Few racing decisions carry more weight than the call to retire, and for Vixen Racing that moment came at 5:20pm AEDT on Saturday, 27 December, when the New Zealand-flagged entry was 48 nautical miles east of Montague Island. Skipper Sharon Ferris-Choat had seen enough. A crew member had been injured in punishing offshore conditions, and safety would not be compromised for the sake of the race.
The crew member at the centre of the decision was Deb Steele, a two-time Sydney to Hobart participant who suffered fractured ribs after a heavy impact earlier in the race. Vixen Racing had been working through steep seas under sustained pressure, with conditions offering little in the way of relief for those aboard.
The team arrived at the start of this year's race well prepared and committed, and the desire to push on was genuine. The retirement from the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race reflected sound seamanship in a race that has again proven unforgiving, with Ferris-Choat placing her crew's welfare above all else.
