Jules Verne Trophy: New Zealand sailor Rebecca Gmuer-Hornell part of first all-female crew to complete non-stop global circumnavigation

Kiwi sailor Rebecca Gmuer-Hornell helped rewrite ocean-racing history overnight (NZ time) as part of the first all-female crew to complete a non-stop circumnavigation of the globe.

Gmuer-Hornell was one of eight sailors aboard the maxi trimaran IDEC SPORT sailing for The Famous Project CIC, which crossed the Jules Verne Trophy finish line off Ushant after 57 days, 21 hours and 20 minutes at sea. While the outright Jules Verne record of 40 days and 23 hours remained untouched, the achievement represents a landmark moment for women's sailing.

British sailor Tracy Edwards and her 10-member female crew, the first to attempt this feat, were forced to abandon their dreams off the coast of New Zealand 27 years ago. In contrast, Alexia Barrier and her crew - Gmuer-Hornell, Dee Caffari, Annemieke Bes, Deborah Blair, Molly LaPointe, Tamara Echegoyen, and Stacey Jackson - triumphed over all obstacles, facing damage and winter storms that tested their resilience and determination right up to the final mile.

Led by French skipper Barrier, the Famous Project crew - also comprising sailors from France, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Australia, the USA and Spain - crossed the start line near Ushant on 28 November, determined to sail conservatively and prioritise reliability. Early Atlantic storms tested that approach, but the trimaran emerged intact and settled into a steady rhythm.

In the tropics, buoyed by the proximity of Brazil and the south-easterly trade winds, the Famous Project CIC crew grew bolder and more confident as the miles passed, clocking excellent days of more than 500 miles close to the heart of the Saint Helena High. This proved an efficient route to the Cape of Good Hope, which they crossed on their 17th day of racing, having covered nearly 8,000 miles at an average speed of over 19 knots. A jammed mainsail hook soon became a recurring issue, forcing repeated and physically demanding sail drops and repairs.

The Indian Ocean delivered both speed and setbacks. Near Cape Leeuwin on Christmas Day, the crew covered almost 700 miles in 24 hours before snagging a fishing net on the starboard foil, leaving them without the appendage for the remainder of the voyage.

The Pacific crossing proved decisive. After passing Point Nemo, the most remote place on Earth, the crew rounded Cape Horn on 6 January - the first all-female team ever to do so in a non-stop multihull race. Violent seas, freezing temperatures and waves exceeding eight metres demanded constant physical and mental endurance.

Damage mounted on the final Atlantic leg, including a torn - and later exploding - mainsail and the loss of autopilot systems. Still, the women pressed on, hand-steering through winter storms to the finish.

Hailing from the Bay of Islands, Gmuer-Hornell developed a passion for sailing at an early age, growing up on keelboats alongside her father, Chris. That foundation evolved into a career defined by resilience, technical skill and a growing list of major offshore races. Still only 26, she has already completed a two-handed race around New Zealand’s North Island on a TP52, multiple Caribbean 600s, several Sydney to Hobart races and a Fastnet campaign, alongside extensive Royal Ocean Racing Club experience.

Relocating to the UK in recent years further expanded her opportunities, with Gmuer-Hornell finishing second at the 2025 Admiral's Cup representing the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and racing in The Ocean Race Europe aboard Team Amaala. Trained as a yacht rigger, she is known for her practical problem-solving at sea - a skillset that proved invaluable on this demanding round-the-world campaign.

Speaking to Yachting New Zealand in 2023, Gmuer-Hornell said learning a wide range of skills - from boat building and optimising sails to splicing and making wire stays - had come in handy more than once.

"Especially with ocean sailing, knowing how to fix things on a boat is very valuable," she said. "It's a mental challenge as much as a physical one, and there is a huge sense of accomplishment when you finally finish a big race like that."