Date of birth: 24 May 1994

Cole Brauer grew up on Long Island and discovered her passion for the Ocean early on. At St. Mary's College of Maryland, she built expertise in regattas and offshore sailing, and after studying science at the University of Hawaii, she specialised in single- and short-handed racing. In 2023, she became the youngest and only female participant in the Global Solo Challenge, racing her Class40 First Light. After 130 days at sea, she finished second in March 2024, breaking the Class40 round-the-world speed record and becoming the first American woman to race solo around the globe. Sharing her journey on social media, she grew from 10,000 to 400,000 followers with her transparent, human approach, showing both moments of doubt and frustration, as well as lighter ones.

In 2024, Cole Brauer joined Team Malizia under the mentorship of Boris Herrmann through The Magenta Project. By 2025, she became one of the team’s co-skippers and raced in the Course des Caps and The Ocean Race Europe. She was also named 2024 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year and won the prestigious Admiral’s Cup with the Yacht Club de Monaco in July 2025, sailing onboard Jolt6, skippered by Pierre Casiraghi. In 2026, she return as Team Malizia’s co-skipper in The Ocean Race Atlantic, which begins in her home state. Through her performance and positivity, she represents a new generation of sailors.