When Small is Huge
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor 3 Nov 13:00 PST
Cole Brauer – First Light – Global Solo Challenge © globalsolochallenge
Let there be light. Indeed. Elizabeth Tucker has secured Cole Brauer’s Class 40, First Light. On November 23 (approximately), the duo will embark on a 12,000nm journey from Spain to Australia via the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Llewelyn, under Tasmania, and into Sydney.
Four years into her sailing journey, Tucker, known as ‘ZaZa’ or simply ‘Za’, has captured one of the finest prizes in sailing today: personal instruction from Brauer, who holds the record for the fastest solo unassisted circumnavigation in a 40-foot vessel, the exact one Tucker has purchased, which they will sail back to Australia together.
This is much more than a simple weekend transition. The ‘price’? They will stop in Cape Town for Brauer to spend Christmas on land, as stipulated by her family. The ‘bonus’? Depending on timing, Tucker may be able to return to compete in her second Sydney to Hobart race as the Navigator on an X-55 named Xanthus.
From the start, it’s clear that the two are proverbial peas in a pod, laughing simultaneously and completing each other’s sentences. Yes, conversing with them was a total joy, despite having known each other for only six months… Now ZaZa insists she feels like a giant next to Brauer, though they’re only about an inch apart and closer to five feet tall, both likely weighing in around 50 kilos when fully dressed in offshore gear.
In Spain, as they prepare the boat for the voyage (the hull and mast have already been attached), we had the opportunity to witness these brilliant minds coming together. My initial remark to the pair was, ‘Wow, for everything that has been accomplished and for all that is to come.’ It truly sets the scene.
“We’re looking pretty good; the sails are on, the rig is tuned, and we’re currently setting up cameras and such. The boat is very much ready, which is great for me as I can focus on mentorship rather than maintenance. We’ve got three weeks left, so it’s a busy time to ensure everything is ready while we await a suitable weather window,” stated Tucker. “We’ll follow the Global Solo Challenge route and we’re planning at least one stop, if not two (Cape Verde maybe and Cape Town definitely),” added Brauer.
Do it with a grin
Already showcasing the humor aboard, Tucker remarked, “Apparently, I’m not good enough company for Christmas.” Regarding the cozy fairy lights adding joy below deck, Brauer commented, “You shouldn’t feel like an astronaut in space. You might as well make it cozy. I think that’s my biggest secret. Others can be so grumpy, but for me, it’s fine. Just put on a bikini and enjoy yourself.”
“I explained to Cole how I feel, and we probably align somewhat on the extremes of sailing short-handed at sea. You can be a princess and still a bit of a tomboy. You can be offshore and paint your nails like Cole did,” shared Tucker. “Well, when you’re out there, it’s just you. No one’s there to critique you or demand you ‘man up’ and change that sail. It’s like, oh, I’ll change that sail, and then I’m going to paint my nails since I just ruined them while doing it,” added Brauer.
So, before anyone dismisses this duo, consider all they have achieved so far in both sailing and their careers, the latter having funded Tucker’s First Light. They rely on humor to motivate them and tackle all challenges during departure preparations, getting them ready for those ‘delightful’ times at sea.
Speaking of which, Brauer mentioned in relation to sleep at sea, “I want to ensure I’m prepared, ready, and safe, and I intend to operate it the same way I did solo. I’ll hand the torch over to Za in a way that’s like, watch me do this, and hopefully, you won’t be too miserable the first five days, because that’s the toughest part. Once you’re past that, you know, after you’ve thrown up everything from reality, you’re probably good. You certainly learn how to reach the bucket on time. After that, it gets easier once you hit the Trades.”
“I did it quite publicly the first time online. This time, I’m just going to do it publicly in front of Za. By the end of this trip, we should be quite close. We’ve already talked about managing our disagreements. We think we might require some couples therapy along the way,” Brauer remarked, highlighting their reliance on humor.
On a more serious note, Tucker adds, “Cole not only understands the boat but also the extensive kit of spares and belongings it comes with. I’ve been in the yard asking, ‘Hey, do you have this?’ and she’s told me exactly where it is, in which case within this massive collection of stuff. The challenge lies in remembering where to return it all! I’m trying to absorb all of her vast knowledge.”
It’s sometimes hard to recall that Tucker is a relative novice. So what sparked her interest? “When I was about six years old, I used to play in a trailer/sailer in my grandparents’ yard in the UK. When it went in the water, I was just as obsessed with it then as I was on the trailer, but we moved away and I never got to go sailing. It was during Covid that I finally returned to it, and since then, I’ve gone all in.”
“Interestingly, I didn’t enjoy racing the first time. I thought, this is too intense, with all the shouting. I still don’t like shouting, which is why short-handed sailing appeals to me; I’ll only be yelling at myself.”
Reflecting the times, both agree that their loudest moments will likely occur when they can’t locate their phones or headphones, and they simultaneously proclaim, “But don’t worry, it won’t be directed at you.”
The boat and the objective
So why a Class 40? Brauer started the GSC two months after the first vessel and finished in second place just two days behind, indicating they both thrive on challenges, speed, and podium finishes. There’s also the solo/shorthanded legacy and proven blue water performance. Tucker wanted a traditional 40, noting that 90% of potential competitors for the 2027 GSC are eyeing earlier, pre-scow bow designs capable of some slamming.
Recognizing that her learning curve might resemble a jet fighter soaring straight up, Tucker quickly acknowledges the need for baby steps, but if the unrestrained ambition hasn’t caught your eye yet, Brauer is a believer.
Say no more. It was Brauer who devised the plan we’re discussing. She noticed Tucker’s interest in the boat but that no offer had been made. Upon learning about the shipping costs and Tucker’s aspirations to help other women enter the sport, Brauer created the brilliant idea to pass the torch. “I’ll sail it back with you!” One phone call later, a friendship, or rather a kinship, was born.
Regarding the 2008 built First Light, Brauer said, “I wanted a boat that could handle the Southern Ocean and return looking like it hadn’t circumnavigated the globe. When I returned with First Light and took her out of the water, it was amazing. It looked like we’d just completed a short coastal trip. Today, when we reattached the main sail, it appeared brand new. If you care for this generation of Class 40, they’ll take care of you. I encountered issues during races, collided with waves, and broached significantly, even cracked a rib, yet I still succeeded because the boat is simply excellently set up.”
“My family insisted I finish and avoid sailing for some time. Nonetheless, I truly didn’t want to leave the boat. I wanted to prove that it wasn’t a choice.”
Preserving mode instead of jeopardizing mode
Aside from joking about who might toss whom overboard to feed the Great Whites, Brauer discusses another friend (her BFF), and how when they’re racing and problems arise, they simply get to work. “We start observing what each other is doing and hand off tools, and so forth. We hardly ever speak. We act. The problem gets resolved faster without yelling or questioning. It’s all instinctual.”
“It might be a bit generalized, but it seems to relate to the maternal instinct; when something happens to a child, a mother instinctively takes charge. I feel a similar instinctual urge when I have women aboard.”
“First Light is the closest thing I have to a child. I didn’t want her to become a museum piece just for a tax write-off, nor merely be sold off. I wanted to contribute something meaningful. Helping someone gain the knowledge I have and then take my ‘child’ forward was the best outcome. The toughest part after this delivery might be the sadness that follows.”
Could more chapters be written in this story? “You never know. This was certainly an ideal scenario after I exited the boat on March 7. I informed my sponsors well in advance that we’d sell the boat regardless, but they assured me that I had all the time I needed to find the right person. And so I did.”
Place of Origin
“I have wanted to sail solo around the world for quite some time, and I’ve aspired to undertake something really challenging for virtually my entire life,” stated Tucker. A half-lap is indeed a great beginning… Both cite Ellen MacArthur’s record attempts (also a petite figure) and her book as inspiration, but for Tucker, who was a corporate high-flyer, the connection was the loss of a beloved person. They lived life to the fullest, and feeling burnt out, she found the courage for change, took the leap, left her job, and is now wholly dedicated to sailing, with the 2027 GSC as her compass.
“Going forward, I really need sponsorship for the rest of my program. I want to ensure that I’m providing opportunities for others to learn all aspects of sailing when they don’t own a boat, including maintenance, engines, everything. If I can organize courses where someone teaches me while instructing others simultaneously, that would be fantastic.”
At just 24, Brauer was eager to join a Volvo Ocean Race team. Unfortunately, she felt crushed when they dismissed her solely based on her size. Crying on the plane back from Europe after her try-out, she resolved to tackle it solo as an American woman. She can certainly check that off her list now.
Her journey unfolded as she raced with a group of guys in Class 40s for a few years, and eventually, they asked about her plans. One day, they called to inform her they’d bought the boat she had competed against for her. She went on to win every solo or two-handed race on the East Coast of the USA that year when they offered her another race. The GSC was suggested, and they said, ‘Go big or go home.’ True to form, Brauer did not disappoint, nor did the team she assembled to pursue her goal, highlighting the passing of the torch to Tucker. Peas in a pod, indeed.
Brauer is rumored to be eyeing a spot in the 2028 Vendee Globe; however, she suggests 2032 may be more realistic. Currently, she’s working with Team Malizia, and it would be intriguing if she were to be included in the 2027 Ocean Race lineup. Cheers and champagne start here. Regardless, she’s absorbing all she can under Boris Herrmann’s guidance, and she emphasizes that, as a woman, having a family is definitely part of her future.
Sail-World.com USA Editor, David Schmidt, characterized Cole Brauer as an ‘absolute bad ass’, which she adores. I wonder how Elizabeth Tucker will be characterized in the future? There’s certainly no shortage of accolades for this formidable, ocean-loving Aussie at this stage. We’ll see what resonates. For now, it’s full steam ahead, and wow, are they ever!
Meanwhile, anyone in the Atlantic, Indian, or Southern Oceans from around December to February might want to keep an eye out for a colossal freight train featuring two petite women as the cow catcher at the front. Heads up! It will be cleverly disguised as a Class 40, with Za and Cole as the figureheads next to the bowsprit. You’ve been warned. You won’t miss them. The nail polish will be on point, reflecting not just the first light, but every sunbeam…
Want to follow the freight train? It’s simple. We’ll have it here, and also check Insta – @zaoceanracing and @colebraueroceanracing
Alright. There you have it. There’s so much more on the group’s websites for you. Just use the search function or ‘edition’ pull-down menu at the top of the masthead to find it all. Please enjoy your yachting, stay safe, and thank you for visiting Sail-World.com
John Curnow
Sail-World.com AUS Editor
