Stepping aboard a classic yacht can feel like stepping back in time. Long overhangs, varnished timber, heavy canvas and lines running everywhere. For Catalina Leiva, that world opened suddenly when she joined the Tino Rawa Trust’s Rawene for the Duder Cup on the Waitematā Harbour four years ago.
She had never sailed before.
“I was on the mainsail. I had no idea what it was but it was a big sail. I just needed to do it right and trust the person trying to teach me.”
That first regatta marked the beginning of an ongoing journey into classic yacht racing. Today, Catalina is a core crew member on Rawene and an active participant in Auckland’s traditional sailing scene.
Sailing a classic yacht demands awareness and teamwork. These boats carry momentum. They reward smooth handling and punish hesitation. There is no shortcut to understanding how timber hulls track through a seaway or how a gaff or bermudan rig loads up in a gust. Catalina learned by doing, guided by skipper Bob Still and experienced crew who know both the boat and the harbour intimately.
“Bob could sail Rawene with his eyes closed,” she says. “It’s been a novelty, and I just needed to perform.”
Classic yacht racing offers a different rhythm from modern high performance fleets. Crew work is physical. Communication is imperative. Timing on the mainsheet can change the outcome of a leg. For Catalina, the appeal lies in the hands on nature of it all and the sense of stewardship that comes with sailing heritage vessels.
In addition to her classic racing calendar, Catalina has completed the 119 nautical mile PIC Coastal Classic three times aboard Mustang Sally, also skippered by Bob Still. Yet it is Rawene, with her history and character, that continues to shape Catalina’s development as a sailor.
As Auckland’s classic fleet prepares for upcoming regattas and festivals, stories like Catalina’s highlight the accessibility and community spirit of traditional yacht racing. Experience is welcomed, but so is enthusiasm. Sometimes the best way to learn is to step aboard and take the mainsheet in hand.
Learn more at https://www.aucklandwoodenboatfestival.co.nz/stories/jumping-in-the-deep-end-crewing-on-classic-boats
Auckland Wooden Boat Festival / 13 – 15 March 2026 https://www.aucklandwoodenboatfestival.co.nz
