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Streaker and Solo Sailing

Dear Sirs

As 2006 draws to a close and I begin to anticipate my third year of Streaker sailing, I got to thinking that prospective newcomers to the Streaker fleet might like to read about my thoughts and experiences over the last couple of seasons.

Well to start at the beginning…….... I’ve been sailing a Solo for over 15 years, initially at Rotherham Sailing Club, and for over 10 years at West Riding Sailing Club.  I enjoyed the Solo Northern open meeting circuit for a few years, winning a few pots along the way, but as most opens were the other side of the Pennines and even into Wales, I eventually I got fed-up of early starts and long distance driving.  Then early in 2005 I bought an old Streaker to sail on Thursday nights at Rotherham SC (which is only 10 minutes from home), planning to continue to sailing the Solo at West Riding SC on Sundays.

Having checked the Streaker events calendar, I found the Nationals were over a June weekend at Pennine Sailing Club and there were several open meetings in the Yorkshire area. Unfortunately I missed the local meetings as I was busy repairing the hull, which was showing a few signs of age and taking in water. Thankfully Peter Gillard managed to complete a rush repair in time for the Nationals and I made it to my first Streaker event. Fortunately the winds were lightish and I improved steadily over the weekend eventually finishing 7th, winning the Well Over Trophy and helping Rotherham win the Altogether Shield along the way.

This year I did six opens (I still don’t like Saturday opens) in the Northern Paddle series from Ripon to Tamworth even winning one of them - mind you I discovered I still have much to learn about gybing in a blow. This year at the Nationals I only managed to finish 12th, and made a mental note to myself to stop trying to sail into places I shouldn’t go. Next year the Nationals are at Filey and this will be the first time I’ll have sailed the Streaker on the sea so I expect a steep learning curve for the first couple of races!

By comparison to the Solo, the Streaker is much lighter (48kg to 70kg) so is less hard work to sail, however I find it much more flighty.  It took me some time to be able to commit to sitting out fully because I couldn’t sit in quick enough in a lull - in the Solo it doesn’t feel as if the boat is going to capsize to windward so readily. Personally I also find the Streaker is much less forgiving in gusty conditions and gybing is less controlled. Changing from a centre main to a combined transom and centre main has taken some getting used to and in light weather I find that the mainsheet can catch on the rear corners. As a result I’ve experimented with centre main (in club sailing) using a rope strop, it works very well and I hope some of you will join the discussion on the Class Forum.

In the Solo I try to bear away through a gybe to ease the pressure on the sail, then as the boom comes across I reverse the helm to keep sailing downwind, which usually works a treat. However, I haven’t found how to do this in the Streaker as the rudder is smaller and seems to have little effect when carrying out this manoeuvre. Consequently, I’m still working on it and since starting to write this I’ve found Alan Gillard’s “Windy Streaker Sailing” article on the website so I’ll be tweaking my rudder to see if that helps at all. The other big difference is the centre-board in the Solo – great for control, or coming ashore, but not for my shins. 

I’ve always found Streaker sailors to be friendly and it’s good to see that some very old boats are still extremely competitive – even if it does make you wonder if they all measure. It’s also great to see youngsters in the fleet doing so well on the schools circuit and keeping us older ones on our toes.  At this years Nationals I was encouraged to see that there was an Over 70s Trophy so I may be never be too old for a Streaker. 

Looking ahead, in 2007 Rotherham Sailing Club celebrate their Golden Jubilee (1957–2007) and one of the club’s aims is to get 50 boats on the water at the same time. So, as Rotherham's Streaker Class Captain, I hope to see some of you helping us celebrate at the club’s Streaker Open on Saturday 22nd September.

Happy Sailing

Peter Cogill - Streaker 1354 & Solo 4058

Southern Paddle 2006

Dear Sirs

Fouling Mainsheet

Dear Sirs,

Many thanks for publishing Alan’s tips on the website.  They are a model of clarity. The drawings are really clear.  I have always had a slight problem with the main sheet bridle and the mainsheet itself fouling on the end of the tiller, as the tiller turns to its maximum angle.  People have suggested that this may be due to faulty tacking and gybing technique, (failing to pull in the slack in the mainsheet before starting the tack). But I wonder if this problem, which many Streaker sailors seem to complain of, may be due to the mainsheet bridle being too near the cockpit.  The rules state that the bridle can be from 250mm to 450mm from the end of the transom.

Well, as a Streaker sailor for just two years, I would like to know what Alan’s advice about this problem is. I can see it depends largely on the length of the tiller.So Alan please could you shed some light on this problem and perhaps come up with some sample measurements ?

Kind regards

David Hinks STR 1563

Dear Sirs

I've recently finished building a Beasley kit Streaker (1576), and I decided I'd put pen to paper and share my thoughts following my first couple of outings.

After umpteen coats of varnish, and a few of dark blue paint, my boat took to the water at a Streaker open meeting at Welton Sailing Club (near Hull) in May. Owing to a slight mix-up with some bits of string before the launch there was no time for a bottle of champagne. I launched it just as the 4-minute signal went, and made it to the start line not much more than a minute after the rest of the fleet of 25 had started – and so my first tack in a Streaker, and the new boat’s first tack, was during a race at an open meeting. We survived. So far so good.....

In fact, I made it all the way round three and three-quarter laps of that four-lap race, and even overtook a number of boats, in windy and gusty conditions. Dramatic acceleration, really easy to get the boat planing – so that’s why it’s called a Streaker! And then came the gybe mark for the last time... Let’s just say that the boat floats very nicely on its side, and comes up with almost no water in it. Two more races without incident left me finishing 22nd or 23rd – I forget which, but at least I wasn’t last.

Next outing was the 2005 Streaker Nationals at Pennine Sailing Club over the weekend of 25/26 June. There was a record attendance for the class of 55 boats, and two days of very enjoyable sailing in light winds. Just right (but a bit shifty) on the Saturday, and really a bit too light (and even shiftier) on the Sunday. But some excellent race management enabled us to sail all five races, with only minimal delays.

My objectives: (1) don’t get the boat damaged; (2) don’t come last. Actually, these two are somewhat in conflict. The best way of avoiding damage is to be so far behind the rest of the fleet that there is no chance of contact (except possibly while being lapped). I tried this tactic in the first race, and it worked very well. So I was well on target for objective (1) – but I decided I had better do something about my second aim.

Thus began my steady climb though the fleet. Second race. Finished with one boat behind me. All going according to plan. Third race. Bit of a disaster. Who built this boat? Why didn’t he use longer screws for the deck-eyes holding down the mainsheet horse? Maybe this had better be my discard. I would definitely be better employed back on shore finding some longer screws and repairing the damage than flogging a dead horse (pun intended) at the back of the fleet and unable to point anywhere near the wind.

Sunday morning I was back bright and early, waiting for the wind along with 54 other Streaker sailors. In the event, it filled in just enough, and both the day’s races got off on time. In Race 4 I was once again concentrating on objective (1), but in the fifth and final race I was in the thick of a group of about 20 boats, and stayed with them all the way round. I avoided the tangle at the last mark and emerged at the front of this pack, scoring a very pleasing 32nd place. Overall, I came 52nd out of 55, and the boat sustained only two small scratches. And in a week or so I am quite confident I will be regain the use of my legs.

The Streaker is a delightful boat to sail. Very light and manoeuvrable, very easy to handle on the water – and just a touch easier than a GP14 to haul up the slipway. Now appearing (and sailing backwards) on the River Ouse on Wednesday evenings.

Hugh Brazier
York Railway Institute Sailing Club

* Reprinted from YRISC News

We Need 'Free Publicity'

Dear Sirs

In my first full season of Streaker sailing, after sailing Solos for many years, I am very excited by the merits of  the Streaker Class.  It is so much more manoevreable in the dinghy park, that little bit easier to handle in a blow (although I'm doing plenty of swimming round it), and it's also a proper little boat that anyone could be proud of. Also there is room for some individuality in deck layout, plus there's the choice of all wood, composite and FRP construction.

Here in the North at least there is a comprehensive Open Circuit and attendances seem to be pretty good, and there has been some fine racing already this season. However, we seem to be very shy about telling anyone what's gone on!

The  Committee have done their part in organising  the various events. Now it's the job of the local sailors and the club captains to do their bit and get some free publicity for the class.  I’m referring in particular to this and the Yachts & Yachting websites which are both set up to make submitting reports as easy as possible.

Perhaps before every meeting the relevant class captain could do his best to find a knowledgeable mate to jot down a few notes to base a report upon?

Surely we owe it to the hard-working souls on the committee and the people who make Streakers for a living?

Best Wishes,

David Hinks (Streaker1563)

Your Never Too Old to Expand Your Sailing Horizons

Dear Sirs

I have been sailing for just over 20 years, mostly at Club level, the first 10 years in a Topper, then 10 years in a Laser. At 150 Lbs, I was too heavy for the Topper and too light for the Laser, but I really enjoyed my sailing and racing, especially the Laser, on the edge of my physical and experience levels.

Having reached the age of 60, a couple of years ago, and almost perfected the art of righting a capsized Laser from significant practice, I decided that it was time for a change, and purchased a Streaker in July 2001.

I raced this at Club level, and at a couple of Open meetings last year, and had a very enjoyable time at the Bassenthwaite week, where the other Streaker Fleet members were very friendly and helpful.

I decided that this year I would expand my horizons and compete in the Northern Paddle Open Meetings. I have attended all four so far, and thoroughly enjoyed the good-natured racing and the friendly and helpful atmosphere, at these meetings. I was so impressed that I was persuaded to travel to the National Championships at Covenham at the end of June.

I normally sail on 19 acres of water, surrounded by trees at Yeadon Sailing Club or 35 acres at Ripon Sailing Club. The lake at Covenham is 250 acres, in a raised dam, with no wind restrictions at all, except the single storey Clubhouse. This is another world to a dinghy sailor who usually sails in shifty variable wind conditions.

Covenham is set in very flat area in a quiet part of the countryside, between Grimsby and Louth. The Clubhouse and facilities have recently been completed with a grant from the lottery. There are 4 changing rooms, which can be opened to suit the size and gender of the people attending, with excellent showers and changing facilities. There are separate toilets and further changing rooms for disabled, with appropriate additional facilities. The central communal room is large with a kitchen and bar, with access all along the front to a raised terrace, and access to the three pontoons.

This is the best set up I have seen for a Sailing Club, which caters for all levels and abilities. It shows what can be achieved when lottery money is spent in the right way. I was told that the total scheme was 6 years of planning, we can only thank the people involved, as they have achieved a fantastic result, which will provide enjoyment for many people now and in the future.

The weekend was exceptionally well organised, with the outline plan of all activities, handed out at the registration. The programme ran exactly to the plan, with the added benefit of a 20 Min signal before the start of each race. I really enjoyed the weekend, especially the chance to sail on different water, and to test my limited abilities against sailors from other Clubs, in a very friendly and sociable atmosphere.

I hope to continue to visit as many open meetings as possible in the future; my only regret is that I did not start sooner. It would also be nice to think that other sailing Clubs can follow the example of Covenham, and be able to provide facilities to encourage more people to take up sailing.

Brian Cocker - Yeadon SC & Ripon SC

Don't Go Turtle

Dear Sirs

I have just carried out the ping-pong balls mod to add buoyancy to the mast. I can confirm that 55 balls as per the article is spot on. I haven't put it to the test yet but I'm sure that will happen sooner rather than later! For anyone considering this job, if you don't have a sports shop handy that can supply these I ordered mine online from www.newitts.com. They do a pack of 72 practice balls for £10.76 inc delivery & V.A.T. I ordered them on a Saturday evening & they were delivered by courier on the following Wednesday morning.

Enjoy your Streaking. John Martin - Streaker 1493

Dear Sirs

At the moment I am about half way through building myself a new Streaker. My current boat, No.1475, is now over 5 years old and it continues to perform well even allowing for the capabilities of its helmsman. There's nothing at all wrong with it, but I enjoyed building it so much that I wanted to build another! It also gives me an opportunity to apply some of the things I learned when building the original.I have been talking to a number of my colleagues at Tamworth and also to some of the Streaker sailors who visited our Open Meeting. I have also been thinking a bit about the Class and the way it has developed in the years since I joined it in 1996. I hope that these thoughts may cause others to consider the situation and perhaps we can debate some of them.

When I first started dinghy sailing at the end of the 1950s the only way to get a new boat was to build it yourself. At that time there was a rapidly increasing range of boat kits available; as I recall the Gremlin was one of the smallest (it's like an Optimist) and there were more ambitious individuals building 505s, Ospreys and even Flying Dutchmen. These boats were competitive, at least one of the home built 505s at Weston went on to become world champion! I have always enjoyed building and maintaining my own boats, so far I have produced an OK, an Enterprise and one & a half Streakers. I have also redecked another Enterprise and modified some of the details on my Contender to make it easier to control. (If any of you have ever tried a Contender you will know that this is a laudable but difficult objective!).

I much prefer to work in wood; in a lot of ways it's easier than plastics and resins and I think that it looks better. I am also aware that boats such as the Streaker and Enterprise were originally designed to be built using plywood; the modern plastic boats are comparable in performance and rigidity but it's not always been easy to achieve this. One of the attractions of the Streaker Class, up until recently, has been the range of choices available to the owner wishing to acquire a new boat. These have included glass fibre (now superceded by FRP), ready built in wood, part built in wood or as a complete kit. I believe it was also possible to obtain a composite boat, although I'm not completely certain of this. Now we have only FRP and completely built wooden boats, once the third kit at Speedsails has been sold. I have one of the kits and a colleague from Tamworth has another on order. As far as I am aware, this leaves only one kit boat for sale in the whole country. It would be very sad if we were to lose the option of putting a kit boat together, it's a cheap and satisfying way of getting a new boat. In addition you have the chance to make it uniquely yours as the rules allow some latitude in fittings and the use of decorative timbers.

Three or four weeks ago a boat builder named Ron Beasley, who is based at Walsall in the Midlands, came to see how a Streaker is put together. Ron used to build high quality wooden Cadets which were very competitive. He informed me that the Cadet Class does not now allow new wooden boats at all, they all have to be built in plastics on a registered mould. If this is so I feel that this is a retrograde step as the Cadet was originally intended as a cheap boat designed to get youngsters sailing in a competitive class. It also gave them the chance to use a spinnaker.

However, back to the Streakers. I got the strong impression that Ron is very keen to offer Streaker kits and complete wooden boats if there is sufficient demand. Another member of his Club assures me that Ron makes a high quality product. I understand that the Association has ownership of the templates; this was part of the deal when Speedsails took over from Holts. At the moment the templates are at Speedsails, I've seen them there! Does the membership of the Association support the idea of allowing Ron to provide kits? Interestingly he might be able to improve things a little. Despite being told in the instructions that the bottom, chine and topside panels are an exact fit I have found (twice now) that this is not strictly true. In places it's a real struggle to get them near to each other and in others they are definitely oversize. Has anyone else had this problem? If so then this could be a good time to consider modifying them just a little to make the boat even easier to build. Any comments?

On to a few other thoughts which could prove controversial. I have long thought that it would be nice to have the option of extending the side tanks through to the transom. It could mean having a low bulkhead (like some Merlins) to maintain strength and rigidity. It would allow transom flaps to aid recovery after a capsize and the boat would not float quite as high when on its side. This could assist some of us ancient mariners to get back in! Such a modification should not affect the performance of the boat and it would allow some flexibility within the basic one design ethos. If my memory serves me well the Hornets allowed builders a great degree of flexibility in deck layout whilst being strict about factors which could affect the speed of the boat. This strikes me as a good idea. Finally, another radical thought. Many of us sail inland and those of you who have visited places like Tamworth will know that we have to deal with light and fickle winds, more often than we would like. An extra 5 to 10 sq. ft. of sail would make an enormous difference, particularly for those of us who can'st seem to shed the pounds, despite the best of intentions. We could permit a greater degree of control of the mast at deck level, perhaps also with spreaders, to allow individuals to tune the rig to suit their weight. It could also make the Class more competitive with some of the newer designs. Any comment?

The Streaker is an excellent boat, perhaps at its best inland where its handicap makes it very competitive. Those of us who have chosen to sail them are well aware of its qualities. However the Class has to compete with quite a lot of newer designs, many which have the capacity to promote themselves through the manufacturers advertisements. We need to present the Class as a modern, go-ahead organisation and to promote the qualities of the boat. Whether we decide to make any changes to the rules (or not) the important thing is to present the Class in a positive way. Can we afford to stand still? These thoughts are totally personal & I would be delighted to hear the views of other Streakers.

Peter Maidment - Fleet Captain - Tamworth S.C.

Lone Streaking

Dear Sirs

My Streaker (No 1436) was home-built from a Holt's kit and I bought it from its maker, beautifully finished, but very basic indeed in its equipment. Having moved from Kent in 1996 I became a lone Streaker sailor based in Poole, and sail regularly on my own in the vast but safe waters of Poole harbour. The fact that I am alone has two consequences which lead to the contents of this article. One is that I do not see any other Streakers so any modifications are from my own experience but may not be original ideas. The other is that I have made my boat as easy to handle and safe as I reasonably can.

The photographs illustrate some of the points of detail which I will describe below. I have no idea if any or all of them have been done before, but someone, somewhere might find a good idea in here some place. I keep the boat at home, so have to rig it on the beach for each outing. For speed and convenience in this process the forestay has a solid stainless steel link connected to the stemhead fitting with a captive-pin shackle. The pins that connect the shrouds to the chain-plates are locked with quick-action 'safety-pin' type cotters, not those fiddly spring-rings which I find just about impossible to use with cold wet hands! Even before the sail is hoisted the boom stays up on its own and does not lash about scratching the after decking! This is because it has a simple topping lift. This is a piece of cord from the masthead, with a dog-lead clip on the end, hooked into a lug I have fitted on the end of the boom. This cord holds the boom roughly horizontal until the sail is hoisted then the topping lift simply goes slack, because its length is arranged that way. I know this represents a tiny amount of additional drag aloft which the racers may not like, but I find it really convenient to have the boom stay fairly horizontal in all conditions.

The basic boat I purchased had no sail shape controls at all - the Holt's instructions simply say 'tie the tack/tie the clew to the appropriate fittings and to the mast/boom', whilst the kicker was just a single piece of cord down to a fitting on the mast and back to a jamming cleat on the foredeck. So there was lots of scope for improvement here! I have the old type round-tube boom and for convenient control of the sail clew I riveted a length of 'Mirror' type tracking onto its aft end. A slider already attached to each of my two sails is put into this track from its open aft end during hoisting of the sail. I have seen the common arrangement of bringing the sail controls out to the side decking near the thwart, but I felt this produces the appearance of 'a boat full of string' and I was not keen on it.

After one season experimenting with sail controls cleated on the boom and other very simple measures I decided to go for the general principles used on many Streakers, but fitted all the sail control cleats on a single stainless steel bracket fastened to the front upper edge of the dagger-board case, but with the control line ends hanging out to right & left of the case. I feel it is no great hardship or penalty just to lean forward momentarily to carry out an adjustment, it looks much tidier and leaves the cockpit much clearer for anything additional I want to stow (like lunch, clothing etc).I find it useful to be able to hold the tiller central to stop the boat veering about during the last preparations (like putting the centreboard in, checking sail trim etc) and also when I have just got out but before it is secure and the sail dropped. A short length of bungee cord with a hook on the end can instantly be wrapped around the tiller and hooked back on itself to provide enough restraint for the purpose. The top of the wooden tiller has a thin aluminium plate epoxied on to take the chafing of the main sheet bridle which otherwise occurs. Also on the tiller I have fitted an open-jawed plastic pipe clip which most of the time does nothing but is very useful to instantly stow the extension back along the tiller until you're ready to go and will need to use it.

The front of foot-straps were originally fastened to the top after end of the dagger-board case. I found them rather high for my liking in this position and a bit limiting as to the sitting-out position. So I made up stainless steel brackets which hold them just comfortably clear of the floor at each side of the aft end of the case, and they continue forward to be ended just above the floor at the front edge of the case. This means that I can sit well forward, even ahead of the thwart with one or both legs, and still have an accessible foot-strap, to keep the bow dug-in when beating. The 'inboard' sail controls described above also permit this of course. At the after end a short loop of bungee holds the straps just up off the floor so they are always instantly handy to get your toes under.

Because it is plywood I have always gone to great care not to ground the hull; when it is not on the trolley it must float, not grind on the bottom! A long painter is permanently secured to the bow, with a dog-lead clip at its free end, for easy securing to anything available whilst the boat is afloat but not in my control (like taking the trolley ashore). If there isn't a convenient buoy or moored boat I do have an anchor improvisation kit; I carry a plastic mesh shopping bag can be filled with any suitable large pebbles or other heavy objects around. It has about a metre of chain attached which in turn I can clip the painter to. This provides a still-afloat but safe system in the shallows, which I use especially for lunch stops in secluded places! I found that I could get a lot of water on board when meeting very steep waves (like the wake of a 'Sunseeker' power boat under test in Poole harbour!). So I fitted the permitted washboard across the foredeck from just ahead of the mast, angled back each side just ahead of the shrouds. This is a huge boon and it is very satisfying to see a mass of water flying up and sideways which otherwise would be joining me in the boat! So that I could go out in more severe conditions than I could otherwise handle, I bought an old sail from a friend and had it modified for reefing. I did not at first find it easy to get a good sail shape when the bottom two feet are rolled up and tied up, but once you've got it nice and snug it does work well and extends the safeoperational capability of the boat. With the experience I now have, I think I should have simply had this sailcut down rather than have it full sized but reefable.

Finally I also have an anti-inversion float on this 'storm sail'. This may seem a bit pathetic but don't forget I sail without safety cover. By making one additional hole near the luff about two feet from the top I have fitted to the sail head with bungee cord two slabs of 50mm thick polystyrene, one each side. These slabs are cut to match the shape of the sail head and faired off to an aerodynamic cross section. They are virtually invisible from a distance, do not seem to impair handling, and provide a powerful floatation at the mast head to facilitate righting. The simple plastic bailers supplied did not have non-return flaps on them, so if you accidentally left them open, when you stoped, the boat slowly filled up with water! So I changed them for a pair of medium capacity stainless steel ones, which in strong winds and heavy seas I leave open all the time and boy, do they shift the water fast. I was dismayed to find that the drains at the aft end of the cockpit led into the aft tank. So I modified that with plastic water pipe so they connect directly with the central drains on the transom so cockpit water is piped through the aft tank, not into it. But both to enable me to do this, and to inspect the tanks, I fitted inspection hatches into the aft tank and each of the two side tanks, which I leave open while the boat is stored.

I have been pleased to find only the slightest dampness to touch in these hidden spaces. This bit does nothing for the most of you who sail with a club and continuous safety cover, but applies to me and any other 'loners'. In the forward compartment is clipped a paddle, a bailer, and a long rope as a tow-rope. In the cockpit is secured a canister with 'diy kit' (bosun's knife, various sticky tapes, epoxy putty, spare shackles), 'come and get me kit' (small inshore flare set) and 'keep going kit' (high-calorie sweets and aluminium blanket). I have hugely enjoyed sailing the Streaker, which has been the first boat I have owned. To me as a learner it has been challenging without being absurdly 'tender' and has a huge 'Yi-hah!' factor when on the plane. I often come home with a huge grin on my face! But I feel like a change, and it is not convenient to me to own two boats at once so, at the time of writing this my Streaker is for sale. I hope I can find a new owner who will love it and enjoy it as much as I have!

David Harland

Why not EMAIL us your thoughts & images and we'll
share them with the rest of the world

All images should be jpeg (jpg) format, please do
not send zip files, these will not be opened