I built a ShootingStar a couple of years ago. She was a gift to my daughter.
aaaaaabut I built her so I could paddle her too. I´m a little to heavy so I cant take any more load.
The SS is fast and very manouverable, she is steady and safe. I have let total novices paddle her and they did not have any problems. I had to paddle very hard in the Panache not to get them to much ahead.
You can lean her so watersurface is well up on your sprayskirt and still hold her on course. In meeting sea she tends to take some water on deck maybe caused by my weight. No problem in surfing, she behaves very well and she is Fun!
Turning goes easy if you use your paddle (whitewater-technic)and lean her.

She is very nice to paddle and I can borrow her whenever I want, thats nice!