The Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship, sponsored by Honda and Ribcraft, 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 4.8m Ribcraft or a Honwave T40 for their club/centre.

The Concept

The RYA (Royal Yachting Association), through its affiliated clubs, organisations and training centres will again run a National Championship in Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIB’s) for juniors/youths. Clubs, organisations and training centres wishing to participate hold local heats, at their premises, to determine who they put forward to their Regional Finals. There are 14 Regional Finals and the winner in each age group (8-12 years and 13-16 years) takes part in the National Final held at the PSP Southampton Boat Show on Sunday, 16th September 2012.

The Competition

The competition takes the form of a time trial around a set of marks – the fastest time wins.  The slalom buoys are set 12.5m apart so that skill and control, and not necessarily speed, are the most important factors.  Each competitor has two runs, one as a practice and one as a ‘hot lap’.  Both runs are timed and the fastest time put forward.

The Classes

There are two classes: 8-12 years and 13-16 years.  This is the age of the entrant at the time of the National Final i.e. for the 8-12 year olds the competitor should not have had their 13th birthday before 17th September 2012 and similarly in the 13-16 year old section they should not have had their 17th birthday before 17th September 2012.

Training and Local Heat

This year SeaRegs Training will be holding 2 day training courses for anyone interested in taking part in the championship. Day 1 will be spent working on the RYA Powerboat Level 1 Course and day 2 will be spent concentrating on the skills required for the championship course.

Course dates:
15/16 February 2012
3/4 April 2012
Cost £99.

We will then host a 1 day local heat for anyone who has attended the course, the winners in each class with then be entered into the Regional Final on Saturday 5th May.

Heat date:
5 April
Cost £40.

How to enter

For more details about the training and entering our local heat please contact us 01392 580771 – the RYA website has some video footage from the 2009 final showing some of the skills needed to compete.