And the yearling has its 18-year-old owner to thank.
Thomas Bishop, a pigeon fancier since he was 9, knew something was wrong when he heard one of his 17 racing pigeons flapping its wings on the roof of his family home in January.
The then unnamed bird had flown into a power line, leaving her with two badly broken legs, and her breastbone - or keel - split in half, leaving her "belly plucked".
"She looked pretty bad."
The University of Otago biochemistry student decided to try to save his bird, fashioning small splints out of matches and a bird-sized sling to rest its tiny frame.
After a month of recovery, the bird was ready to race again.
"They have to win to get a name," he said.
Without a win after 15 races, the now permanently bow-legged bird surprised his owner by beating home 63 other birds in a race from Blenheim to Dunedin last weekend.
Leaving Blenheim at 9am, the bird arrived home shortly after 7pm and was later joined by another one of Mr Bishop's birds.
They were the only two to make the almost 700km journey in one day.
It was good to see her win," he said.
Not only winning bragging rights in the form of the Dunedin Racing Pigeon Club's Yearling Derby Trophy, the bird also won the rights to a name.
But why Catamaran?
"She has a double keel," he said.
