What happens when you spend four months completely alone, racing non-stop around the planet through the Southern Ocean and around Cape Horn? For Cole Brauer, who at 29 became the first American woman to race solo non-stop around the world, the finish line wasn’t the goal. The journey was.
In her deeply personal new memoir, First Light: Sailing Solo But Not Alone, Cole talks with Bill about why she didn’t want the book to end, why the most dangerous seas on earth felt safer than coming home to a media circus, and why you don’t have to sail around the world to be proud of yourself.
This is not just a sailing story. It’s a story about learning to be proud of yourself again — whether that’s rounding Cape Horn, making it to a yoga class, or just waking up early enough to watch the sunrise. Cole shares how she battled despair by going back to nature, how she turned her daily playlist into art, how her boat First Light became her confidant, and why everything she does from now on is “bonus” after already living her dream.
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Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Cole Brauer and her sailing journey
01:58 The emotional impact of finishing her race and writing the book
04:05 The mental and emotional challenges of returning home
05:52 The importance of saying no and setting boundaries 08:
02 Working with nature rather than fighting it
10:12 The skills and intuition needed for solo sailing
12:00 Handling physical and mental challenges during the race
13:50 The role of music and art in coping with solitude
16:06 Advice for overcoming loneliness and mental health struggles
17:59 The significance of small achievements and living in the moment
19:46 What’s next after achieving her dream
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Cole Brauer
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