Tenby’s Lewis James went one better than last year to become Welsh champion at the 2017 Honda RYA Youth RIB powerboating event in Swansea.
With a winning time of 1.21 in the 13-16 age group the 15-year-old will go forward to represent Wales at the national finals at the Southampton Boat Show in September, along with Cadan Pearce from Tresaith Mariners in West Wales who came out top in the 8-12 age group.
The course was in the Prince of Wales dock near Swansea town centre, offering some great views of the competition from the waterfront, with windy conditions making it a real test for the competitors.
The first challenge was getting past the road closures for the Swansea half marathon, with last year’s 8-12 champion Mairwen James from Tenby, no relation to Lewis, finishing second in the younger group.
Local knowledge wasn’t quite enough for Mumbles’s Jack Cawsey-Williams who was second in the 13-16 category, having been a winner of the younger age group two years ago when the event was also held in Swansea.
James has been sailing since the age of eight and powerboating for the last four years as he finds it more exhilarating, coming second in the Honda RYA Youth RIB last year.
“I am happy about winning the Welsh area final – scared about going to the national final but it is just a bit of fun so I am happy to go,” he said.
Pearce, aged 12, has only been sailing for a year and only tried powerboating this year when going out on a dolphin watching trip, so he was delighted to win his first competition in a time of 2.06.
“It feels good to have won, I am nervous about going to the final as most of the others will have a lot more experience and training,” he said.
Steve Morris, Head of Power Equipment for Honda (UK) commented, “We are pleased to continue our long and successful partnership with the RYA in supporting the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship in its sixteenth 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.
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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