Carolijn Brouwer becomes first woman to win the Volvo Ocean Race

A FORMER world champion, multiple Olympian and Sydney to Hobart campaigner has etched her name in sailing history as the first woman — and mother — to win the eight-month, 45,00 nautical mile Volvo Ocean Race.

Dutch trimmer Carolijn Brouwer and French skipper Charles Caudrelier celebrate their Volvo Ocean Race win. AFP PHOTO / Christophe ARCHAMBAULT

• NEW WORLD: Athletes create own world surf series

• YIKES: Skipper’s brush with creatures of the deep

• ESPYS: Sam Kerr hoping to strike top note

A FORMER world champion, multiple Olympian and Sydney to Hobart campaigner has etched her name in sailing history as the first woman — and mother — to win the eight-month, 45,00 nautical mile Volvo Ocean Race.

NEW WORLD ORDER: Winds of change in sailing

ON FIRE: Quick Fox stuns

Carolijn Brouwer, who lives on the NSW Central Coast with partner and multiple world sailing champion Darren Bundock and son Kyle, was part of the Dongfeng crew, which also included France’s Marie Riou and Swiss sailor Justine Mettraux, which claimed victory in the infamous round the world race held every four years on Monday.

Dutch Trimmer Carolijn Brouwer of Dongfeng Race Team of China, celebrates with her son Kyle after winning the Volvo Ocean Race in Scheveningen. / AFP PHOTO / Christophe ARCHAMBAULT

It was the first leg victory for the Chinese backed yacht which went into the final leg from Gothenburg to The Hague locked on equal points with two rivals.

“It’s crazy. It has been an insane race; it has been an insane leg,” said Dutch sailor Brouwer, who also represented Belgium during her Olympic Tornado career.

SYDNEY TO HOBART: Women make their mark

DRAW: Giants miss golden opportunity

“We always said that we were going to win a leg and there’s no better leg to win than the last one — and here we are and we have won the race.

Dutch trimmer Carolijn Brouwer sprays champagne on French skipper Charles Caudrelier following victory in an epic leg of the Volvo Ocean Race.

“I can’t describe how I feel.

“My goal was to win the race and to be the first woman to do it is great, but I would really like to thank the team — they were behind us all the way — the shore team and the logistics team while our sailors on the boat pulled it off together.”

French skipper Charles Caudrelier and his crew on the 72-foot Dongfeng finished ahead of Mapfre to claim the overall honours.

Aboard Mapfre was Melbourne sailor Sophie Ciszek, one of four Australian women sailing aboard the mixed crewed yachts in the race around the world.

Both Brouwer and Ciszek sailed aboard the all-female yacht Team SCA in the last round the world race.

Both are also expected to compete in this year’s Sydney to Hobart in December.