Vixen Racing sailed out of Sydney yesterday in rare company, briefly sharing the Pacific departure with the Globe 40 fleet bound for Chile.
Moving on from an unsuccessful Rolex Sydney Hobart campaign, which ended in retirement due to crew injury, Vixen Racing departed Sydney at 3pm AEDT yesterday bound for Opua. With Sharon Ferris-Choat and Taylor Canfield double handed aboard their Verdier designed Class40, the New Zealand team began the passage home in rare company, sailing briefly alongside the departing Globe 40 fleet heading for Chile.
After clearing Australian Border Force and slipping lines from the CYCA dock, Vixen Racing joined the fleet as it left Sydney Harbour for Stage 4 of the Globe 40, a long and demanding leg across the Pacific to Valparaíso. The arrangement was made possible by Globe 40 race organisers, who invited Vixen to follow the fleet for the opening phase of the leg.
The instruction was simple. Stay clear of the start. Remain to leeward. Enjoy the moment.
For Ferris-Choat and Canfield, the first night delivered a proper offshore workout. Squalls rolled through after dark, swell built, and the Pacific quickly reminded everyone of its scale.
“It was absolutely fantastic to play with the other Class 40s,” Ferris-Choat said. “It was a night of squalls and swell, and we were very grateful when the sun came up.”
Vixen Racing’s boat is well prepared for the task. The Verdier Class40 has been rebuilt from the skin out, with a re faired and strengthened hull and a fully checked keel installation. It is a boat designed to be pushed offshore and to give clear feedback when things are not quite right.
As the Globe 40 fleet continues east toward Chile, Vixen Racing has turned for New Zealand. The double handed passage home forms a key part of the team’s qualification campaign for the SSANZ Round North Island Race 2026, with the boat also expected back in time for the 2026 Bay of Islands Sailing Week.
After a closed Sydney Hobart opportunity, the Sydney send off marked a shift in tone. Onwards.
