Who will be crowned champion? Honda RYA Youth RIB Champions to be decided 

Young powerboaters prepare for national final

Twenty eight young powerboaters from across the UK will be hitting the water at the PSP Southampton Boat Show  on Sunday (18 September 2011)  putting their skill, control, and speed to the test in a race against the clock, in the hope of clinching the prestigious title of 2011 Honda RYA Youth RIB National Champion.  

Gearing up to be a nail-biter

Throughout the summer at regional finals across the UK, the competition has seen some very close finishes and this year’s national final is gearing up to be a real nail-biter!   

Watch out for powerboating cousins Rory and Gary Fekkes who will be fiercely competing for Northern Ireland. Both youngsters are entering the final with the fastest regional times of the season in each of the two classes, 8-12 and 13-16 years.  

Competitors from the Southern Region Harrison Faull, aged 12 and Ben Edwards aged 15 will kick start the competition at 10:00 on Sunday, with racing continuing throughout the day until 16:00, off the Solent Park area.  

Fantastic prize

Now in its 10th year, finalists will be battling it out on the water in the hope of winning a fantastic prize. 

In the 8-12 age group the championship winner will receive a Honwave T40 RIB with a Honda BF20 engine for their club, whilst in the 13-16 age group the winner will receive, again for their club, a 4.8m Ribcraft RIB with a Honda BF60 engine.  

The course will involve tricky timed manoeuvres, including a high speed slalom, a man overboard drill, and a blast to the finish line, to test every aspect of the youngsters’ powerboat driving skills.   

Exceptional talent

Andrew Norton, RYA Motor Cruising Projects Manager and Event Director said: “We are expecting fierce competition and some very exciting races in the national final. This year’s competition has seen exceptional talent take to the water, and we have seen even more competitors taking part in the challenge.  

 “The youngsters who participate are the future of sailing clubs and the Honda RYA Youth RIB championship is a fantastic way for them to gain invaluable boat handling and safety skills which are an asset to any club. The kids who win the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship aren’t the ones who can drive fastest in a straight line it’s those who can smoothly and skilfully manoeuvre a powerboat. That’s the whole purpose of the event.”  

The 2011 champion will be named at the winner’s presentation held on the Honda stand (BO62) at 17.00.  

More information

The Honda RYA Youth Rib Championship, sponsored by Honda and Ribcraft, is a National Championship in which 8-16 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."  

Thanks to Championship sponsors Honda and Ribcraft.  

 For more information about the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship, details on how to get involved and a list of regional finals scores visit www.rya.org.uk/go/hondayouthrib