Yachting: Ferris leaves Amer Sports Too

Paihia sailor Sharon Ferris is staying coy on why she jumped ship from the all-woman Volvo Ocean Race team Amer Sports Too.

A New Zealand sailing champion and professional sailor, Ferris left the crew when they arrived in Auckland at the end of the third leg of the around-the-world race early this week.

Back home in the Bay of Islands yesterday, Ferris hinted the future held even greater challenges.

"I am going to England next month. What I am going to be doing will be announced around then," Ferris said.

"I can't say much more than that."

She hinted it involved making six world record challenges on a big boat with the same, all-woman team.

The new challenge was something Ferris, 27, had been working toward for three years and was not compatible with her Volvo Ocean Race commitments.

Her withdrawal from Amer Sports Too -- where she worked on the foredeck and helm -- was difficult and only made after discussions with fellow Kiwi crew Bridget Suckling and Keryn Henderson.

"It was one of the tougher decisions I have made in my career (but) I think they have found somebody to fill in and I had to do it."

She admitted new opportunities were not the only thing that forced her hand.

"I was disappointed with Amer Sports Too, and that is one of the reason to leave ... I like to win. The boat is fast enough but you need time together. We had not even been out on it overnight before the race started."