A Worksop teenager has clinched his place in a prestigious national powerboating final for the second year running by claiming age-group victory at the East Midlands Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship Regional Final at Burton Sailing Club on Saturday 17 May.  

George Baxter, 11, will go head to head against the 13 other regional age-group champions at the Honda RYA Youth RIB national grand final at the PSP Southampton Boat Show on Sunday 14 September following his regional success in the 8-12 age group.  

Worksop College Preparatory School pupil George finished 10th on his national final debut in Southampton last year.  

Now in its 13th 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.   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.

The youngsters compete in time trials around sets of marks with the driver with the fastest time in each age-group qualifying for the national final where the overall national champion in each age-group will win a Highfield 460 or a Honwave T40 RIB for their club.  

Looking forward to another go at the finals

George can be more commonly found racing dinghies at his home club, Girton Sailing Club, near Newark, but once again he made light work of the transition from wind to diesel power, clocking a winning time of 1.32:13 on his faultless second run of the day to take victory.   George said: “I’m so excited to have won and very happy to have another go at the national final!”  

With the emphasis on swift, efficient and safe manoeuvring, the skills the youngsters develop through the Honda RYA Youth RIB programme are a great chance for them to experience the thrill of racing a small powerboat and invaluable in developing safe, proficient powerboat drivers to support sailing clubs in running the activities they want to get more people out on the water more often.      

Stephen Morris, Head of Power Equipment for Honda (UK), said: “We are delighted to continue our long and successful partnership with the RYA in supporting the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship, and to be bringing on-board our new boatbuilder partner, Highfield, for 2014. Both Honda and Highfield are only too pleased to support the RYA in its efforts to inspire and encourage young people to develop their skills and to promote safe and responsible boating through this unique Championship.”  

 For more information about the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship visit www.rya.org.uk/go/hondayouthrib