A cruel twist of fate turned into a fairytale just five miles from the end of the world's toughest yacht race. A sudden drop in the wind left Kirsten Neuschäfer becalmed, literally within sight of the finish line, after almost eight months alone at sea.
She knew she was on the verge of history — the first woman to finish the Golden Globe Race — and she knew her closest rival wasn’t far away — just 100 miles or so. What she didn’t know was that she was in the lead and just minutes away from sailing immortality.
And then the boats arrived, cheering and waving, and TV crews and photographers. And then her mother, leaning over the bow and trying to come on board.
“I started talking to the folk in the boats and they said you know that you are first, and I said, wow, I didn't know,” Kirsten told the Sunday Times on Friday from the French coastal town of Les Sable d’Olonne where the race finished.
“They were the first people I was talking to in a long time. We were all blowing our foghorns and it sounded like we were at a Soweto soccer match with our vuvuzelas — it was fun.”
She said at that point she knew she would win, despite the lack of wind. “I knew I just had to drift in even if took all night.”
The most difficult part was keeping her mother, Annette, from climbing aboard to give her a hug — not allowed in terms of race rules. “She was so excited to see me. She wanted to hop aboard my boat but I said no you can't — I'm not across the finish line!”
The warm welcome turned into a carnival atmosphere on land where Neuschäfer received a hero's welcome from an adoring French public. The 39-year-old from Gqeberha not only fulfilled her sailing ambition; she became the first woman to win a solo unassisted non-stop around-the-world race.
And she did so in a race set up specifically to make things difficult — by recreating sailing conditions of half a century ago. Contestants cannot use modern equipment such as satellite navigation and must use dated yacht designs.
They carry a backup satellite tracker in case of emergency, but forfeit any chance of winning the race should they use it.
They are also disqualified from overall line honours should they need to stop over anywhere for repairs.
What she has achieved is the Everest of sailing
— Manuel Mendes, Cape Town boat builder
The race was first held in 1968 when only one yacht finished. Only six finished in the 2018 edition — the second edition of the race held to commemorate the 50th anniversary — and so far two have finished this year’s edition, with only two others left in the fleet.
The remaining 12 skippers either retired or had to be rescued since the race started on September 4.
Neuschäfer’s victory is all the more remarkable in light of her daring rescue while deep in the southern Indian Ocean.
She diverted to save one of her fellow competitors who was adrift in his life raft after his vessel sank. She was permitted to bend the race rules to temporarily hoist him on board and deliver him to a passing ship — but only after sharing a stiff glass of rum.
She also spent many months alone at sea in preparation for the race, first sailing back from Canada where she bought her boat, a 36ft Cape George sailboat, and then from Cape Town to the starting line.
While in Cape Town she affected repairs with the help of the V&A Waterfront, which waived normal berthing fees, and from well-known local boat builder Manuel Mendes.
“We didn't cut corners in preparing the boat — it was very thorough,” she said of the reasons for her success, adding that the lengthy trip to the starting line had also benefited her.
“People keep on asking me why I returned to South Africa [from Canada, instead of going straight to the starting line], and the reasons is that I wanted to go home. But that was a huge blessing because that's when I got to learn the boat — it was all that sea time.”
She had also avoided the worst of storms en route, unlike some of her rivals who could not get out of the way in time. “A good boat, good luck, there were so many variables that came together that made it possible.”
People keep on asking me why I returned to South Africa and the reasons is that I wanted to go home
— Kirsten Neuschäfer
Speaking on Friday at a press conference, Neuschäfer said she never feared for her life during her epic trip, and the worst periods were being stuck in the doldrums in the middle of the ocean when she would lift her spirits by going for a swim.
Along the way she encountered a lot of sea life, including dolphin and whales, and birds that would sometimes hitch a ride for hours.
She said she would now return to South Africa to see her family and dogs, and spend time at one of her favourite places. “I have a little corner in South Africa which is like paradise for me — the Wild Coast.”
To everybody's surprise Neuschäfer opted to sleep on her boat even after she'd finally tied up ashore. “The boat is home. It has been for a very long time,” she said.
“I knew she was a winner,” Mendes said this week of Neuschäfer’s meticulous preparation. “She approached things very clearly, and she was certain that she was there to go for the win,” Mendes said.
“What she has achieved is the Everest of sailing,” he added.
Jerome Drnovsek, Neuschäfer’s media manager, said other race skippers had known all along that Neuschäfer was one of the favourites. “They knew she could win it. Some of them came to me and said, if I don’t win it then I would like her to. They believed in her,” he said.
Neuschäfer is no stranger to adventure and gained valuable sailing experience working with expedition yachts in Antarctica. She has also cycled solo from Europe to South Africa, and once trained huskies in Finland.
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