Vixen Racing will be on the start line for Bay of Islands Sailing Week 2026, bringing a Class40 offshore campaign to one of New Zealand’s most established summer regattas.
Vixen Racing adds a distinctive offshore presence to the Bay Week fleet, combining competitive racing with a focus on access, learning, and shared ownership. Bay of Islands Sailing Week provides a natural setting for that approach, blending inshore racing with a strong onshore sailing community.
Earlier this year, the Class40 competed in the 2025 PIC Coastal Classic before sailing the Cabbage Tree Island Race, a key Rolex Sydney to Hobart qualifier. With qualification secured, Vixen Racing will start the Sydney to Hobart on Boxing Day 2025, with Bay of Islands Sailing Week placing the team back in New Zealand waters as part of its wider offshore programme.
Team Vixen Racing: women at the helm in the PIC Coastal Classic 2025
A shared ownership offshore campaign
The Class40 is co-owned by Sharon Ferris Choat. From the outset, the intention 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 remaining places made available through the team’s website. The structure is designed to give sailors meaningful roles onboard rather than observational positions, with experience built through miles sailed and responsibility shared.
Boat development and crew progression
Since ownership, both the boat and the team have continued to evolve. Modifications including a taller rig and longer bowsprit were introduced to better suit lighter New Zealand conditions. Crew combinations have been refined through racing and delivery miles, with an emphasis on communication, adaptability, and consistency.
Some have decades of sea time, while others are building qualifications alongside active racing programmes. Boat captain and chief mate, Taylor Edwards, for example, remains on a structured pathway toward becoming a skipper, supported by a wider group of shareholders and crew who bring a mix of offshore experience and formal maritime training.
Alignment with SheSails and Bay Week values
Vixen Racing’s presence at Bay of Islands Sailing Week aligns closely with SheSails NZ, a key initiative within Yachting New Zealand’s Women and Girls in Sailing Strategy and a long standing supporter of the regatta.
While not exclusively female, the campaign is female led and female focused, with most shareholders being women who have stepped into ownership, leadership, and decision making roles offshore. The emphasis is 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.
Vixen Racing will be among the offshore focused entries to watch when Bay of Islands Sailing Week gets under way in 2026, adding depth and variety to the regatta fleet.
Bay of Islands Sailing Week
Vixen Racing
Yachting New Zealand’s Women and Girls in Sailing Strategy
SheSails NZ
