Story Links On the heels of a historic accomplishment that gained worldwide attention, former University of Hawai’i sailor Cole Brauer earned US Sailing’s most prestigious honor as the 2024 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year. The native of East Hampton, N.Y., captivated the global sailing community during last year’s Global Solo Challenge, achieving second place in the […]
On the heels of a historic accomplishment that gained worldwide attention, former University of Hawai’i sailor Cole Brauer earned US Sailing’s most prestigious honor as the 2024 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year.
The native of East Hampton, N.Y., captivated the global sailing community during last year’s Global Solo Challenge, achieving second place in the inaugural race and becoming the first American woman to sail solo around the world.
Brauer was honored on Thursday, February 6 at an awards ceremony during the US Sailing Awards Ceremony at the 2025 US Sailing Leadership Forum in Coronado, California. The selection process involved a vote by past Rolex Award winners and prominent members of the sailing media who were tasked with recognizing exceptional accomplishments in the sport of sailing over the past year.
Amazingly, Brauer is the second UH sailing alumnae in the last three years to garner the prestigious award, joining former Rainbow Wahine and six-time Formula Kite World Champion Daniela Moroz. Moroz has been named Yachtswoman of the Year four times, most recently in 2022.
Brauer’s 2024 was one that will be etched in the record books. Brauer was the only woman and youngest competitor among 16 in the Global Solo Challenge, a race that started and ended in A Coruña, Spain. The marathon 30,000 mile journey took 130 days, and she crossed the finish line on March 7, 2024. Brauer started the competition on October 29 2023, sailing south around Africa, over to Australia, crossing the Pacific Ocean to South America before returning north to Spain.
Brauer overcame massive challenges, including injuring her rib after being thrown around by a massive wave, and becoming severely dehydrated. Brauer chronicled her journey via her Instagram @colebraueroceanracing.
Upon announcing her 2024 Yachtswoman of the Year, U.S. Sailing said: “Brauer’s journey was not only a feat of endurance and skill but also a storytelling triumph. Through her regular photo and video updates on Instagram, she amassed nearly 400,000 followers, bringing the adventure and challenges of solo ocean racing to a new audience. Her achievements have redefined what is possible in the sport and inspired countless sailors and fans worldwide.”
Brauer began her sailing journey at UH Mānoa. She experienced incredible success as a Rainbow Wahine and was named the 2017 Jack Bonham Award winner, which is considered the most prestigious award in UH athletics. At UH, she became a member of three national championship-qualifying teams and was a two-time Intercollegiate Sailing Association Academic All-American Team member.
Brauer was selected to the Dean’s List from 2013 to 16 and was the sailing team’s top scholar-athlete in 2016. She graduated in spring 2017 with a degree in food science and human nutrition with a pre-professional medical focus.
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