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Gibraltars

02/09/2009 - GIBRALTAR'S RIBSTERS REV UP FOR CHAMPIONSIP FINAL

Gibraltar’s best young RIB drivers, Jordan Warwick, 10, and Dylan Mauro, 13, will be travelling to the PSP Southampton Boat Show in two weeks time (September 13) to compete against the UK’s top RIB driving talent in the final of the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship. The youngsters proved their skills and won their places at the national final when they claimed victory in 8–12 and 13–16 age group classes of the Gibraltar overseas final held at the Royal Gibraltar Yacht Club (RGYC) this weekend (31 August).

Conditions were good for RIB driving, fine weather and calm seas, however, the atmosphere on the time trial race course was anything but calm with competitors from three different clubs, RGYC, 1st/4th Gibraltar Scouts and the Gibraltar Sea Scouts each keen to blow each other out of the water and secure a place at the final.

Racing in two classes, the 8–12’s and 13–16’s, each competitor had two chances to post the quickest time round the course being careful not pick up any time penalties on their way round.

Jordan was the only competitor in her class however, this didn’t curtail her excitement of going to the finals: “I’m really excited about going to Southampton and racing alongside the best in the UK. I wish some of my friends had taken part and given me a bit more competition this weekend however I’m sure I would have beaten them though!”

Racing in the 13–16 age group for the first time having won the 8–12 competition last year, Dylan found himself up against some very stiff competition from last year’s winners Andrew Dunham and Paul Penalver. As the only person not to post any time penalties at the event, Dylan pulled off two perfect laps asserting himself as a strong contender for the win. Paul and Adam tussled between themselves eventually posting times just 2 seconds apart from each other but substantially behind Dylans winning time of 1:27:93. He comments: “I really wasn’t expecting to do so well with this being my first event competing in the older age group. I’m pretty surprised I have to say but really happy to be going to the finals…. again!”

Jordan and Dylan will be racing to win a brand new 4.8m Ribcraft RIB powerboat with a 50hp Honda four stroke engine on an Indespension trailer, equipped with an Icom IC–M505 VHF radio, for their club, RGYC.

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.”

Thanks to Championship sponsors Honda, Ribcraft, ICOM and Indespension Trailers.

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

Notes to Editors:

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