Round North Island Race 2026: Second in Division One, and the lessons we will keep

I have sailed more than 127,000 nautical miles offshore, and I still like races that ask a lot of a team. The Doyle Sails Round North Island Race does exactly that. It rewards a well-prepared boat, a disciplined crew, and clear decision-making when you are tired and still want to push.

We finished second in Division One, and I am proud of the way Vixen Racing showed up. We were competitive, we were consistent, and we kept moving forward. But the biggest value in a race like this is what it teaches you. Here are the learnings I am taking into the next build.

1. Boat maintenance and preparation must be 110%

Offshore racing is unforgiving of shortcuts. The margin between a smooth race and a problem you cannot outrun is often a small item missed in prep.

This race reinforced a simple truth. Maintenance is performance. Preparation is safety. If we want to keep our foot down, the boat must be ready for it. Not almost ready. Fully ready.

2. Crew fitness is never enough

No matter how fit you arrive, you push harder again. That is what racing does. You find another gear, then you find another one after that. The body pays attention, even if the mind wants to ignore it.

For our programme, fitness is not a nice extra. It is part of how we reduce mistakes, protect the boat, and stay sharp when the conditions and fatigue stack up.

3. Double-handed racing makes the balance everything

When you race double-handed, the balance between helming, navigation, and rest is critical. It is not just about being tough. It is about being structured.

If you chase every gain at the wrong time, you lose it later in decision-making quality. The best teams treat rest as a performance tool, not a weakness.

4. Nutrition and hydration are not optional

It is basic, and it is still where teams fall over. When you are cold, wet, and focused on speed, it is easy to under eat and under drink. Then you wonder why energy drops, why mood shifts, why judgement gets cloudy.

We need to treat nutrition and hydration like any other onboard system. Planned, simple, and non-negotiable.

5. Stopover maintenance needs structure and discipline

Stopovers can create a false sense of downtime. In reality, they are high risk moments for wasted time, missed checks, and decisions made in a rush.

This race made it clear that we need more structure around stopover maintenance and planning. Clear roles, clear checklists, clear time blocks, and discipline around rest and food. It is not glamorous, but it wins races.

6. Our edge is constant performance improvement

One of the strongest parts of Vixen Racing is the constant desire to get better. Not just sail harder, but sail smarter. The Round North Island Race gave us a perfect example of that mindset in action.

At Waikawa, we fine-tuned the rudders. It was a change we believed in, but belief is not enough offshore. You want evidence. Friends and family stepped in and helped us by taking Vixen out during the stopover to test the change before the next leg started.

That help mattered. It gave us confidence, it gave us real feedback, and it meant we were not guessing when the gun went. Before the leg even started, we knew we had made a great leap forward in performance. The result in the next leg confirmed it.

That is how progress is built. Small adjustments, tested properly, then locked in.

7. Respect for each other’s strengths and work-ons matters

Good teams do not all do the same things well. The goal is not sameness. The goal is trust and clarity.

When we respect each other’s strengths and talk openly about work-ons, we move faster as a unit. We also make it easier to give and receive feedback without ego. That is where the next level lives.

8. Supporters at stopovers really help

Offshore racing asks a lot of the people who come with you, even when they are not onboard. The support from family and friends at stopovers matters more than most people realise.

It lifts the crew, it reduces stress, and it helps keep the team grounded when the race feels all-consuming. I am grateful for everyone who showed up.

9. Our spares inventory needs a review

Spares are insurance. Too few and you are exposed. Too many and you waste space and time.

We need to review our spares inventory with a sharper lens. What is mission critical for this boat, this race profile, and our operating style. Then pack it so we can actually access it when it matters.

10. Weather and routing needs more time allocated

Our routing work needs more time, full stop. Not just a quick look and a plan. Real time to explore scenarios, consider timing, align the crew, and build a shared understanding of what we are trying to achieve.

When everyone understands the weather story, we execute better. We also stay calmer when the race changes its mind, which it always does.

The bottom line

Second in Division One is a result I respect, because it came from effort and teamwork. But the best part of this race is the clarity it gave us.

We know what to tighten. We know what to plan earlier. We know what to train harder in. And we know that Vixen Racing is a boat that rewards discipline as much as it rewards ambition.

We will take these learnings, build the structure around them, and come back sharper.