Team work makes the dream work on a classic boating adventure
More than 100 boats will be on display at the Auckland Wooden Boat Festival – and for anyone keen to step into classic sailing, from newbie to big-boat expert, there are opportunities to get into this remarkable discipline of the sport.
Arabella aboard Rawene / photo supplied
Like many Kiwi sailors, Arabella Vennell grew up learning the ropes on the dinghy classes: P class, Starlings, and even trialling for the Olympic games before moving into keelboat racing.
Bob Still / Photo supplied
But sailing on the 1908 gaff cutter Rawene, has offered her a new set of challenges and learning.
Rawene which will be on display at the Festival, is part of the Tino Rawa Trust, one of several that cares for Auckland’s classic sailing yachts, providing opportunities for people from all walks of life to experience them.
“It’s been a relearning,” she explains. “In some ways it’s more like dinghy sailing, as everything is very simple with a mainsheet, tiller, and no winches. But the rigging, halyards and setup is complex. It can be confusing.”
“I have been sailing for so long, and it’s interesting seeing a bit more about how it was a hundred years ago. You get a real appreciation of the types of people that would design and sail these classic yachts. They were adventurous for their time, really pushing the envelope around the amount of sail area and getting as much performance as they could.”
She says the boats are very physical and you need many hands to help. “Everything is very heavy, and you learn how to deal with those forces, and to be careful around controlling it.”
Case in point: while a modern boat can be gybed (turned with the wind behind it) quickly with the boom being allowed to swing safely across, gybing a classic involves hauling in 30m of mainsheet, centring the massive boom and steering through a controlled gybe.
“Sailing requires a lot of teamwork, and this is next level team work. You can’t do anything without needing someone to help.”
Arabella says the skipper of Rawene, Bob Still, is incredibly experienced and patient, and skilled at introducing people to the boat in a calm way. Because each boat needs a big team to sail, there are always opportunities to take part, no matter how much prior experience you have.
Arabella says: “The crew is also very grateful for the opportunity that Tony Stevenson and the Tino Rawa Trust gives us to sail such a magnificent yacht by continuing to invest in the upkeep of Rawene. Alongside this we have a dedicated all women crew, who are all passionate about helping to keep her on the water.”