Cole Brauer joins IMOCA team

US Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Cole Brauer will join Team Malizia as co-skipper on their 60-foot IMOCA alongside skipper Boris Herrmann and co-skipper Will Harris. Brauer made history as the first American woman to race solo nonstop around the world, finishing second in the 2023-24 Global Solo Challenge aboard her Class40 First Light. Over the past months, she has been mentored by Herrmann through The Magenta Project.

“Becoming part of Team Malizia is truly a dream come true,” says Brauer. “The first time I experienced foiling on Malizia – Seaexplorer was in New York last year. The feeling was unbelievable! Now, I get to race on this amazing boat, bring my own experience to the team, and fully join the Malizia family. I’m so excited to learn from this remarkable group of people and take part in exciting races of the IMOCA circuit.”

Herrmann adds, “Cole is a truly talented sailor and her journey aligns perfectly with our mission to push boundaries and inspire people. Sailing solo around the world on an old and tricky Class40 is an incredible achievement. She’s inspiring, determined, and brings a fresh perspective to our team. While I had the chance to mentor her, I actually ended up learning a lot from her. I’m excited to race alongside Cole and Will this year, and to take on new challenges together!”

Team Malizia will be participating in the Course des Caps, a new event on the IMOCA circuit starting and finishing in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France. The race will set off on June 29 with a mixed-gender crew, including an onboard reporter, and will count towards the IMOCA Globe Series championship.

The competitors will cover nearly 2,000 nautical miles around the British Isles over a period of 5 to 8 days. This race will kick off the crewed racing season and will be the first race onboard Malizia – Seaexplorer since the Vendée Globe, with the crew to be confirmed in the next months.

Soon after rounding the British Isles, the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) and Team Malizia sailors will embark on a historic first in the 2025 Admiral’s Cup. Making its grand return after an absence of over two decades, the race will take place from July 17 to August 1, in Cowes, on the Isle of Wight.

The competition has attracted the world’s elite sailors for a demanding series of inshore and offshore races, including the legendary Rolex Fastnet Race. The Yacht Club de Monaco will write a new chapter in its sporting history, competing for the first time in the event, with Team Malizia playing a key role in this challenge.

The Monegasque team will field two boats: the TP52 Jolt 3, skippered by Peter Harrison, a YCM member, in the IRC Big Boat class, and the Carkeek 40 Jolt 6, helmed by Pierre Casiraghi, Team Malizia founder and Vice-president of the Club. Team Malizia’s Boris Herrmann, Will Harris, Cole Brauer, and Oakley Marsh will be part of the Monesgasque crew.

Team Malizia will then take part in The Ocean Race Europe 2025 for the first time. Following their experience in The Ocean Race 2022-23, the second edition of race will set off from Kiel on August 10 and conclude six weeks later in Boka Bay, Montenegro. Under the banner of “Connecting Europe”, it will take the fleet of IMOCA boats from the Baltic Sea, through the North Sea and English Channel, into the Atlantic, and finally through the Mediterranean to the Adriatic.

“I’m really excited about The Ocean Race Europe 2025,” shared Herrmann. “While I love the challenge of racing solo, there’s something truly special about racing with a crew. I’m looking forward to being back on board Malizia – Seaexplorer with a great team, each member bringing their own strengths and motivating us to improve and push our limits.

“I’ll be skippering our great boat and when I’m not on board for certain legs, Will Harris will take over as skipper, as he did on two legs of The Ocean Race. He’s a talented sailor, a strong leader, and knows this boat like the back of his hand. He’ll do a brilliant job pushing both the boat and the crew.

“A particularly exciting addition is having Cole Brauer as co-skipper. As for the rest of the crew, including sailors and media man/woman, we’ve got some exciting prospects lined up, which we’ll announce this spring.”

Details: https://www.team-malizia.com/