Max heads to National Youth Powerboat Final
15-year-old powerboater Max Batson from Lympstone has raced through to the national final of the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship for the third time.
Max was one of eight youngsters aged between 8 and 16 who demonstrated their powerboating skills in the SW area final which took place at the Mount Batten Centre in Plymouth last Saturday (6 August). Max’s winning time in the 13 – 16 age group was 1:25:19 - over two seconds faster than his last area final win in 2014. He also won the SW area final in the 8 – 12 category in 2012 and he has an amazing ten years’ experience of sailing and powerboating at Lympstone Sailing Club.
Max will be competing with area finalists from around the country at the national final in Southampton in September. He said: “This is my fifth area final and has proven to be lucky number 5 – I’m so excited about competing at the Southampton Boat Show!”
Andrew Norton, RYA Event Director, said: “It’s fantastic to see the competition continuing to thrive, with more than 5,000 children across the UK participating in last year’s event.
“The standard continues to rise every year, and we look forward to welcoming more competitors than ever in 2016.”
"Head of Power Equipment for Honda (UK), Steve Morris, said: “We are delighted to mark the 15th anniversary of the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship, highlighting the success of our partnership with the RYA.
“Honda and our boat partner, Highfield, look forward to paying tribute to past winners and continuing to educate and encourage young people to learn the skills required to be the next Honda RYA Youth RIB Champion.”
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.
Now in its fifteenth year, 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
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