Dorset youngsters prove their skill

Two young Dorset powerboaters are celebrating victory in the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship area final hosted by Poole Yacht Club on Saturday, 19 August, and are now preparing for the national final at TheYachtMarket.com Southampton Boat Show in September.

Competitors from Poole Yacht Club, Parkstone Yacht Club and Sandbanks Yacht Club took part in the event, which was divided into two age categories. Henry Martin (12), a member of Sandbanks YC won the 8-12 group in a very competitive time of 1.07.53. Henry is the younger brother of a former regional finalist, Martin, and was delighted to have set a time so close to that of the older category. Runner-up Harry James (12) from Poole YC is one to watch, after making a time of 1.16.66 after just three training sessions.

Carlo Consolos (16) posted a time of 1.08.81 to win the 13-16 category for Poole YC for the second year running and is looking forward to competing in the national final. His victory over second-placed Callum Morton (14) from Parkstone YC was due entirely to Callum’s penalties, which demonstrate the importance the competition places on making a clean run.

Henry and Carlo will join the other area finalists from across the country to battle it out for the crown of Honda RYA Youth RIB National Champions 2017 at the Yachtmarket.com Southampton Boat Show on Saturday 17 September. The boys will be hoping to clinch the top prizes of a Honwave T40 RIB with a Honda BF20 engine for their club, organisation or training centre in the 8-12 age group or a Highfield 460 RIB with a Honda BF50 engine for their club, organisation or training centre in the 13-16 age group.

Steve Morris, Head of Power Products at Honda (UK) added; “It has been sixteen years and we are still incredibly proud to be associated with the RYA and this exciting championship as it gives young people the opportunity to develop their skills in a safe and thrilling way.“The Honda RYA Youth RIB Challenge also perfectly encapsulates our Engineering for Life philosophy, it provides a platform to showcase the reliability and power of our marine engines, whilst encouraging young people to get out onto the water, enjoy themselves and realise their passion.”

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.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. Thanks to Championship sponsors Honda and Highfield.

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