Springboard starts its charge

Sharon Ferris-Choat’s Springboard Campaign is gathering pace as her Class 40 yacht, Vixen, begins a summer program of competitive races and offshore masterclasses designed to build capability in professional-level ocean racing from New Zealand and Australia.

The Verdier-designed Vixen was fully rebuilt in 2021–22 and now serves as both a race platform and a learning environment, offering advanced sailors hands-on experience in routing, helming, and endurance. The program has already seen its first success with the team’s recent completion of the 2025 PIC Coastal Classic, a key early milestone in preparing the crew and systems for extended offshore campaigns.

“Springboard is a proving ground,” says Ferris-Choat. “It’s where sailors learn to operate under pressure, make decisions fast, and trust both themselves and their team. The Coastal Classic was our first test, and the results show we’re building the right foundations.”

The coming months include the Cabbage Tree Island Race, Sydney–Hobart, and additional offshore masterclass blocks between race events — each step designed to establish a consistent, credible pathway to elite ocean racing sailing.

More information, race updates, and training opportunities can be found here