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 competitors qualified for the event through local heats, and the winners in two age groups, 8-12 and 13-16, will go through to the national final held at the Southampton Boat Show in September. There they will be up against against other regional finalists from across the UK.   

Kirk Cole (12) of Southwark Sea Cadets took top spot on the podium in the 8-12 age group, with Joel Evans (12) of host club Silver Wing runner up and David Gornell (10) from Dinton Activity Centre in third.   

Kirk, from Southwark, and a pupil at Globe Academy, was competing in the event for the first time, having won the London area sea cadets heats. He said: “Brilliant! I was very surprised to win and am both a bit nervous and very excited about going to the national final.”  

 Racing was close in the older age group where Josh Lee-Paterson (14), another Dinton Activity Centre competitor, improved on his place as runner-up last year to take the victory. Harry Tutt (15) and Andrew East (15) made it two more podium places for Southwark Sea Cadets with their second and third.   

Josh, from Old Windsor, attends Windsor Boys School, and is now something of an old hand at the event, having won the 8-12 years age group for three years in succession before moving to the older group last year. Josh said: “I was surprised to win here. I’m excited about going to the national final and hope to win it.”   

Roger Bennett, the event co-ordinator, said: “The championship is a great event to encourage youngsters to demonstrate their power boating skills. It helps them to develop to become expert boat handlers and focuses on safe and controlled boat handling skills.” 

Steve Morris, Head of Power Products for Honda (UK) commented: "We are delighted to continue our long and successful partnership with the RYA in supporting the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship.    

“Both Honda and Highfield are only too pleased to support the RYA in its efforts to inspire and encourage young people to develop their skills and to promote safe and responsible boating through this unique championship."   

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 hondayouthrib    

For more about Silver Wing Sailing Club visit https://wordpress.silverwingsailingclub.co.uk/

Photo: 8-12 age group winner Kirk Cole receives his prizes from RYA regional chairman Chris Turner.