Two young RIB drivers, Harry Blaser and Alex Mitchell, will be heading off to the national final of the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship after winning the Thames Valley Regional Final of the championship on Saturday the 22nd of August. Icom UK are providing the Championship with a prize of a IC-M505 VHF radio, for use at the winner’s chosen club.

The regional final, hosted by Black Swan Sailing Club in Hurst, saw 8-16 year old RIB drivers demonstrate their skills on the water with the aim of winning a 4.8m Ribcraft RIB with a 50hp Honda four stroke engine on an Indespension trailer and an Icom IC-M505 VHF radio for their club. It is open to all regional clubs and training centres to send two competitors for each of two categories: 8-12 and 13-16 year olds.

The event was blessed with ideal weather, sunshine and a very light breeze providing perfect conditions for a day on the water.

Harry Blaser (10) of Black Swan Sailing Club and a relative newcomer to powerboating won the 8-12 category. He exclaimed that he was “surprised and exhilarated” at the prospect of going to the national final.

There are 15 Regional Finals, and the winner in each age group will take part in the national final which will be held at the PSP Southampton Boat Show on Sunday the 13th of September 2009. 

Alex Mitchell (15) came first in the 13-16 group and commented, “I’m really happy to have won today and I’m going to give it my all at the nationals – it would be amazing to win that too!”

Alex enjoys windsurfing at Queen Mary Sailing Club and took to powerboating whilst driving safety boats there as part of his role as Assistant Instructor.

The course involved tricky timed manoeuvres including a high speed slalom and reversing around buoys, to test every aspect of powerboat driving. Skill and control; not necessarily speed are the most important factors in helping the young drivers achieve winning times.

Andrew Norton, RYA Motor Cruising Projects Manager, who runs the Championship commented, “The challenge is all about getting more youngsters involved in powerboat driving, teaching them the skills to do it safely and responsibly early on. It’s great to see the kids so keen to learn.”

Harry and Alex will face competition from 32 club regional finalists in Southampton so they will need to get practising to be in with a chance of winning the national final prize for their troop – a brand new 4.8m Ribcraft RIB powerboat with a 50hp Honda four stroke engine on an Indespension trailer, equipped with an Icom IC-M505 VHF radio.

For more information about the RYA Youth RIB Championship, details on how to get involved and a list of regional finals scores visit www.rya.org.uk