Talking With Kirsten Neuschäfer, the First Woman to Sail and Win the Golden Globe

Did you have any moments where you were actively afraid or simply disheartened?

I did. But ironically, those moments weren’t because of heavy weather, they were because of a total lack of wind. I got stuck in the doldrums just south of the Equator for the best part of two weeks. It’s often said by sailors that the most difficult moments are the calms, because when you are experiencing heavy weather, you’ve got something to keep you busy. There’s a bit of adrenaline. When you’ve got absolutely no wind at all, it’s incredibly frustrating.

Did you get bored or lonely? I assume that was more challenging during the calm periods, but in general, it’s a long time to be alone.

I didn’t often get bored. I made sure that I took lots of reading material. It’s the only mental escape; you read a book and you just submerge yourself into the world of whatever this book is describing. And there’s always something to fix on the boat. There were times when I would have liked to speak to a friend, to hear them tell me to just keep going. Eight months is a very long time to be in one place — you’re moving, but the place you’re in is the same. In the doldrums, I’d go for nice swims, which would help me de-stress a little.

Was there anything that you ate on the trip that you’d be happy to never consume again?

Two-minute noodles. They’re not that great to begin with, but after a few months, I could almost taste the plastic flavor of the wrapper.

How did you mark major moments in the trip?

I would have a glass of wine or maybe a little sip of rum. Those rituals were quite important. It was very important for me in general to set milestones and not just focus on the end of the race.

How did you feel as you approached the end?

There was kind of a sadness once I rounded Cape Horn. It felt like trying to summit a mountain: This is the summit and from here on it’s the descent. There was joy and happiness and relief. But this had become a lifestyle, and it would be ending soon. I had some trepidation about arriving in a place where I was expected. I had moments where I thought, “You know, I’ve still got plenty of food and water. I’m still enjoying myself.” I’d have no issue to just keep sailing.

What’s next for you and for Minnehaha?

That’s one question I haven’t been able to answer just yet. I’ve put so much focus and energy toward the Golden Globe Race since 2019. And now it’s all come to quite an abrupt ending. I bought Minnehaha on…