Teamac Streaker Golden Jubilee Concours d'Elegance at Rutland Sailing Club
by Ian Bradley & Charmaine Ryland 27 Jul 2025 06:23 BST
11 July 2025
The Streaker Class celebrated the beauty and craftsmanship of all-wood and composite Streakers at their recent Golden Jubilee National Championships at Rutland Sailing Club for the meticulously judged Teamac Streaker Concours d'Elegance.
The fleet of sixteen Streakers gathered on the lawn in front of the club for the judging, which was sponsored this year by Teamac Marine Paints. The boats were judged in three categories - there were two all-wood classic boats without false floors, six all-wood Streakers with false floors and nine composite Streakers. The parade of entrants included previous winners of the Cadzow trophy which is awarded annually to the best presented boat at the championship. Some of the entrants have previously been exhibited at the RYA Dinghy Show.
This special event was judged by Arran Linton-Smith who once worked for Jack Holt Ltd and was the Streaker National Champion in 1978 and 1979. Arran was meticulous in his judging, with a criterion-based approach. The results were very close. Arran's key criteria were beauty, history of the boat and effort that had gone into maintenance and restoration, all points that he discussed individually with each owner - although some of said owners succumbed to the wiles of the ice cream truck, handily positioned at the main gate. Owners also took the opportunity to check out each others' craft during the judging.
There were two entries in the classic category and the winner was Streaker 125, the oldest known Streaker still sailing, which has recently been restored by Simon Cory to a very high standard indeed. For such a venerable craft she is looking amazing. The special Teamac Award - for the boat most in need of a coat of varnish - was won by Streaker 129, 'Sixpence'.
Of the six all-wood streakers with false floors, the winner was Streaker 1404, raced this year by Nigel Hufton. This boat was a total write-off until she was restored recently by Chris Smith to her current glory. Chris's labour of love certainly paid off, with 1404 getting into the championship Final Group A, despite her slightly higher weight of 53kg - a weight gain caused by some improvements incorporated during the restoration.
The eight entrants in the composite category were outshone by the work of Chris Smith but, in a demonstration of the Streaker Class spirit, Chris refused a second win. So, the prize for this category was awarded to the next best beautifully presented boat, 2138. This was the newest boat in the line-up, owned by Pete Tyerman and built by Dave Butler of Butler Boats.
Category winners each received tins of Teamalak Yacht Varnish and all entrants walked away with Teamac goodies and a Golden Jubilee Concours d'Elegance mug. The overall winner of the Concours d'Elegance and this year's winner of the Cadzow Trophy was Chris Smith's Streaker 1404, principally due to her resurrection story.
A special thank you to Arran Linton-Smith for his time and his carefully considered judging.