Streaker

The Streaker of Marcel Leguen

The Streaker is designed by the famous Jack Holt in 1975. Also known for the Wayfarer and Solo. In fact, the Streaker is the smallest of this dinghy line.

This little dinghy is mainly sailed in the UK, The actual UK Streaker class consist of abut 200 boats. In the seventies, a built yourself kit was sold by the Allen/Holt company. A plywood hull, aluminum mast and dacron sail.

Some Streaker data:

Crew of 1

Mono hull of Plywood

Hull weight 48 kg

Hull length 3.9 m

Hull width 1.4 m

Sail area 6.5 m2

I bought this boat in 2023 from the son of the builder, who finished this project in 1978. He sailed only a few times, to discover sailing was not his thing at all. Then the boat was stored for decades under the sealing of a garage. So my boat is a kind of living legend: With sail number 655 she is one of the oldest, built amongst the firsts only 3 years after the introduction. But in a perfect condition, as a new, because it was stored for about 45 years.

As you might notice, there is similarity with the well known Laser. So why did I decide for this instead of the proven standard international Laser/Ilca class?

First of all because I like wooden boats. Wood is of course a sustainable material, my boat is already more than ones replaced by new planted trees since her birth. Not many boats with such a CO2 footprint!

Besides this ratio, there is the emotion. The feel and touch of wood. The sound from the water hitting the hull. The excitement of the shining surface after a new layer of varnish. The simplicity enabling easy repair.

The appeal of artisanal constructions.

The Streaker has stayed mast which I prefer against an unsupported mast like some dinghies have (OK, Laser, etc). The controls were missing, so I did complete these by installing trim lines for Kicker, Outhaul and Downhaul.

For Raid Extreme and other events, I mounted a paddle

2024 will be my first sailing year with my Streaker.