Vixen Racing is set to join the Bay of Islands Sailing Week 2026 fleet, bringing Class40 offshore racing to one of New Zealand's most established summer regattas.
The campaign is built around shared ownership and a genuine commitment to developing offshore sailors, combining competitive racing with a focus on access and learning. Bay of Islands Sailing Week, with its blend of competitive inshore racing and a strong onshore sailing community, suits that approach well.
The Class40's recent race history gives a clear sense of the programme's ambitions. Earlier this year the boat contested the 2025 PIC Coastal Classic, then sailed the Cabbage Tree Island Race as a key Rolex Sydney to Hobart qualifier. With qualification secured, Vixen Racing will be on the start line for the Sydney to Hobart on Boxing Day 2025, with Bay of Islands Sailing Week placing the team back in New Zealand waters in 2026 as part of its wider offshore programme.
*A shared ownership offshore campaign*
The Class40 is co-owned by Sharon Ferris Choat, and from the outset the goal has been to race competitively while creating realistic pathways for other sailors into offshore sailing. Each race or offshore passage is planned in advance, with shareholder berths allocated first and any remaining places made available through the team's website. Crew members are given meaningful responsibilities rather than observational roles, with competence built through miles sailed and responsibility shared.
*Boat development and crew progression*
The boat has continued to evolve since coming into ownership. A taller rig and a longer bowsprit were fitted to better suit New Zealand's typically lighter conditions, and crew combinations have been steadily refined through both racing and delivery miles. The emphasis throughout has been on communication, adaptability, and consistency.
The team draws on a broad range of experience. Some crew members carry decades of offshore sea time, while others are building qualifications alongside active racing programmes. Boat captain and chief mate Taylor Edwards is one example of that progression, following a structured pathway toward becoming a skipper, supported by shareholders and crew who bring a mix of formal maritime training and practical offshore experience.
*Alignment with SheSails and Bay Week values*
Vixen Racing's entry at Bay of Islands Sailing Week connects with SheSails NZ, a key initiative under Yachting New Zealand's Women and Girls in Sailing Strategy and a long-standing supporter of the regatta.
The programme is female led and female focused without being exclusively female. Most shareholders are women who have stepped into ownership, leadership, and decision-making roles in an offshore context, with the emphasis firmly on visibility, mentorship, and practical pathways rather than symbolic participation. Bay of Islands Sailing Week offers an environment where those values sit naturally alongside competitive racing, making it a strong fit for the Vixen Racing programme.
When Bay of Islands Sailing Week gets under way in 2026, Vixen Racing will be among the offshore-focused entries adding depth and variety to the regatta fleet.
