The 26 foot mullet boats were the first 'big' boats to fleet race on the Auckland harbour. The races were broadcast over the radio from start to finish.

The Mulleties originated around 1860 and have formed a good part of Aucklands waterfront history. Originally designed for netting mullet which were in abundance in the shallow waters around the Hauraki Gulf, they soon developed into a popular cruising and racing yacht.

Designed and built by Dick Laing, Arawa was launched in St Mary’s Bay, Auckland in 1937. The mid 1950s proved to be Arawa’s most successful racing period when she carried a lofty gaff main with a boom 29ft 6in long, a gaff boom of 26ft and a bowsprit of 10ft. This in turn was altered to a marconi rig including the latest innovation of three full length battens to the top of the main to hold the large snapper-back roach. The bowsprit was also cut back to 7ft.

Many of the 26 foot mulleties have over time been converted in to other things, keelers and launches usually. ARAWA has been lucky, she has always been either racing or cruising and is now one of only a couple of restored examples.

The 22ft Lclass Mullet boats have an active racing class with the Ponsonby Criuising Club and ARAWA is able to sail in many of these races as well as the various classic boat regattas.