Submitted by Fred on

Kirsten Wins!

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Lifestyle

I am updating a recent blog about an amazing woman who yesterday achieved a singular triumph!

I first learned of the single sailor, around the World Golden Globe (sail boat) Race when my Key West friend Guy deBoer entered it.  

The race started last year on the west coast of France on September 4th and we were there in beautiful Les Sables to see Guy off on his unique adventure.  

Not only is the race solo, but it takes place in a 1968 (year of initial race) time warp, ie, no post 1968 technology is allowed. 

No GPS, for example.  

As Guy was preparing, in the days prior to the race, we noticed, directly across the dock, a young, attractive, athletic, blond women (pictured) scampering around and above her ship shape sail boat.  

Little did we know that she was preparing to become World Famous.  

She is Kirsten Neuschafer and she's a tough 40 year old sailor from South Africa.  

On September 4th, 18 stalwart souls started the race, including one women: Kirsten in her boat Minnehaha (Native 
American for "laughing water").

During the race one boat sunk and Kirsten came to the sailor's rescue, picking the unfortunate man out of the roiling sea and building her legend (many women are already wearing Kirsten tee shirts)!

Yesterday, after 7 lonely months at sea, striving to circumnavigate the globe, Kirsten sailed over 30,000 miles around the World and finished first of the 3 remaining boats in the race.  

Her lead was slim at times and ever evaporating as she was at times caught in the "duldrums". In fact she was excruciatingly stalled yesterday within sight of the finish line for hours. 

Throughout the race I checked on her status countless times a day with the hope she had caught favorable wind.  

It was my hope that she would win! And I imagined what that would mean!

Over 6000 people have crested Mt. Everest, but Kirsten is the first woman to win the daunting around the World single sailor GGR Race.  

The wind filled her sails and carried her to a unique and very well earned victory.  

All hail Kirsten's unique and extraordinary triumph!!!

Comments

Daniel Schwartz

She pulled it off! I am so happy for her. Now who will play her in the eventually movie?
Mike Wiebe

It's very brave just going out of site of land in a 36' blow boat with-out gps... crazy and gutsy!
Shelley Simpson

I sure hope people note that she won despite (or perhaps because of) helping another sailor along the way. What a wonderful story.
Ray Walcott

What a story, congratulation to Kirsten!

Submitted by Steven_Lichtenstein on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 21:42

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Steven Lichtenstein

Meryl Streep of course.

Submitted by Steven_Lichtenstein on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 21:43

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Steven Lichtenstein

This will make a great movie !
Tessa Marquis

Thank you for taking us on the journey with your friend Guy and all the way to this wonderful conclusion!
(PS Streep is too old, you guys! Scarlett Johansson is a more likely contender)

Submitted by Judy_Mauer on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 21:57

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Judy Mauer

What a story - thanks for taking us along
Dana Charlton

That is simply fabulous! Kirsten is a true hero and her story should be told far and wide ~ thank you, Fred, for giving it its USA start. I enjoy that you told it ~ who better?
Fred Klein

Truth is stranger than fiction...
Fred Klein

She was in the dark as to being in lead until 7 miles out!
Kelly Welles

Brava Kirsten! Thanks for sharing. As Aristotle Onassis observed, "It's hard to prove a great mariner on a calm sea." In this case, the mariner is extraordinary.
Rick Raymond

I've sailed, raced and met some amazing people that have done this race. Today it's not forefront in what I do, but always carry a light for those that do extraordinary feats as this. Thanks for re-kindling this light within.

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