The Berth That Changes What Comes Next

Most people can picture what sponsorship looks like at the elite end of sport. Logos on sails. Big budgets. Big moments.

But the real hinge point often comes earlier, when a talented sailor is ready to step up and cannot quite afford the miles, the coaching, or the boat time that turns potential and ambition into capability.

A Sponsored Berth is a simple idea with real consequences. An individual or business funds a berth on a Vixen Racing Academy or race block for a youth or an emerging female sailor. In return, that sailor gets race grade offshore miles, proper roles onboard, and coaching in the conditions that shape offshore competence. You receive a clear story of impact, and you know exactly what your support unlocked.

What it gives a sailor

Offshore sailing is not learned in theory. It is learned when the boat is loaded up, when the weather is untidy, when fatigue turns simple tasks into tests of discipline, and when good decisions matter.

Alicia, a sailor who has already had this opportunity, put it plainly:

“Sailing with Vixen Racing has been an incredible opportunity for me. Taking on the Tasman Sea with the team. Gaining experience on a Class 40, demanding and highly technical boat. Has pushed me in all the right ways. I’ve had the privilege of learning from some of the very best. While gaining invaluable experience in some of the most challenging conditions I’ve experienced.”

And when asked what they would say to another young sailor considering it:

“It provides an outstanding opportunity for young sailors to gain meaningful offshore experience while working alongside highly accomplished sailors. Learning from Sharon and the team plays a vital role in developing both technical skills and a deeper understanding in offshore racing.”

This is what a Sponsored Berth really funds: time in a serious environment, with a serious standard, where learning is measured in the quality of outcomes.

Why it matters to a sponsor

If you are an individual sponsor, this is a chance to do something tangible for the next generation of offshore sailors. You can point to miles sailed, skills developed, and a next step plan that helps a sailor keep moving.

If you are a business sponsor, the value is twofold.

First, it is alignment. Backing youth who are prepared to step into high consequence environments speaks to performance, resilience, and leadership under pressure.

Second, it is substance. The programme is built around defined learning goals, structured brief and debrief routines, and safety treated as a trained skill with disciplined systems and clear standards before going offshore. The result is a sponsorship that can be communicated with integrity because it is grounded in quality foundations.

How a Sponsored Berth works

The process is designed to be straightforward and respectful of everyone involved.

• Vixen Racing presents the sponsor with a list of candidates who meet selection criteria based on skill and ambition
• The sponsor funds one or more berths on an Academy or race block
• The recipient completes the block as active crew, with defined learning goals
• The sponsor receives an impact summary and agreed storytelling assets after the block

You can be as visible or as quiet as you like. Some sponsors will want a named scholarship story and content for their channels. Others will want to support a sailor privately and receive the impact summary only.

What the sponsor receives

Every Sponsored Berth includes a clear set of deliverables that can be agreed up front. Depending on the partnership, these can include:

• Sponsor recognition as the enabling partner for an emerging sailor
• A content package for your digital channels, including photo and video highlights and a short written reflection from the sailor
• Proof of impact, with a post-programme summary including miles achieved, skills developed, and next step recommendations
• Optional – employer brand session focused on decision-making under pressure, teamwork, resilience, and leadership

For multi-berth sponsors, additional options may be available, such as a dockside visit, team briefing, or branded crew wear, subject to schedule.

Why Vixen Racing is the right platform

Vixen Racing was built as a springboard: a credible pathway into the world’s great offshore races, where capable sailors grow into calm, decisive leaders at sea. Training is delivered in small cohorts with real roles, using live conditions rather than simulations. There are no passengers, only crew, and berths are limited per block.

The programme is led by Sharon Ferris Choat, a two-time Olympian and world record breaking offshore sailor with more than 30 years of elite racing experience and 126,000 nautical miles logged to date. Her career includes Volvo Ocean Race experience and long standing mentorship for women in offshore sailing.

What it costs to sponsor a berth

Final pricing depends on the block selected and timing. Typical Academy berths sit in the $5,000 to $10,000 NZD range for seven days of training. If you are considering more than one berth, we can shape a simple multi-berth partnership with clear deliverables.

Next steps

To explore this opportunity, contact Sharon Ferris Choat or Natalie Pearce at sharon@vixenracing.co.nz or natalie@vixenracing.co.nz.