Pathway to the top

“The ocean is the best teacher there is,” said Ferris-Choat.

Springboard is about giving people access to that classroom – learning real decision-making, resilience, and teamwork in the actual environment with all the demands that arise in racing.

“We are taking women of all skill levels, those new to offshore racing, but some sailing experience is required,” Ferris-Choat explained.

Over her 30-year career, Ferris-Choat has sailed more than 124,000 nautical miles, competed for New Zealand in two Olympic Games, and in 2005, became the first woman to win a round-the-world team yacht race in the ORYX Quest (62 days non-stop around the world).

She has broken multiple speed records and is widely respected for her tactical excellence and fierce determination.

The Class 40 was chosen for its proven racing credentials and the safe, secure cockpit. It will accommodate up to eight crew, four sailing and four resting, and has scheduled a calendar of races in 2026 that interested participants can book a berth and learn the ropes.

These small group Offshore Sailing Masterclasses and competitive offshore races are designed to give experienced sailors the skills, mindset and confidence needed to take on elite ocean racing.

Beyond competition, their vision is to use Vixen Racing as a platform for empowerment ­– creating space for emerging sailors to learn and grow through shared performance at sea.

Springboard is also the first active phase of the wider ‘Sail to Lead’ mission — a multi-year effort to return New Zealand to the IMOCA stage through a full 60-foot campaign targeting The Ocean Race 2027 (with a hometown stopover in Auckland) and Vendée Globe 2028.

By combining competitive racing, technical development, and experiential training, Ferris-Choat’s vision is to build a Kiwi-led, women-fronted, globally competitive team that can once again take New Zealand to the top of the world’s ocean racing.

Vixen Racing’s first milestone was the successful completion of the PIC Coastal Classic, followed by a Trans-Tasman Crossing to Sydney for local racing season, where they competed in the Cabbage Tree Island Race and lined up for the 2025 Sydney Hobart.

Unfortunately, their Sydney Hobart was cut short when co-owner, Deb Steele fell heavily during rough weather off Eden and broke a rib.

“Deb is a Registered Nurse, so when she said it was probably broken, we made the call to pull in and retire from the race to get her treated,” Ferris-Choat recounted. “It was absolutely the right decision, and all part of offshore racing.”

In terms of places on board, there are just 100 spots available for the year.

In Australia in 2026, events include the 384-nautical mile Sydney to Gold Coast Race starting 19 July; Gold Coast to Mackay Race 26 July; Airlie Beach Race Week 4 to 13 August; Hamilton Island Race Week 14 to 22 August; Cabbage Tree Island Race 2 to 7 December; Rolex Sydney Hobart 26 December.

Then there are the Offshore Sailing Academy opportunities in New Zealand and Australia.

Aspiring participants will receive training in roles on board, including helm, main, jib/kite trim, bow, pit, and nav/tactics, and everyone contributes to starts, mark roundings, sail crossovers, and quick resets between races. Costs vary, depending on regatta or race, and cover food, bed on board, fuel and berthing fees, safety equipment and coaching.

Following the Sydney Hobart, after repairs aboard Vixen Racing, Ferris-Choat and boat captain and coach, Taylor Edwards sailed double-handed to NZ to compete in the Bay of Islands Sailing Week and Tall Ships Race.

During Sailing Week, 19 to 23 January, they were joined by Lijia (Lily) Xu Olympic Gold Medallist and Vixen Academy Ambassador. She also participated in their first Academy program, Three Kings Offshore Sailing Academy which offered Advanced Offshore Sailing & Remote Passage Training on a circuit from Opua, round Three Kings Islands and return to Opua.

A champion sailor, Xu won Gold in the Laser Radial class at the 2012 London Olympics and Bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

She said she was drawn to Vixen Racing because “It’s a real racing boat, unlike many other boats or training programs that are cruisers or cruiser racers.

“It is fast and furious in the right conditions, and you need to prepare for very fast speed and very rough conditions if there is a big swell.

There is no comfort in a sports boat like this, unlike a racer cruiser. It has a simple bunk, so you need to be prepared for that. But it gives the best opportunity to get to know a racing boat and prepare for competition in the future.”

Sailing Week was an eye-opening experience, as Xu explained.

“On the first day of our offshore training the wind average was 30 to 35 knots and gusting nearly 40, and our speed was occasionally reaching 20 knots, averaging 15 to 18 knots. Vixen Racing was so fast. It was like driving a Formula 1 car! That was the moment I thought, ‘Wow, this Class 40 is really something!’

“I learnt pretty quickly that in rough conditions, you always need to hold tight somewhere, whenever you move or even sitting.”

The experience was invaluable for this highly talented and determined sailor.

“With both the inshore racing at Bay of Islands Sailing Week and the offshore training, I got the opportunity to run to the front of the bow to do bow work, which I have always dreamed of doing. Normally, because I have very little experience on the bow, people would not let me touch it

“The same for the pit,” she continued. “It is like the core of the boat. They only let very experienced people control that. Sharon taught me very patiently about every single rope, each sail, each part of the boat, what it is attached to, what the function is. So, I got a real opportunity to practise as a bow woman, and also opening and closing all the clutches. That was a real confidence boost.”

Xu recommends Vixen Racing for women considering taking the next step into competitive racing, whether inshore or offshore.

“If you are just looking to do cruising, or you are a beginner, Vixen is not your best choice at this time. Make sure you know the basics, and you have experience both onshore and offshore. Vixen Racing will help you upgrade and get ready for serious racing.

Vixen Racing is the ideal racing boat, and we have the most experienced, patient, friendly, enthusiastic skipper in the world in Sharon, to teach us and equip us with the skills needed for the future.”

Ferris-Choat is now preparing for her solo sail from Opua to Southport – 1,200 nautical miles which she estimates will take around 12 or 13 days, to begin the Australian season of races and Academy training.

“This is what I really enjoy,” she shared, speaking via Zoom from her home in Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands, where she lives with husband Neil and their two daughters.

“Sailing solo, it’s all on me. Every decision and every move. It’s very testing, which is where the sense of achievement comes from.

“When you’re sailing as part of a crew, there’s that great camaraderie, but it’s equally important to get the synching right. It’s like a dance, with every move coordinated.”

With her eye firmly on the goal of inspiring women sailors to raise their skill level and ambitions, Ferris-Choat is buoyed by the response so far.

“It has been great – a lot of support from sponsors and plenty of enquiries.

“We want to help women with a pathway to offshore racing – whether that is a ‘Bucket List’ item to compete for fun and satisfaction, or they have the ambition to race at the top level. We want to help them achieve their dreams.”

vixenracing.com.au