The Area Finals of the 2017 Honda Youth RIB Championship are set to get underway this month as the very best young RIB drivers battle it out on the water to secure the title of Area Champion and a spot at the National Final.

Watch the trailer here – https://youtu.be/SXW2Sf56GJ4

Thousands of youngsters have been testing their skills on the throttle at club heats up and down the country in a bid to secure their place at one of the 13 Area Finals, where they will need to perfect their skills to be top of the leader board.  Competitors have to take on the testing course which includes slalom, stop exercise, 360O reverse around a buoy manoeuvre, followed by a sprint to the finish.

“Despite being a race against the clock the Honda Youth RIB Championship is not just about speed, the young competitors need to have honed their skills to be able to pull off all aspects of the course with precision while keeping the power on to clinch a place at the National Final”, commented Andrew Norton, Powerboat Projects Manager.

Each Area will send two champions, one from the 8-12 age group and one from the 13-16 age group to the National Final held at the Southampton Boat Show in September.

Area Finals get underway on 20 May at Paxton Sailing Club (East) and take place across the country until 19 August when the final event will take place at Poole Yacht Club (South West 2).

Area Finals schedule:

  • 20 May – East – Paxton Sailing Club
  • 27 May – South West (1) – The Mount Batten Centre
  • 03 June – Scotland – Port Edgar Watersports
  • 10 June – Northern Ireland – East Antrim Boat Club
  • 17 June – South (1) – Guernsey Yacht Club
  • 25 June – Wales – Swansea Watersports Centre
  • 01 July – Midlands – Staunton Herald Sailing Club
  • 08 July – London & South East (1) – Medway Yacht Club
  • 15 July – North West – West Kirby Sailing Club
  • 29 July – North East – Scaling Dam Sailing Club
  • 05 August – South (2) – Oxford Sailing Club
  • 12 August – London & South East (2) – Welsh Harp Sailing Club
  • 19 August – South West (2) – Poole Yacht Club
  • 17 September – NATIONAL FINAL – Southampton Boat Show

As well as the bragging rights of being crowned National Champion, there are also some amazing prizes up for grabs.  The winner of the 8-12 age group wins a Honwave T40 RIB with a Honda BF20 engine and the winner of the 13-16 age group a Highfield 460 RIB with a Honda BF50 engine for their respective clubs, organisations or training centres, with medals, certificates and other prizes for the first, second and third places in each age group.

Steve Morris, Head of Power Equipment for Honda (UK) comments: “We are pleased to continue our long and successful partnership with the RYA in supporting the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship, now in its sixteenth year.

“Honda and our boat partner Highfield are delighted to support the RYA in its endeavours to motivate and encourage young people to develop their skills and to promote safe and responsible racing through this unique and exciting championship.”

The Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship, sponsored by Honda and Highfield, is a National Championship in which 8 – 16 year old, Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) drivers, can demonstrate their skills with the goal of winning a Highfield 460 or a Honwave T40 for their club.

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

The Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship is Britain’s leading programme introducing young people to powerboats and training them to be safe, proficient drivers and excellent boat handlers.

 

www.rya.org.uk/go/hondayouthrib

 

The post Start your engines for the 2017 Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship appeared first on All At Sea.