Guernsey Yacht Club (GYC) saw two of its youngsters emerge victorious as it hosted the Channel Islands’ Honda RYA Youth RIB Regional Final on 21 May.
Matt Le Vasseur, from Guernsey, defeated six other contestants to triumph in the 13-16 age group, and will now represent his region at national level. Matt, 15, won the regional title for the second year in a row and in the process set a fantastic time of 0.59.18 – a UK record for the competition.
Matt, who has been a GYC member for seven years, will now progress to the national final. This will be held at Southampton Boat Show on Sunday September 13 and feature all age group winners from each of the 14 regional competitions as they battle it out to be crowned national champion.
Matt, who competed in the 8-12 national final in 2012, said of reaching the national final: “I’m really excited about the final. I’d love to bring a brand new RIB back to the Channel Islands. I’d also like to thanks Graham Reynolds from GYC for helping me to get this far and hope to win for him.”
In the 8-12 age group, Guernsey’s Joe Coutanche, 12, reached his first ever national final at the third time of asking, heading a highly competitive field featuring 13 other promising young powerboaters.
Joe, who has been a member at GYC for five years, said: “I can’t wait to go to the boat show as I’ve never been before. Even though I’m a bit nervous about the final, I’m going to try and do my best.”
Steve Morris, Head of Power Equipment for Honda (UK) comments: “We are pleased to continue our long and successful partnership with the RYA in supporting the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship in its fourteenth year.
“Honda and our boat partner Highfield are delighted to support the RYA in its endeavours to motivate and encourage young people to develop their skills and to promote safe and responsible racing through this unique and exciting championship.”
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 14th 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