Kirsten Neuschäfer makes sailing history as first woman to win Golden Globe Race 2022

After 235 days of sailing solo around the world without modern technology, Kirsten Neuschäfer has made history by becoming the first woman to win the Golden Globe Race 2022. The 39-year-old South African crossed the finish line in Les Sables-d’Olonne, France, on Thursday evening, beating 15 male competitors in one of the most challenging and prestigious sailing events. Neuschäfer, who has been sailing since her childhood and working as a professional sailor since 2006, embarked on her epic voyage on September 4, 2022, aboard her 36-foot Cape George Cutter named Minnehaha. She faced fierce storms, high seas, equipment failures and loneliness as she navigated her way around the five Great Capes using only a sextant, paper charts and a windvane for self-steering. She also performed several acts of heroism along the way, such as rescuing a fellow competitor whose boat sank in the Indian Ocean and assisting a film crew documenting the wildlife of South Georgia and Antarctica. Neusch