For the first time ever the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship will be contested at a Honda Formula 4-Stroke Powerboat Grand Prix. The Scottish youth finals will take place at Largs on May 29, coinciding with the opening rounds of Honda Formula 4-Stroke season.
For the first time ever the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship will be contested at a Honda Formula 4-Stroke Powerboat Grand Prix. The Scottish youth finals will take place at Largs on May 29, coinciding with the opening rounds of Honda Formula 4-Stroke season.
The Honda RYA Youth RIB Scottish finals are unique to the championship’s four-year history as they include a new school’s initiative. Pupils in North Ayrshire have been invited to draw ‘the best powerboat in the world ever’. There will be four winners from each school who will be invited to Largs on Friday May 27 to try powerboating in the Honda Avon Ribs, with the top entrant from each school also winning a thrilling ride in a Honda Formula 4-Stroke race boat during the Grand Prix weekend.
On Saturday, Scottish children with powerboating experience will be invited to try the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship course. On Sunday the regional finals will then take place with RYA club teams competing for a place in the national finals at the Southampton Boat Show and the chance to win a Honda-powered Avon RIB for their club.
“The championship gives kids the chance to try powerboating and learn the basic skills in a fun and safe environment,” comments Jane Scott, Development Officer of the RYA Scotland. “It helps kids to learn and practice the right things, the right way – making them safer, competent skippers in the future. We get a real range of skill levels from those that are used to handling boats with a good grasp of seamanship, to novices that just want to learn and practice basic skills. There are plenty of places in this area that kids as young as eight can learn to helm powerboats with Level 1 of the RYA Powerboat Scheme. The championship is a fantastic way to see if powerboating is for them.”
Martin Sanders, General Manager Power Equipment, Honda (UK) comments, “It’s great to be working in partnership with the RYA, Avon Inflatables and Indespension Trailers. We encourage people to use our products safely and there is no better time to do this than when young people are first introduced to the activities. We at Honda are pleased to be supporting the championship for the fourth consecutive year and are particularly thrilled that schools from all over Scotland are getting involved for 2005, allowing more youngsters than ever to experience boating fun in a safe environment on the water. It is fantastic that the Scottish regional finals coincide with the opening rounds of the HF4S 2005 series at Largs.”
The newly released timetable for the Scottish Powerboat Grand Prix confirms Largs as the place to be next bank holiday weekend. Along with the Honda RYA Youth Rib Championship regional finals, there is a multitude of additional activities to keep spectators entertained including Honda car and bike club displays and a full Phoenix Honda car display.
A highlight of the weekend will be an aerial display by the Honda Power of Dreams stunt plane. At 1300 on Saturday 28th the action moves from the water as the stunt plane performs some heart-stopping aerobatics. The plane, an awesome, rarely seen Sukhoi su26, represents the cutting edge of aerobatic aircraft design and the pilot is an expert in extreme gyroscopic tumbling manoeuvres.
North Ayrshire council’s provost, Drew Duncan is delighted to see the return of the Honda event to Largs for the fourth consecutive year. “One of North Ayrshire’s major assets is its potential for water sports and boating activities – which is recognised by the Council as a key driver of tourism and economic development in the area. We are confident that North Ayrshire has considerable growth potential in this activity market and it is exciting to see the Honda powerboat teams take on the challenges that the waters of the Clyde and the Scottish weather can put them through. This year also sees youngsters from all over Scotland competing in the Scottish Regional finals of the Honda RYA Youth Rib Challenge. No one should miss out on the waterborne entertainments at Largs on the 27/28/29 May.”
Event timetable
Friday 27 May
1000-1600: Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship
Saturday 28 May
1000-1600: Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship
1130: Honda Formula 4-Stroke 150hp championship round one
1300: Honda Power of Dreams air display
1330: Honda Formula 4-Stroke 225hp championship round one
Sunday 28 May
1000-1600: Honda Youth RIB Championship
1145: Honda Formula 4-Stroke 150hp championship round two
1345: Honda Formula 4-Stroke 225hp championship round two
1600: Prize giving for all powerboat classes
Viewing is available along Largs Promenade.
