Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship's hard fought battle

by RYA on 2 Aug 2011 The Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship 2011 took place on Saturday 30th July with eleven youngsters from across the Eastern Region gathering at Fishers Green Sailing Club, Herts to do battle for a place in the national final.

The competition mixes high levels of boat handling skills with a race against the clock. Each youngster got an off-course practice followed by two runs of the course. Time penalties are given for hitting buoys or not completing specific tasks.

In the senior 13 to 16 age group it was tightly contested between Mike Jarvis (14) of FGSC and Lawson Hays from Island YC, Canvey Island, Essex. In the end Lawson held off Mike’s challenge by less than two seconds, to win the class and go forward to represent RYA East in this year’s national final of the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship on September 18 at the PSP Southampton Boat Show.

Third place went to Bobby Martin (15) of Caldecote, Beds who sails at Paxton Lakes SC near St. Neots, Cambs. A little over six seconds covered first to third. This is Lawson’s first visit to the regional finals in four years of competing in the sport. He got into sailing and power boating through being a member of the Sea Cadets.

In the junior eight to 12 year-old group, Lewis Redman-Baber, (11) proved to have the edge. Although one of the smallest competitors in the championship he proved that good things come in small packages by winning his group in the most efficient manner. Second was FGSC member Christopher Gladwin (12) from Garfield, Middlesex. Third place went to Andy Martin (12) older brother of junior third place competitor Bobby Martin. The brothers both sail at Paxton Lakes along with class winner Lewis Redman-Baber and his sister Camille who competed in the senior class. Lewis has been powerboating at Paxton for four years and this was his third time at a regional final.

For several days before the event FGSC members had been dredging large amounts of clogging weed out of the course area. As with a lot of inland freshwater lakes this year weed has been a major problem.

Regional HYRC co-ordinator Nigel Mower said: 'The club faced a potential disaster at one point with weed threatening to stop all activity on the water. They made a tremendous effort and removed tons of weed, so we could hold the final. Their efforts resulted in a first class day for all the competitors.'

National HYR organiser Andy Felthouse commented: 'The standard of driving was very high. They also coped extremely well with the weed, which if they were not careful caused them to cavitate and lose speed. The weather for the whole weekend was glorious, very light winds with lots of sun, which made the event that more enjoyable for everybody.'

Prizes were presented by RYA East Honda Youth Ambassador Steve Curtis (14), who won the junior group national event on two consecutive occasions, 2008/9 with fellow Ambassador and national champion Aaron Lowther of Island YC. Steve is now competing in F400 powerboat racing – in between lessons at Kimbolton School – while Aaron is off to university.

Just to prove he’s still got what it takes, Steve did a demonstration run of the course in 58 seconds: 'I haven’t done an HYR run in the past two months or so,' he said. 'I think Lawson and Lewis will do well and give a good account themselves at the national final.'

The Honda RYA Youth Rib Championship, sponsored by Honda and Ribcraft, is a National Championship in which eight to sixteen year old RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) drivers can demonstrate their boat handling skills in a race against the clock in the hope of winning a 5m Ribcraft or Honwave T40 for their club.

David Hodgkinson, Marketing Communications Manager for event sponsor Honda said: 'We are extremely proud that in 10th year of sponsoring the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship, we continue to inspire and encourage more young people than ever before to pursue their passion for boating, and also give them the skills to do so. It allows us to underline our commitment to safety and best practice, something which we take extremely seriously as a major manufacturer of engines and inflatables.' Honda RYA Youth RIB website