With thousands of youngsters having tried their hand at the throttle in the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship RIB over the past 16 years, it’s time once again to get the engines reeving and offer a new wave of young RIB drivers the chance to compete for the title of Honda RYA Youth RIB Champion 2018.

The championship is open to young RIB drivers aged between 8-16 years old and competitors compete in one of two age categories 8-12 and 13-16 age groups.

The competition takes the form of a time trial around a set of marks – the fastest time wins, during which competitors have to complete a slalom, stop exercise, 360O reverse around a buoy, before sprinting to the finish.

Each competitors has to battle through the various stages of the competition in order to compete for the Championship title.

Stage one are the Local Heats. Clubs up and down the country hold their own local heats, where the young club members compete against the clock around a set course with the fastest in each age group claiming a place at their Area Final.

The fastest competitors in each age group from the local heats now come together at their designated Area Final to battle in out for the top spot and a place at the National Final.  A total of 13 Area Finals are lined up for 2018.  Dates confirmed so far include:

 

Area Location Date
Northern Ireland Belfast Harbour Marina 19 May
Scotland Port Edgar Watersports 02 June
London & SE 1 Datchet Water Sailing Club 09 June
London & SE 2 Medway Yacht Club 16 June
Channel Islands Guernsey Yacht Club 16 June
Midlands Staunton Harold Sailing Club 23 June
South Marchwood Yacht Club 30 June
North West West Kirby Sailing Club 21 July
East Paxton Lakes Sailing Club 04 August
South West 1 Poole Yacht Club 12 August
Wales Pwllheli Sailing Club 18 August
South West 2 Tbc Tbc
North East Tbc Tbc

 

For more details of Area Final dates as they become available visit www.rya.org.uk/go/hondayouthrib and click on 2018 Area Finals schedule.

The event culminates with the National Final held at the Southampton Boat Show in September. The winners of each Area Final in each age group come together to battle it out on the grand stage for the title of Honda RYA Youth RIB Champion 2018.  As well as competing for the accolade of National Champion, the 26 young drivers are also battling out to win a fantastic prize for their club, organisation or training centre.

In the 8-12 age group the winner’s prize is a Honwave T40 RIB with a Honda BF20 engine, while the winner of the 13-16 age group claims a Highfield 460 RIB with a Honda BF50 engine.

“The Honda Youth RIB Championship is not just about speed, it’s about control, skill and determination. Each year the lap times get quicker and quicker and the bar is set higher and higher.  While many competitors return year on year, there is also the chance to see new talented young drivers come through and make their mark on the leader board,” commented Andrew Norton, RYA Powerboat Projects Manager.

www.rya.org.uk/go/hondayouthrib

 

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