In September 2022, Kirsten Neuschäfer lined up at the start of the Golden Globe Race, a solo, unassisted, non-stop single-handed race around the world.
This retro race is run on the anniversary of the first Golden Globe Race in 1968/9, which was won by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, who became the first person to sail solo, non-stop around the world. Entrants are limited to sailing similar yachts and equipment to what was available to Sir Robin in that first race. That means sailing without modern technology or the benefit of satellite-based navigation aids. In contrast to the current professional world of elite ocean racing, this edition travels back to a time known as the ‘Golden Age’ of solo sailing.
The only woman entered in this edition of the race, Kirsten has been sailing dinghies since her childhood, and became a professional sailor in 2006. Undertaking many inter-continental sailboat deliveries, she has over 150,000 nautical miles of sailing experience. In 2015, she began working for Skip Novak on his Pelagic Expeditions to South Georgia, The Antarctic Peninsula, Patagonia and the Falklands.
Kirsten has sailed several film crews down to capture the beauty of the Antarctic, taking the National Geographic series “Wild_Life Resurrection Island with Bertie Gregory” and the BBC series “Seven Worlds, One Planet” to remote South Georgia.
When she was just 22, Kirsten cycled on her own from Europe, across the entire African continent, back home to South Africa. The trip brought trials and tribulations but was life-enriching in every sense, giving her the deepest appreciation of Africa and its people.
The Golden Globe Race set out from Les Sables-d’Olonne, France on September 4th, 2022, and follows a route down the Atlantic, eastwards around the Southern Ocean via the five Great Capes, and back to France - a distance of over 30,000 nautical miles. It will involve seven to nine months at sea.
This is a race of attrition, luck, seamanship… and adventure! Small yachts in the Southern Ocean are extremely vulnerable, and it will require self reliance and tremendous strength of character and self belief to reach the finish.
This short film tells the story of her extraordinary journey to the start line of the Golden Globe Race 2022.
More on Kirsten at kirstenggr.com
Directed by Ian Henderson / THINKTEAM