Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship – Powerboaters head to regional final

by RYA on 16 Aug 2015 Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship – Young powerboaters from across the Thames Valley and London Region will hit the water for the regional final at Silver Wing Sailing Club on 23 August 2015.

The Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship, sponsored by Honda and Highfield, is a National Championship in which eight to 16 year old Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) drivers can demonstrate their skills with the goal of winning a Highfield 460 or a Honwave T40 for their club.

The event will see finalists from regional heats do battle, with the winners in two age groups, eight to 12 and 13-16, going through to the national final held at the Southampton Boat Show in September. There they will be up against against other regional finalists from across the UK.

The event has a 9.30 briefing prior to a 10.00 start.

Roger Bennett, the event co-ordinator, says: “The championship is a great event to encourage youngsters to demonstrate their power boating skills. It helps them to develop to become expert boat handlers and focuses on safe and controlled boat handling skills. Each competitor aims to manoeuvre around a pre-set course in the quickest time. We look forward to welcoming competitors to Silver Wing for the event.”

Steve Morris, Head of Power Products for Honda (UK) comments: 'We are delighted to continue our long and successful partnership with the RYA in supporting the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship.

“Both Honda and Highfield are only too pleased to support the RYA in its efforts to inspire and encourage young people to develop their skills and to promote safe and responsible boating through this unique championship.'

The Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship is Britain’s leading programme introducing kids to powerboats and training them to be safe, proficient drivers and excellent boat handlers.
RIBs are light, manoeuvrable craft and the boats driven in the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship can hit speeds of up to 25mph.