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The young powerboaters

27/07/2009 - SOUTH EAST YOUNG POWERBOATERS COMPETE FOR £20,000 PRIZES

14 young powerboaters, some as young as 9, competed for top slots at the RYA South East Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship held at Bewl Water, near Tonbridge in Kent, on Saturday July 25. Representing their clubs, they aimed to qualify for the national final where they will be in the running to win one of two £20,000 kits, each consisting of a Ribcraft 4.8m RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) with a 50 hp Honda outboard engine, an Indespension trailer, and Icom radio – just what their club needs to run its regattas and club racing!

In two classes, 8-12 years and 13-16 years, the South East region winners now go forward to the final at the Southampton Boat show in September, when they will compete against the other regions’ winners for the prizes – one complete kit for each age class.

Jonathan Edwards, in the 13-16 age class and from Bewl Valley Sailing Club, stormed around the course in just over a minute – within a few seconds of last year’s national final prize-winning time. This is his second year in this competition, and he is improving fast and now a hot prospect. His secret was not to push too hard - especially on the slalom - but keep a steady yet fast pace throughout. Now he is looking forward to winning the finals!

At his first championship attempt, Tim Butler from Wilsonian Sailing Club at Rochester just took first place in the 8-12 year group, with second place George Hyett from Downs Sailing Club from Walmer finishing a close 1.6 seconds behind him. Tim has only been powerboating for a few months. "Happy, but shocked! was his elated reaction.

The Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship sees the young helmsmen compete in a time trial race around a set of marks. Each competitor has two attempts, and the fastest time counts. The slalom buoys demand skill and control, but it was the "man overboard drill and reversing round a buoy manoeuvers that’s tested the youngsters the most, with many of them gunning the throttle too hard and losing vital seconds.

Thanks go to Championship sponsors Honda, Ribcraft, ICOM and Indespension Trailers. Martin Moll, Head of Marketing for event sponsor Honda, said: "We are very proud and pleased to be associated with the RYA Youth RIB Challenge for another year because it allows us to create links with the wider community - giving a younger generation access to our products and helping them engage with interactive, team based, social activities.

"Furthermore, as a manufacturer which puts safety at the heart of everything we do, the RIB Challenge gives us a great opportunity to underline this commitment."

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.

For further media information:

  • Tony Rix
  • RYA South East regional communicator
  • Tel: 01323 422477
  • Email: tony.rix@btinternet.com

 

Results:

  • SE 8-12 yrs: 1st Tim Butler (Wilsonian, Rochester); 2nd Tim Hyett (Downs Sailing Club, Walmer); 3rd Joanna Brennan (Newhaven & Seaford Sailing Club)
  • SE 13-16 yrs: 1st Jonathan Edwards (Bewl Valley Sailing Club); 2nd Adam Bermingham (Wilsonian Sailing Club); 3rd Tim Ferrid (Bewl Valley Sailing Club)

 

About Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship:

  • Started in 2002, the Championship allows youngsters aged 8-16 to demonstrate their skills as expert boat handlers and improve their skills in a safe, controlled environment, with each competitor aiming to manoeuvre around a pre-set course in the quickest time. To ensure safety at all times each child is accompanied in the RIB by a competent adult/instructor.
  • There are sixteen regional finals across the whole of the UK and overseas. Winners from both the 8-12 and 13-16 age groups go on to represent the region at the National Final.

 

About the RYA:

  • The RYA is the national body for all forms of recreational, competitive and professional boating. It represents dinghy and yacht racing, motor and sail cruising, RIBs and sportsboats, powerboat racing, windsurfing, inland cruising and personal watercraft.
  • The RYA is recognised by all government offices as being the negotiating body for the activities it represents. It continually fights for the rights and freedoms of its 102,000 personal members, the majority of whom choose to go afloat for purely recreational non-competitive pleasure on coastal and inland waters. There are an estimated further 500,000 boat owners nationally who are members of RYA affiliated clubs and class associations.
  • The RYA also sets and maintains a recognised standard for recreational boat training through a network of 2,340 RYA Recognised Training Centres in over 43 countries. On average 155,000 people per year complete RYA training courses.
  • The RYA is committed to promoting all forms of boating and making them accessible to everyone. For more information please refer to our web site www.rya.org.uk
  • RYA Sailability is the leading UK charity for disabled sailing and is the official charity of the RYA. Registered Charity Number: 1084351
  • You can find the RYA at RYA House, Ensign Way, Hamble, Southampton, SO31 4YA