The Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship 

The 2009 Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship proved to be a great success and the RYA together with Honda and Ribcraft are delighted to offer all interested youngsters the opportunity to participate once again!

The Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship, sponsored by Honda and Ribcraft, is a National Championship in which 8 - 16 year old Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) drivers can demonstrate their skills with the goal of winning a 5m Ribcraft or a Honwave T40 for their club.

The Concept

The RYA (Royal Yachting Association),through its affiliated clubs, organisations and training centres will again run a National Championship in Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIB's) for juniors/youths. Clubs, organisations and training centres wishing to participate hold local heats, at their premises, to determine who they put forward to their Regional Finals. There are 15 Regional Finals and the winner in each age group (8-12 years and 13-16 years) takes part in the National Final held at the PSP Southampton Boat Show on Sunday, 12th September 2010.

If you would like your club to participate in this years Championship you should contact the Regional Coordinator for your area - see Regional Finals Schedule for details.

The Competition

The competition takes the form of a time trial around a set of marks - the fastest time wins.  The slalom buoys are set 12.5m apart so that skill and control, and not necessarily speed, are the most important factors.  Times on this course varied in 2009 from 1min 07secs -  3min 13secs for the 8 -12 age group and 52secs - 1min 51secs in the 13-16 age group.  Each competitor has two runs, one as a practice and one as a 'hot lap'.  Both runs are timed and the fastest time put forward.

The Classes

There are two classes: 8-12 years and 13-16 years.  This is the age of the entrant at the time of the National Final i.e. for the 8-12 year olds the competitor should not have had their 13th birthday before 13th September 2010 and similarly in the 13-16 year old section they should not have had their 17th birthday before 13th September 2010.

Local Heats

Any RYA (Royal Yachting Association) affiliated club, organisation or training centre that wishes to participate can hold a local heat. The club, organisation or training centre run a competition at their premises, using their own boats, from which they put forward their winners, to the Regional Final, in one or both of the age categories.

Regional Finals

The Regional Finals, fifteen in all, are held at clubs, organisations or training centres with suitable facilities. The RYA helps the club organise the event and attends to the logistics and administration needed to run the Regional Final. Where possible the RYA will attend and support the event with promotional materials and two Honda powered Ribcraft to be used by the competitors.

National Final

The National Final will be held at the PSP Southampton Boat Show on Sunday, 12th September 2010. The RYA will organise and co-ordinate all aspects of this final stage of the competition.

Prizes

At the Regional Finals, medals,certificates and other prizes are presented for the first, second and third places in each age group.

At the National Final the winner of the 8-12 age group will win a Honwave T40 RIB with a Honda BF20 engine for their club, organisation or training centre and the winner of  the 13-16 age group will win a 5m Ribcraft RIB with a Honda BF60 engine for their club, organisation or training centre. Medals, certificates and other prizes are presented for the first, second and third places in each age group.

For more information please use the links in the download area. Should you have any queries the RYA Cruising Department can be contacted by telephone on 023 8060 4233 or by sending an email.

2010 Posters/Information Leaflet

2010 Poster/Information Leaflets can be requested by emailing us with your name, address, club and how many leaflets you require.