Success at Ardleigh's first Honda RYA Youth RIB event 

Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship kicks off in the East

Young powerboaters battled the elements when they competed in the second round of the eastern region Honda RYA Youth RIB Competition held for the first time at the picturesque Ardleigh Reservoir near Colchester on Saturday (June 9).

The event, organised by Ardleigh Sailing Club, was run in planing dories rather than the usual RIBs, which coupled with high winds and choppy conditions made some of the competition challenging for competitors. The course even had to be held in position with extra anchors and chains.

Now in its 11th year, the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship is Britain’s leading programme introducing kids to powerboats and training them to be safe, proficient drivers and excellent boat handlers.    

Three 15-year olds, Georgina Grice (Ardliegh), Jacob Elson (Ardliegh) and Steven Curtis (Northern Exposure) made it to the top of the leader board and will compete in the regional final at Island Yacht Club, Canvey, Essex in two weeks time on June 23.

The winners of that event in each age group will represent the region at the national Honda RYA Youth RIB final at the Southampton Boat Show in September. Steven is a past national champion and Honda RYA Youth RIB Ambassador for the region.

The event attracted competitors from Waldringfield SC and Northern Exposure Rescue as well as home grown talent. The club has asked to stage a heat of the competition next year.

Regional Honda RYA Youth RIB Co-ordinator Nigel Mower said: “We’re very grateful to Ardleigh SC for staging this event. For a first event it was highly successful. The site would be ideal for a future regional final, with good access and attractive surroundings. From the standard shown here and all the other area heats the regional final in a couple of weeks time promises to be an exciting and close- fought event.”

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 4.8m Ribcraft or Honwave T40 for their club.  

David Hodgkinson, Marketing Communications Manager for event sponsor Honda said: “Honda strives to be "a company that society wants to exist", and so as a major manufacturer of engines and inflatables we are delighted to be sponsoring the 11th year of the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship.

Inspiring and encouraging young people to discover and pursue a passion for boating, is as important as giving them the skills to do so in a safe and responsible way. We are proud together with the RYA to be doing both through this unique competition”.  

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