Hello, Sailor
Calling 40-year-old Kirsten Neuschäfer fearless is like calling the sea wet. It’s not a state she has achieved simply by overcoming every obstacle; it’s part of her DNA.
At the age of 22, much to her mother’s horror, Kirsten set off to achieve her dream of cycling through Africa from Germany to Cape Agulhas – and she did it: 15000km over the course of a year. The experience, hard as it was, cemented what she already knew: she wanted a life of adventure. She signed up for a basic sailing course, then started crewing for anyone who would have her, ‘just to clock up miles so that I could get to the next level’. After a stint teaching at a sailing school in East London, she progressed to sailboat deliveries, first coastal, then offshore.
It was a delivery from Portugal to South Africa – a two-month solo trip – with only a wind-vane as self-steering on an old 32-foot ferro-cement sloop that whetted her appetite for long-distance solo sailing. And when she heard about the Golden Globe Race (GGR) in 2018 – a solo around-the-world ‘retro’ sailing race – Kirsten couldn’t resist.
She spent a year in the Prince Edward Islands (PEI) refitting her boat, Minnehaha. (It is now even the subject of a song by a PEI singersongwriter: Lennie Gallant wrote about Kirsten and her GGR journey in the song ‘On the Minnehaha’.)
She shares with us the highs, lows and remarkable experiences that will stay with her for a lifetime.
What is different about this race?
This story is from the July/August 2023 edition of Fairlady.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July/August 2023 edition of Fairlady.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
(Late) BLOOMING lovely
I've had an epiphany about the joy of getting older. And yes, you can go ahead and yell, it's about time we called midlife what it is: late blooming!
A fairy tale AMONG THE VINES
What sold me on Riquewihr? Was it the colourful, half-timbered houses? The pictureperfect vineyards? The fact that it's one of the villages that inspired Beauty and the Beast? Yes, yes and (a loud, resounding) yes.
THE SECOND act
The idea of starting a new career later in life may seem daunting but it's not impossible. These four women have proven that it's never too late to reinvent yourself.
MENOPAUSE UPDATE 2025
Flawed studies, a 'critical HT window', vaginal oestrogen, testosterone supplementation and restricted eating are among a rash of hot topics emerging for women gingerly negotiating menopause. Here's what we know now.
9 unconventional WAYS TO SHAKE OFF STRESS
Try these sciencebacked strategies and everyday tips to dial down your body's stress response.
KERI SHOWS HER GOOD SIDE
Keri Russell's portrayal of Kate Wyler in The Diplomat, her first substantial TV role since the Soviet spy drama The Americans, finds her switching sides, starring as a savvy civil servant tasked with upholding America's reputation abroad.
I have prophetic dreams
Do you ever wonder what lies beyond the threshold of life, or whether our loved ones who have passed on find ways to communicate with us? I've had vivid dreams and unsettling premonitions that blur the lines between the world we know and the one beyond. I'm not sure whether it's a blessing or a burden.
Pride of INDIA
Drawing inspiration from India's rich heritage, these entrepreneurs are driving innovation in our design industry and supporting under-resourced communities.
THE RISE OF THERAPY SPEAK
Therapy speak - or psychological terminology – is on the rise. While it gives us more language to protect our peace, it can also be a destructive force in our friendships and relationships. Here's why.
Lights, camera, CAPE TOWN
South Africa is the filming destination for quite a few Marvel blockbusters, and one of the most successful liveaction series based on manga in the world. At the vanguard of this revolution is Marisa Sonemann-Turner, head of production at Film Afrika.
