Kirsten Neuschafer is a South African sailor and adventurer, who in April 2023 became the first South African, as well as first woman to sail the Golden Globe Race, solo, non-stop, around-the-world, without modern technology or assistance. She returned triumphantly after more than 30 000 nautical miles around the globe over 235 days at sea, winning the race and thereby becoming the first woman to win an around-the-world race – solo or crewed. Of 16 competitors who crossed the start-line, only 3 made it back over the finish line, without stopping. The Golden Globe Race is considered one of the longest, loneliest races on the planet.

The Golden Globe Race is not Kirsten’s first adventurous undertaking – adventure has defined most of her life. A walkabout after school led her to many interesting destinations, such as Lapland, where she trained huskies, Svalbard, where she worked as a wilderness guide, to name but a few – and eventually back home to South Africa, overland on a bicycle through Northwest and Central Africa. Since a young age, high latitudes have fascinated her – leading her to take sailing expeditions down to places such as South Georgia, Patagonia and the Antarctic Peninsula, where she worked with film crews from BBC and National Geographic. Over her career as a sailor, she has accumulated 250 000 nautical miles on sailboats, and a deep love and respect for the oceans.