South African sailor wins solo round-the-world race in P.E.I.-refitted boat

Kirsten Neuschäfer, the South African sailor who had her fibreglass boat rebuilt in Prince Edward Island two years ago, has sailed it to victory in the 2022 Golden Globe Race, making her the first woman to win a solo around-the-world event.

After 235 days at sea, Thursday saw her hit the shore of Les Sables d'Olonne, France, the start and finish port for the competition.

Neuschäfer began competing last September aboard her 36-foot Minnehaha, which she had spent months refurbishing at harbour in Summerside with the help of Island contractors and suppliers.

On Thursday night, a couple of dozen Islanders gathered in Summerside to watch her win.

Among them was P.E.I. musician Lennie Gallant, who met and became friends with the South African sailor after she arrived on the Island. He wrote a song titled On the Minnehaha, dedicated to her and her boat.

"When she crossed the finish line, the place erupted and we had champagne, and we were all so excited," Gallant said.

"I believe — and a lot of people believe — a big reason that she won was all the work that people put into that boat."

At a press conference Thursday in Les Sables d'Olonne, Neuschäfer thanked those who helped get the Minnehaha ready for the race, particularly local carpenter and mechanic Eddie Arsenault in the P.E.I. community of Baltic.

"I learned a lot from Eddie because he taught me a lot. He taught me how to fix things," she told reporters. "Without him, … the boat wouldn't have been what it is."

CBC News reached out to Neuschäfer's team, but was unable to get an interview due to the large number of media requests she's receiving at the moment.

Darren Cousins is seeing first-hand how the sailor has been overwhelmed by attention since she won the race.