Powerboating youngsters win place in national final

Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship hits the Channel Islands

Young powerboaters from Guernsey have clinched their places in a prestigious national final after claiming victory at the Channel Islands Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship at Guernsey Yacht Club last weekend (30 June 2012).  

Freddy Moss (14) triumphed in the 13-16 age group whilst and Matthew Le Vasseur (12) clinched first place in the 8-12 age group.  Both boys were representing Guernsey Yacht Club and attend Elizabeth College.  

The pair will now fly the flag for the Channel Islands when they go head to head against the age group victors from all the other 13 regional deciders at the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship national final at the Southampton Boat Show on 16 September.  

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.   In sunny conditions with a little wind, Freddy blasted round the course securing a winning time of 1:19 to complete the fastest 13-16 years’ time trial around sets of marks to qualify for the National Final. The overall national champion in his age group will win a 4.8m Ribcraft RIB with a Honda BF60 engine for their club.  

Meanwhile Matthew who also competed in the event for the past two years clocked 1:36 to complete the fasted 8-12 years’ time trial twenty seconds faster than Jacob Sidebottom who finished in second position.

The overall national 8-12 years’ champion will win a Honwave T40 RIB with a Honda BF20 engine for their club.  

Freddy who is also a keen sailor and has been driving RIBs for the past three years said: “I am overjoyed to have won and can’t wait for the final!”  

Matthew’s reaction was “I feel really happy and excited. I am really looking forward to the final!  

RIBs (Rigid Inflatable Boats) are light, manoeuvrable craft and the boats driven in the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship can hit speeds of up to 25mph.  

With the emphasis on swift, efficient and safe manoeuvring, the skills developed through the Honda RYA Youth RIB programme are not only a great chance for youngsters to experience the thrill of racing a small powerboat but are also invaluable in delivering a stream of well-trained young powerboat drivers to provide safety and support cover for sailing and windsurfing events and training courses, locally, nationally and worldwide.  

The Honda RYA Youth Rib Championship, sponsored by Honda and Ribcraft, is a National Championship in which 13-16 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