Sixteen youngsters competed in the Regional Final of the 2007 Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship at Cowes on Saturday, with only seconds between the podium finishers.

The challenge, in which the 8 to 16 years olds demonstrated their powerboat handling skills, took place in Ribcraft RIBs. Competitors had qualified at their clubs around the south to be eligible.

Despite thick early morning fog causing initial anxiety to the organisers, it soon cleared and the Island Sailing Club were able to set the courses off the Shrape, and get the competition underway by 10.30am.

14 year old Jamie Edwards of Parkstone YC beat nine other contenders to take 1st place in the 13-16 years age group division, while Edward Eddie (15), from Bembridge SC was 2nd. Henry Caws (16) from the Island Sailing Club, showed his younger sister Georgia, also competing, how it should be done, by gaining 3rd place. Only a few seconds separated the top three.

Meanwhile of the seven participants in the 8 to 12 years division Hannah Glatzel (9) from Poole, was the winner, Robbie Southwell (12) from the Island SC was 2nd and Abigail Page (12) from Chichester Yacht Club was 3rd.

The junior 8 to 12 group got the first start, and everyone got two rounds in. The organisers worked tirelessly to keep the courses modified for tidal changes, and patrolled the perimeters of the track to protect the RIBs from other vessels.

The young power boat drivers had come, many of them by sea in their families' own boats, from as far away as Chichester and Poole, a challenge for them and their parents to negotiate the fog that had persisted through the dawn and early morning. By 10.00am conditions were excellent, the sun was shining and neap tides made race management less of a challenge than it had been in the previous year when the event took place in strong spring tide conditions.

In the opinion of Island Sailing Club organiser Bill Gardner: "Everyone put in an excellent performance, and the event could not have been more successful. We were extremely pleased with the turnout and with the standard of the young RIB drivers' skills".

All the youngsters had already previously achieved the RYA's Level II RIB proficiency standard, and many were also keen dinghy sailors, having competed in sailing events since an early age.

The Honda RYA Youth RIB Challenge is open to any 8 to 16 year old who joins their local sailing or youth organisation, and competes in their local heats before going on to the regional finals, and then ultimately to the National Finals. The 2007 finals will be held at the Southampton Boat Show in September.

Thanks go not only to Ribcraft, but also to Honda, who presented the prizes, and an instructor, known only as Dave' who stepped in at the last minute to replace an absent team member as a judge on the RIB.

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The Championship is sponsored by Honda, Ribcraft, ICOM and Indespension Trailers.