Laser vs. Streak Dinghy

When i was watching the upwind whisper dvd by Seve Cockrill, he made a comparison between the laser sailboat and the streak dinghy (popular in Great Britain). He said the laser sailboat is not well designed for sailing over waves because the boat length is alittle long and the bow and stern are too heavy. The result is that the boat tends to fly in the air and land abruptly into the next wave. The streak and Europe dinghy, on the other hand, is a much lighter boat, 105 lbs approximately, and is much lighter on the ends. Therefore, when the boats ride the waves, there is far less air suspension and pounding into the next wave coming. Cockrill refers to this as a greater wave period. Anyways, has anyone tried out the Streaker or Europe dinghies and what observations can you make in comparison to the laser. It seems that the streaker is a more manuverable boat because of its lightness and shorter lenght. Also a lighter boat would make launching and retreiving this boat easier on a older adult. I am 46 and a laser sailor but i am curious about this boat. Any information would be appreciated...john

My opinion, not having actually sailed a streaker, would be that the stayed rig makes far more difference than the wieght and marginally shorter length. Even in the Whisperer footage you can see the flatness of the main compared to a laser. I really don't think there's a case for equal comparison in that boat. The europe, on the other hand, is something closer to a laser.

There are a few Europes at my club and they are very competitive in all conditions against lasers, they can certainly handle heavy weather well.
Their handicap of 1139 against the laser's full rig of 1078 (UK Portsmouth Yardstick)theoetically puts them on equal terms on corrected time but I have a feeling that their ability to specify mast type to suit body weight and conditions and the reputed flexibility of settings gives them a good start.
Maybe I am just miffed at being beaten by them.