Yachts and Yachting Test
12th May 2008

A detailed review by Yachts and Yachting
of the Streaker Dinghy,
in particular a test of a Rooster Streaker.


Click on image to download a PDF version
of the article from YachtsandYachting.com

Reproduced by kind permission of Yachts & Yachting

There has been some confusion over the correct way of taking this measurement. Consultation with other Streaker class measurers showed 4 different methods of taking the measurement. The Technical Committee decided that the following is the correct way to measure rule 52.

‘Set the hull level by placing a spirit level on the dagger-board case (the top of the dagger-board case is generally parallel with the base line). The rudder blade should then be set vertically in its sailing position. A line is then drawn from the point of intersection of the keel line and the transom which is extended horizontally across the rudder blade. Measure from the line to end of rudder blade’.

(see sketch of Rudder Assembly) and revised sheet No. 4 ‘Guide to Builders and Measurers’.

Alan Gillard
On behalf of the Technical Committee.

ROOSTER SAILS
28th April 2008

We are pleased to inform members of the Streaker Class Owners Association that Rooster Sails have been granted ‘Approved Sail’ status following a recent Committee Meeting. Rooster joins the other three sail manufacturers Evolution, Sail Register and Speed Sails who SCOA confirmed as approved sail manufacturers earlier this year.

Alan Gillard
On behalf of the Technical Committee.

Wow! Good grief! What a blinder, Unbelievable*#?!!**%!

I am just coming back down to earth after a phenomenal 2 days at the RYA Dinghy Show.

Right from opening time Saturday morning through to 4.00 pm Sunday the crowds were never ending. The whole team of helpers from committee members through to association members worked tirelessly dealing with sailors eager to be introduced to the delights of Streaker sailing. A success I should say.

My personal public thanks to the pool of 15 members who gave up their time to help on the stand this year – you did an astounding job and are so appreciated – a real reflection of what this class is all about. Thanks too to Dave and Colleen Butler for bringing the beautiful Paxo all the way down from Humberside and to Steve Cockerill from Rooster for one of the only two new Rooster Streakers on the planet. Dave Shuster

Chairman’s Message
28th February 2008

Firstly, a belated happy new year.

The new season is upon us. The first event as usual is a dry land one; the annual Dinghy Show at Alexandra Palace (1st and 2nd March). The Streaker stand is being organised by the Shuster family with various co-opted helpers. There will be two boats on show, the Rondar/Rooster with new deck layout and the Butler composite, which won the Concours d’elegance prize at the nationals. If you wish, membership renewals can be done at the stand.

Incidentally, since the class is run by the owners’ association, you need to be a member to validate your measurement certificate.

Your committee members are working hard. Alan Gillard is sifting his way through the class rules tidying and clarifying. The results of his deliberations will be included in the new streaker year book, available soon. Dave Shuster is our roving diplomat. Dan, our treasurer, is picking up the job from Peter Crooks. Nick is eagerly waiting for renewal cheques; please use the form included within these pages. Secretary Ian is wrestling with the sailing programme. If your club rep is still looking for a date to be confirmed, ring 01406 364235.

New to some are the venues for the Northern area champs and indeed the Nationals. Rutland S.C. are our hosts for the big one; we share the weekend 30/31 August with the Supernova class. (The original booking with Stewartby S.C. was cancelled just before Christmas). Rutland water is pretty central for the class; camping is available adjacent to the club. Racing will be on a course well away from club sailing – there is plenty of elbowroom!

The north area championships will be at West Riding S.C. over spring bank weekend. Our event will be Sat/Sun, although the WRSC weekend includes Monday as well. The hospitality is legendary. You can camp by your boat if you wish.

Hykeham S.C. at Lincoln is confirming their meeting. Streakers are making inroads here. We look forward to the inaugural event.

The Cadzow Trophy, for the best turned out streaker at the nationals, has gone missing. Please everyone look in your cupboards and old boxes.

After the upheavals during and since the AGM, much work has been done. Many records are still missing; anyone knowing the whereabouts of the same please get in touch, in particular, we could not unlock the direct debit account for subscriptions and have changed bank accounts. Please get in touch if your subs were paid this way in the past.

Anyway enough of the heavy stuff. The new committee have already had more meetings than in the past ten years. There are prospects of large numbers of new boats this year. The streaker is a super boat to sail, as more and more are finding out. I wish I’d had one years ago.

If you are computerised, please give your e-mail address. Contact by this method is cheaper and more instant.

Peter Tyerman
Is co-ordinating paddle reports and results, please pass all your news and photos to him straight after your events. Our website manager, Chris More welcomes your contributions and comments.

Once again happy sailing for 2008, hope to see you on the circuit.

Regards, Mike Rimmer

First pictures of New Design Deck Rooster/Rondar Streaker', A complete boat will be on show at the RYA Dinghy Exhibition this weekend on both the Streaker Class stand and on the Rooster stand.

Battle of the Classes Pursuit Race
22nd January 2008

Thanks to Ian Jones and Wendy Shingler for representing the Streaker class at the “Yacht and Yachting Battle of the Classes Pursuit Race” held on the last day of the Excel Boat Show at Docklands. The overall results can be found by clicking here.

The conditions were particularly demanding with the wind strength dropping just before the start of the race followed by huge unpredictable shifts causing many to have practice their swimming.

The course did not favour the Streaker with a long upwind, short reach and long square run. Despite this, being capsized upon by the Solo and competitors criticism of the RO’s handicapping and lap counting arithmetic Ian and Wendy did a great job and are to be thanked and congratulated.

The Streaker had a great audience with (apparently) 150 spectators and our profile will clearly be raised even with criticism of the race and conditions. There were over 50 boats and the event must surely now be in the calendar to stay. Check out the pictures by clicking here..

The SCOA committee have also considered the introduction of ‘Pentex®’ sail cloth. A number of sails have been made from this cloth. Our class rules say that the ‘ply fibres shall be of polyester’.

Pentex®. Polyethylene napthalate polyester fibre we understand is modified polyester so we have ruled it is class legal. The Polyester wording was written into the rule, to rule out exotic aramid cloths such as Kevlar. Pentex® offers a high modulus (stretch resistance) alternative for Polyester Dacrons.

At the same time there has been a move towards sails manufactured of lighter weight cloth, which arguably faster in performance, the longevity of the sail is not as good.

The SCOA committee were concerned that such modified polyester sail cloths could push up the cost of sails if not with this cloth but with future cloths that may be developed. The move to lighter weight cloth would also have a similar effect.

The cost of new sails for Streaker’s has been of recent years very consistent, certainly our sails are better value for money than some lesser over-priced one design class used on boats sailed at the Olympics.

The SCOA committee decided that to protect our own one-design rig from being over developed and to protect the cost effective value for money sailing we enjoy, we have made an addition to the Polyester ruling. ‘The property of the sail cloth, either laminate or traditional woven cloth shall not exceed a modulus of 250 and a minimum cloth weight of 150g/m2’.

STREAKER CLASS APPROVED SAIL SUPPLIERS
6th December 2007

'A Partnership'

Every year up to 50 new sails are manufactured, these sails need to be measured, inevitably before the first race at the national championships. Our experience of measuring these sails shows that it is most unlikely to find a sail which is out of class.

Currently 3 sail makers supply the vast majority of new sails to the class, these sail suppliers also have the most experience in supplying of our sails.

In appreciation of this the SCOA committee has asked the following three suppliers Speed Sails, Evolution and Sail Register to guarantee their sails to measure in all respects. In return the SCOA will approve sails made by these manufacturers; a label sewn to the sail will signify the sail is an ‘Approved Sail’. These sails need not be measured.

The SCOA still retains the right to measure any of these sails at any time. Sails manufactured by other sail makers are still allowed but will be subject to being measured by an approved SCOA measurer.

Other sail makers may also be approved as and when the SCOA committee feels this is in the interest of the class.

The SCOA class rules 10. Sail, have been updated to cover this change to the sail measurement.

Regular visitors may have noticed a slight style change to the website. Changes have been made to enable an easier and more consistent navigation throughout the website through the use of a drop down menu system on each page. We hope this will make visiting the site much simpler and if there are any problems with the navigation please relay these to the webmaster.

Website back online
14th September 2007

The website has now been re-instated after an unfortunate recent loss of data. Certain sections of the site were lost entirely and should any member have retained copies of these files the webmaster would pleased if you could contact him via the contact form. The files lost were those stored in the 'members only' area.

To accomodate articles that don't have a natural home elsewhere on the Streaker site, a new page called Tack & Gybe has been created and this can be found with the Information area. To make room within the navigation bar, the Rules & Reg's page has now been relocated within the Racing area.

Streakers Look Set for a Bumper Year
8th March 2007

Hot on the heels of last year's brilliant total of 24 new Streaker registrations, record sales over the winter months look set to herald a bumper year of Streaker sailing across the country. In little over two months Butler Boats & Rooster Sailing have taken orders for a total of 15 new Streakers and there was a hugely encouraging amount of interest shown in the boats on display on the Streaker Class Owners Association stand at this weekend's Dinghy Exhibition at Alexandra Palace. So much so, both companies feel confident that a number of other orders will be placed in the next few weeks.

Rooster & Butler Streakers go head to head on the
Streaker Class Owners' stand at the 2007 Dinghy
Show at Alexandra Palace on the 3rd & 4th March.

With just over two weeks to go before the 2007 Paddle Series kicks off with a joint SP & NP event at Tamworth SC (24th March) it is genuinely hoped that the fleet's recent growing popularity will continue to blossom throughout the season. Anyone who hasn't taken part in a Streaker Paddle event before can be certain of a warm welcome from all the regulars. They can also be guaranteed some highly competitive racing no matter whereabouts in the fleet they are sailing at any of the 22 different Streaker events that will be held between 24th March and 28th October - click here for full details.

Supersized Streaker Site
10th January 2007

Further to the recent inclusion of On-line and Standing Order membership options and the continual updating of reports, results and adverts, the Committee of the SCOA are delighted to unveil the latest evolution of the Streaker Class Owner's website. These improvements mean the site now boasts a staggering total of 88 separate content pages (including 28 downloadable PDF's) containing 3 years worth of event reports & results, 12 Top Tips articles, a complete Trophies archive, 30 video clips (plus 2 combined movies) and more than 1100 photographs. All of which makes the Streaker website arguably the biggest & best single class on-line resource going.

In addition to the changes that were made in July 2006, the most recent growth in size comes from the creation of the following new pages;

Committee - contact details and personal profiles of all current SCOA Committee Members
Boat Register - interactive register of present day Streakers
Newsletter - 9 years worth of Streaker Newsletter back issues
Yearbook - a library of the last 9 Streaker Yearbooks
Newsdesk Archive - a record of old Newsdesk articles
AGM Agenda - details of forthcoming Annual General Meetings
Site Map - diagramatic layout of the content pages within Streaker website
Help - comprehensive list of frequently asked questions & answers

Regular visitors to the site will find that a number of pages that were previously 'free to view' now require a user name & password which is automatically provided to all Association members when they join the SCOA. Although this might be unpopular with some, it is felt that by re-structuring the site in this way the Association can not only provided greater value to it's existing members, but ultimately encourage more Streaker enthusiasts to join the SCOA. It is felt that this can only serve to enhance the development of the class in the months and years ahead and it will ultimately lead to a stronger and more vibrant Streaker fleet.

Top Accolade For Streaker Sailor
24th November 2006

I am certain when I mention the name Peter Crooks, many of you will instantly know that Peter is the current Chairman & Treasurer of the Streaker Association and has been an Association member for years & years - 21 to be precise.

However, what some of you might not be aware of are the immense contributions that Peter has made to sailing away from the Streaker scene. But no more............ all the secrets are finally out (well a few of them anyway). On Wednesday 22 November 2007, Peter was presented with the Royal Yachting Association's top national award for Distinguished Service. This was presented to Peter by solo yachtswoman Dee Caffari at the RYA's Annual Awards Ceremony in London.

Solo round the world yachtswoman Dee Caffari
presents Streaker Chairman, Peter Crooks with
his prestigious RYA Distinguished Service Award.

Not only has Peter provided tireless support to the Streaker fleet, but he held the position of Commodore of Filey Sailing Club for twenty years and is presently their Training Principal. In addition Peter is also currently serving his tenth year as the Chairman of Yorkshire & Humberside Region of the RYA. If that wasn't enough, Peter is a nationally qualified race officer and is in great demand from clubs in the North East to run their major regattas for them.

Quite clearly Peter's passion for the sport is utterly boundless and I'm certain that everyone reading this would like to join the Committee of the SCOA in congratulating him on what is truly a fantastic achievement. It's an honour that you richly deserve Peter.

Peter's citation from the RYA reads as follows;

Click for further details of the RYA Awards and Community Awards