Auckland, New Zealand May 2026 | PHOTO CREDIT : Insight Media – PAtrick
Sails have been checked and sleeping bags are packed, wet weather gear is stowed, maintenance list is complete and Sharon Ferris-Choat is ready. After thirty years of watching peers head off on solo ocean races, it is finally her turn and the excitement is palpable aboard Vixen Racing as she prepares to take on the Solo Trans-Tasman from Opua, to Southport Queensland.
“I’ve been green with envy watching others head off solo racing for years,” says Ferris-Choat. “Now it’s my turn, and I’m so excited to be ticking this one off the list.”
The fleet of 17 competitors heading across the Tasman represents one of the strongest solo sailing fields to assemble for this race a high-calibre group with serious ocean miles between them.
On the sail strategy side, Ferris-Choat has been working closely with Doyle Sails sailmaker Justin Ferris on sail preparation and selection for the crossing, with weather forecast input from renowned routing specialist Roger Badham, known in sailing circles as “Clouds.” Some of the larger sails will remain forecast-dependent right up until departure.
“It’s really about knowing what sails you want, pre-empting the choices, and having time to get the bigger sails ready on deck when they’re needed, nothing happens quickly solo,” says Ferris-Choat.
The campaign is armed with two sails new from last year’s Sydney to Hobart, all in excellent condition. The durability of the Doyle Sails inventory has been a standout through the campaign’s preparation. Modifications have been made specifically for solo sailing including the addition of socks on the kites to simplify the deployment and retrieval process when there’s no crew to call on.
Preparation for the Trans-Tasman has been thorough, with Ferris-Choat logging over 1,000 solo miles in the lead-up: two 500-mile training blocks, plus a 68-mile passage from the Bay of Islands to Whangarei for maintenance. The shortest delivery, she admits, was the most stressful of the lot.
“That was the most nerve-wracking distance, just because of our proximity to land. Going up the river in the dark, solo that puts you on edge in a way open ocean doesn’t.”
Solo offshore sailing demands a different mindset, and Ferris-Choat has honed her approach carefully. Vixen Racing carries a full suite of safety equipment including AIS alarms and radar alarms, supplemented by two kitchen timers.
“I never sleep when the engine is on. I wake up, make myself get out of bed, check the horizon, check we’re sailing to course, make any adjustments and then tuck back in for another 20 minutes.”
And when it comes to decision-making alone at sea? Ferris-Choat has found her system.
“I chat along to the boat. ‘Talk to me what do you need?’ We have a lot of discussions. Well, I talk, and she answers with sound through the water.”
As for her goal, Ferris-Choat is clear. Leaving from her home port with the Bay of Islands as a backdrop, she will take the race one mile at a time, calm, focused, and competitive.
“I’m most looking forward to getting across to the other side competitively and safely. How the result pans out, we’ll see. But the main goal is a safe and competitive crossing.”
The race has been on Ferris-Choat’s bucket list for thirty years. With the support of her fellow Vixen Racing shareholders, and sails built for the job, she goes with every reason to succeed.
ABOUT DOYLE SAILS //Doyle Sails strives to deliver success through high-performance, high-quality, custom sails that continue to redefine the boundaries of sailmaking technology and innovation; whilst connecting sailors to inspire, support and encourage sailing. Our obsession with sailing takes us to every corner of the world and onboard every yacht. We become part of teams, share in the adventures of friends and families, sharing our knowledge and experience with those with the same passion. Sailing is in our DNA, and we are the custodians of a legacy that has been supporting sailors for four decades and counting. By sailors, for sailors.
ABOUT VIXEN RACING // Vixen Racing is a Class40 racing yacht and training platform operating across New Zealand and Australia under skipper Sharon Ferris Choat. Through live racing, offshore academies, and small crew training blocks, Vixen Racing helps sailors build real confidence, judgement, and capability at sea. For more information, visit vixenracing.co.nz or email info@vixenracing.co.nz.
