![]() Well I thought that we would struggle the course favoured running boats and the Streaker loves reaching, so I was not convinced that we would be able to hold our own against the Solo that started just 1 minute behind. However, I would argue - some might say spin - that it is a boat that club sailors find easy to sail to its handicap as it is not highly physical and its light weight make it easy to drive through the water. ![]() I would agree that the boat has a great handicap for club sailors. We never really pressed the likes of the Blaze or Phantom on the trapezoid course. Tom Gillard had a great event and was the top Streaker coming 5th with me trailing in 7th. Jon has been sailing at the top of his game this year - nearly winning the world championships - but he was still left in 10th place in the single handed fleet. I felt bad for Jon Emmett sailing his Laser Radial. The whole package clearly worked well as Rooster Epoxy Streakers came 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th at the National Championships in 2008.Īfter sailing at the Grafham Grand Prix I was aware that the handicap was good but not fantastic. In 2008 we manufactured 26 boats from this deck mould and sold them with sails made by Rooster Sails. Finally after much lobbying and some disquiet from some members, we were able to make a modification to the deck mould, with the help of Paul Young of Rondar, that I think makes the boat look as pleasing in GRP as it does in wood. Since then Rooster have made Streakers from this first hull and deck mould. The first boat built by Dave had been made in Epoxy and was sailed by Ian to win the Nationals in 2004 and was called the 'Rooster Streaker'. Both had been legends in Enterprises and Graduates - and both filled my head with enthusiasm. Why? Well it was the respect I had for those who enthused about the boat, namely Alan Gillard and John Burgoine. Dave Naylor's mould was fast but he was no longer interested in building Streakers so the boat and the mould was bought by Rooster Sailing. Prior to 2004 most Championship winning boats had been wooden boats either built by enthusiasts from a kit or by Dave Butler, a good northern boat builder. It was taken from a Championship winning boat built by Alan Gillard's Father. In 2004 Dave Naylor, another famous northern boat designer started working on a new mould for the Streaker. I have loved sailing the boat - and I have been lucky to win the last three National Championships - and I really mean lucky. The boat feels a bit like a Europe in size and weight but with a rig that is perhaps more repeatable and definitely cheaper and less off putting than the low boom of the Europe. Steve Cockerill - no perhaps I am not so reserved, but I do find that the Streaker is a boat that seems to fit my smaller frame better than boats like a Laser or even Laser Radial despite winning the Laser Master's Europeans in a standard rig this year and seven Laser Radial National Championships in the last nine years. Ian has also won the Streaker Nationals in 20 and more recently he won the Laser Radial Masters Nationals at Stokes Bay in 2007. Twice is not lucky! So you could say that he is no slouch in shifty gusty conditions. Ian is very reserved about his many successes but I am aware that in his last two meetings in a Laser against Paul Goodison he managed to win out victorious. He is well known as a legend on a puddle. Ian has been winning the Northern Laser Circuit - or should I call it the Northern Puddle Circuit for the last ten years. I would like to investigate the personalities, the boats, the handicap and the conditions to understand why the class were so successful at this event. The Streakers have a great time at the Yachts & Yachting 'Battle of the Classes' © Rooster Sailing
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |