A NEW DAY

Kirsten Neuschäfer's life of adventure leads to victory in the Golden Globe solo round-the-world race.

- Theresa Nicholson

WHEN Kirste Neuschäfer decided to compete in the 2022-23 Golden Globe Race, she searched for a fast, safe and stable boat. She studied designs with a good ballast-to-weight ratio, and sought out a hull and rig that could withstand a hard beat to windward.

She found Minnehaha in Newfoundland and knew that the tough, sturdy Cape George 36 was the one. The quick cutter with a generous sail plan met all of the official requirements a production boat with a full keel, less than 36 feet long, designed before 1988 and a few requirements she had set for herself.

"I wanted a super-secure boat for the Southern Ocean, which was fast as well," Neuschäfer says. "Minnehaha suffers a little in light airs, but I knew I had a good chance of surviving. It was clear to me that the GGR was a bit of a race of attrition."

Her instincts, along with detailed preparation, hard work and a bit of luck, served her well. Eight months after 16 skippers set out from the west coast of France to race solo 30,000 miles eastbound around a Southern Ocean course, Neuschäfer and Minnehaha caught one last whisper of wind off Les Sables d'Olonne, ghosted over the line, and sailed into history.

"I didn't actually know that I'd won until the boats came out to meet me," the South African sailor said of her historic finish. "I knew I was very close to Abhilash, so I was pushing hard. I knew we were very close."

Indian skipper Abhilash Tomy battled the same light airs that Neuschäfer faced near the end of the race and arrived a day after, taking second place. Austrian Michael Guggenberger finished third, as the final skipper to complete the race in the racing class.