130 days during the regatta, but was ultimately accompanied around the world by almost half a million people and ultimately celebrated at the finish line.
Too small: Cole Brauer eliminated from the Ocean Race
Despite the low profile of both the Global Solo Challenge and her own name, Brauer has managed to gather a huge fan base around her on social media. Her recipe for success: instead of constantly presenting the tough heroine in a professional offshore outfit, she sometimes shows herself with a comforting plush teddy bear, getting a manicure or freaking out to rock music. The initial follower count of 10,000 grew rapidly during the race and it soon became clear that this woman, who is only 1.55 metres tall, is a huge asset to the sailing world. Even the "New York Times" wrote a remarkable article about the tough sailor who was shaking the foundations of the established offshore sailing scene.
"You may not know her inside out yet, even though she is the sailor with by far the biggest following on social media. But let me tell you: you'll be hearing a lot more about her in the near future," said Vendée Globe participant Pip Hare in her laudatory speech in front of an audience of 450 in Düsseldorf on Saturday evening. The Seamaster Award was presented there for the eleventh time as part of the Flagship Night. Clarisse Cremer 2017 and Kirsten Neuschäfer last year Brauer follows as the third female winner.
At the trials for the last Ocean Race, the ambitious Brauer was found to be too small and sent home again. A tough and tearful knockdown for the American. But she bounced back and used the first edition of the Global Solo Challenge to show herself and everyone else what she was made of. With success. Both as a sailor and in the media. Brauer uses Instagram like no other sailor has ever done before. With authentic videos, she not only gets sailing fans on board, but also countless people who have never been involved with sailing before. In particular, a young generation for whom sailing was previously an elitist fringe sport.
Fan community: Cole Brauer sets new standards in sailing
Loïck Peyron, Jimmy Spithill, François Gabart, Boris Herrmann and others - the list of previous winners of the Seamaster Award is impressive. But none of them can boast such a fan base and therefore inspire so many people for this unique sport. Brauer sets standards, playing on Instagram in the same league as HSV (573,000 followers) or skiing ace Felix Neureuther (571,000 followers). With a whopping 479,000 followers, the US sailor has more fans than the biggest competitions in sailing at the moment: Vendée Globe (405,000 followers), the America's Cup (429,000 followers) and SailGP (235,000 followers).
Combined with her undoubted sailing skills and an irrepressible will, this is likely to attract keen interest from sponsors and soon turn an already exciting career into an outstanding one. Germany's most famous ocean sailor Boris Herrmann has already taken the petite power woman on board and under his wing. Their next goal: the Vendée Globe 2028!
Seamaster of the Year: The winners so far
The Seamaster Award was presented for the eleventh time as part of the Flagship Night at the start of boot Düsseldorf. The award honours personalities who have made outstanding achievements in water sports.
