Perton’s Kamila Lands National Powerboat Crown

Honda Youth RIB crown for South Staffs teen

Perton powerboat ace Kamila Czartolomna became the first girl in more than 10 years to be crowned National Champion when she claimed Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship victory at the PSP Southampton Boat Show yesterday (Sunday 14 September).

This was the third successive year that South Staffordshire Sailing Club’s Kamila, 13, has qualified for the national grand final, going head to head against the 13 other regional champions, but the first time in the older 13-16 years age-group having previously competed at 8-12 years level. 

And she made light work of the step up, clinching the national crown - and winning a Highfield 460 RIB with a Honda BF50 engine for South Staffordshire SC - by blasting her way to championship glory in a time of 1:04:10, just 0.68 of a second faster than Mark McDonough (Ballyholme Yacht Club, N.I) in second.

The three-time regional West Midlands champion Kamila said: “The water was much calmer than it was last year and the year before. 

"I was hoping to win because I came second last year and I’ve been down at the club practicing almost every weekend so it feels great! I love the fact that this competition gives you something that you wouldn’t normally get to do.”

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 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 - 8-12 years and 13-16 years - crowned national champion.

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.

Kamila wasn’t the only member of the Czartolomna family in action in Southampton - her nine-year-old sister Aga made her national final debut, having only taken her event bow in the 8-12 age-group this summer and finishing 11th overall.

“The competition was just fantastic,” said Andrew Norton, RYA Powerboat Project Manager and Event Director. "The conditions were perfect and the standard of talent out on the water was incredible. You could tell that all the competitors, no matter what time they achieved, really enjoyed themselves.

“It’s brilliant to see more girls involved this year, giving the boys a run for their money, and of course we now have another female National Champion. We hope to see even more youngsters and new clubs getting involved and growing the competition in 2015.”

Phillip Crossman said: “Honda have been associated with this competition for 13 years and the reason we became involved is because it’s our aim to encourage young people into boating, to be competitive and also to be to very safe. 

"The young people here have been through their club finals, regional finals and have performed in one of the biggest events in the UK, this national final. I wish them all congratulations.”

Thanks to Championship sponsors Honda and Highfield. 

Check out the full list of results here