First Light: Sailing Solo but Not Alone

by Cole Brauer

A thrilling memoir from the first American woman to race a sailboat solo, nonstop around the world, pushed to the limits to find her strength.

When Cole Brauer sets out at age twenty-nine to become the first American woman to race solo around the world (at five feet tall, no less), she is sailing to break free. Racing 130 days alone, nonstop in a 40-foot sailboat, she navigates brutal squalls, near-catastrophic mechanical failures, medical emergencies that push her to her limits, and the crushing loneliness of isolation. But what begins as a high-stakes adventure soon reveals itself to be something more. With only the sea, her boat, and her intuition, Cole must learn when to fight and when to surrender, when to push forward and when to let go. She finds unexpected strength not in domination, but in trust—of herself, her on-shore team, her boat—First Light—and the wild world around her.

More than a memoir of endurance or triumph, First Light is a reckoning with what it means to belong—in a male-dominated sport, in a high-speed world, as well as in your own skin. Cole’s story unfurls with feisty humor and emotional vulnerability, bringing a sharp, rebellious voice to a sport that’s long taken itself too seriously. Cole emerges as a woman in command of her voice and her future, finding peace in chaos and presence in a noisy world.

First Light is both an edge-of-your-seat adventure on the high seas as well as a testament to what’s possible when you rise above doubt, believe that small can still be strong, face down the impossible, and chart your own course.

Genres: Adventure, Memoir, Nonfiction, History

240 pages, Hardcover

Published September 15, 2026

Reviews

[Andrew Westphal]

Advance reader copy - 4/5 - Quick read, and approachable for a landlubber. Brauer provided just enough technical description to make the story engaging in a way that put sailing first, and mixed in other elements that rounded out the narrative into an enjoyable whole. I would have liked a little bit more backstory about how Brauer became a captain and other details about how she bridged the gap between the U of H sailing team and the around-the-world attempt.

[Nancy DePietro]

I’ve been eagerly waiting for this release. I’ve known Cole since she was a young girl, and it’s been amazing to watch her acccomplish what so many people dare to dream. I have followed her journey and now I’m looking forward to reading her story. Congratulations, Cole!

[Annalisa]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.

First Light is a warm memoir about the scrappy journey of a courageous woman clawing her way into a sport with a famously high barrier to entry. Brauer is generous with the unglamorous bits: the setbacks, the self-doubt, and she bootstraps her way up and lets you watch her do it, and that is where the book really made an impact on me.

I am an offshore sailor myself, and I was braced for the usual trap of technical writing that either alienates newcomers or patronises the nautically literate. She threaded the needle beautifully. The explanations are clear enough to carry a reader who has never set foot on a boat, and precise enough that those of us who have will feel seen. Her solo passages are interleaved with flashbacks to her formative years, which keeps the pace up and the person firmly in view.

Vulnerable, in some parts funny, and a unique voice and story. I knew of Cole's story prior to reading, but am even more inspired learning about everything she has faced in the lead-up to where she is today.

[Danna]

Cole Brauer is the first female to sail solo around the world. Despite being frequently told she’s not up to hard sailing at 98 pounds, Cole has learned to navigate the seas and everything they throw at her.

First Light is the story of Cole’s early sailing days, the decision pathway to the solo journey, and the journey itself. It is a quick read that details the highs and lows of life at sea. There are plenty of horrible and scary moments, but the writing is relatively light, which made the story less traumatic. Also, Cole just doesn’t seem traumatized!

Overall, this was a neat story and unlike anything I’ve read before. The writing is just okay, but no complaints. Solid 3-star read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Valleri]

First Light: Sailing Solo but Not Alone tells the story of when Cole Brauer navigated a forty-foot yacht named First Light across 27,000 miles over 130 days. She weathered brutal isolation, extreme weather, physical injury, food poisoning and even had to give herself IVs. But there were also upsides as Cole witnessed stunningly beautiful sunrises, had pods of porpoises entertaining her, and even had an albatross sit on her yacht with her.

However, after reading First Light: Sailing Solo but Not Alone I can assure my friends and family that I will never, ever attempt that myself! Cole's routine (even when things were going smoothly) caused me to hold my breath for a few seconds ... or ten or fifteen!!

My favorite story was when Cole had an albatross land on her yacht. After it stayed past it's welcome, Cole started wanting it to move on since it was interfering with the balance of her yacht. That's not surprising when an albatross can have up to 12' wingspans and weigh around 25 lb. I also loved how Cole could sense what First Light was feeling.

This is a fascinating book and I recommend it!

Thank you, @ConvergentBooks, for providing this book for consideration and review via @NetGalley. All opinions are my own. First Light: Sailing Solo but Not Alone has an expected publication date of September 15, 2026.

@ColeBrauer #Memoir #Adventure #Survival

[Lilisa]

What an informative and interesting read about Cole Brauer and her deep passion for sailing, nature, and never giving up. At twenty-nine she raced solo around the world in a sailboat and placed an admirable second in a male-dominated world. Sailing solo also meant also fixing anything that went wrong with First Light – from mechanical issues to sail mending and everything in between. I was in awe of her capabilities handling the sailboat single handedly through battering storms, the doldrums, icy cold weather, etc. But even before all that, through determination and sure grit she powered through and overcame challenges to become a contender in the sailing world. Her writing felt frank, raw, and endearing. I enjoyed her descriptions of her experience sailing in the big waters – the wonder, beauty, unbridled power of nature – and her feeling like a speck amidst the big, bold expanse that makes up more than 70 percent of the earth’s surface. Cole Brauer did a great job giving me a window into her life and world. Her personality and character came alive through a well-written and engaging book. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Jennifer Russell]

In 2024, Cole Brauer took on a challenge no other American woman had completed - a solo race around the world. From the very beginning of learning to sail, Cole has pushed boundaries, challenged stereotypes, and fought with a fierce determination for her place in the sailing world. This book tells the story of how she started and how she made it around the world solo, but not alone.

I followed Cole's journey on Instagram as she sailed around the world and this book just made me love her story more. I had no idea about the hardships she went through just to get to the starting line, let alone the challenges of being at sea alone for months. Cole is inspiring and breaking glass ceilings everywhere she can.

Thank you to NetGalley and Covergent Books for the ARC of First Light.

[T Pox]

CAPTIVATING. EMOTIONAL. INSPIRING. You won’t be able to put this book down.. It keeps you hooked from the beginning. Cole draws you in. You feel her emotions. You ride the waves with her. You feel like you’re in the ocean with her. You’re going through life with her. Powerful, moving story that will inspire anyone who reads her encounter of being the first female to sail solo around the world. I fell in love with Cole and First Light and you will too!!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. Top 5 of all of the books I’ve read this year and I’m close to 100 read books!!

[Jamie]

This book was a fascinating look at the world of competitive sailing, a sport I was not previously very familiar with. The author’s tenacity and resilience were truly inspiring, and I enjoyed witnessing someone pursuing their dreams so fearlessly, even in the face of challenges like being young, female (in a male-dominated sport), and petite (a challenge I am also familiar with, ha!). The narrative was also quite propulsive and I found myself unable to put this book down! Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this before release.

[E.]

What an inspiring story! A young woman overcomes many obstacles during a solo round the world sailing competition. She had to deal with prejudice in a very male dominated sport that didn’t believe a woman could possibly compete. And she had to be resilient enough to handle weather and mechanical problems during the voyage. I hope young woman everywhere can learn from her experience.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC and my own opinions.

[K. Lerm]

Thank you Netgalley and Convergent Books for this ARC. I am incredibly grateful to have read Coles story.

"Sometimes it's the very people who no one imagines anything of who do the things no one can imagine." - The Imitation Game

I enjoyed reading First Light, it was an entertaining and inspirational story. I enjoyed getting to know Coles personality and resilience as she sailed solo around the world.

I will definitely recommend this book.

[Ellie]

This is a great sailing story about determination, self-confidence and strength. The author has great skill in recounting what it takes to single handedly keep a sailboat moving all the time. Sailing alone around the world is a heroic feat. She recounts the days and weeks of being wet, cold, sleep deprived and always hungry with remarkable candor. Anyone who has watched the sun rise while under sail, or not, will love this book!!!

[Amber]

Two words: Hell. Yeah.
I recently learned to sail, and this book gives a real, raw look into sailing as a sport. I really appreciated Cole's transparency when it came to the "poop bucket" and her medical preparation before her solo sail. Cole does such a great job writing in a way that feels like you're getting a long-awaited update from your BFF who's being a total badass in the open ocean.

[Kathy Wright]

I received a pre-release copy of this book for review. I’m amazed how easy it was to understand nautical terms and share Cole’s experience as she sailed this amazing journey solo. Having never sailed, but always intrigued by sailing, Cole’s memoir kept me engaged throughout the entire book. I was touched deeply by Cole’s thoughtful, honest responses to Mother Nature’s trials.

Thank you, Cole, for paving the way for other young girls. What an adventure! What a woman!

[Linda]

This is my absolute favorite genre of book to read. Sailing with and against the ocean and prevailing! Newport, Charleston and Ft Lauderdale as the backdrop- even better!
I did get to follow the author as she sailed on this voyage. This made this book so much more vivid as I read her reflections.

[Debbie]

An absorbing account of a young woman and her sailing adventures. Great read. Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

[Isabella]

All my years reading fantasy novels prepared me to read and love this—a sailing memoir where I understood not one sailing or water or weather term she used. ✨🧠

[J]

I really enjoyed this book! I takes me into the sailing world, a world I have never had live exposure too before.

[Harriet Smith]

A captivating book about an ocean race. Besides learning about sailing terminology, this book made you care about the two main characters - the boat and its pilot.

[Kay]

Listened to the audiobook. Narration was excellent. This book was interesting, fun, educational and inspiring.