These guidelines are intended to assist rather than be hard and fast rules, as each Club has different types of water and craft and may have to adapt to suit.
The competition
The competition takes the form of a time trial around a set of marks: the fastest time wins. A schematic drawing of the course is available here. The slalom buoys are set 10 to 15m apart so that skill and control, and not necessarily speed ar ethe most important factors. Last year's times on this course varied from 1 minute 07 seconds to over 3 minutes for the 8-12 age group, and 52 seconds to just under 2 minutes for the 13-16 age group. Each competitior has two runs, one as practise and one as a 'hot' lap. Both runs are timed and the faster put forward.
Penalties
- Touching a buoy: 5 seconds
- Missing a buoy: 5 seconds
- Failing to stop at the Stop exercise: 5 seconds
- Failing to complete the Stop exercise: 5 seconds
- Flooding in reverse: 5 seconds
- Instructor/competent adult discretion: 10 seconds (e.g. crashing through gear changes, or any other misdemeanors the Instructor deems relevant)
There are two classes – 8-12 years and 13-16 years – This is the age of the entrant at the time of the National Final: i.e. for the 8-12 year olds the entrant should not have had their 13th birthday before 13th September 2010, and similarly in the 13-16 year section they should not have had their 17th birthday before 13th September 2010.
Personnel
Clubs will need, as a minimum:.
- Shore side person to brief each competitor and answer queries
- Start/Finish judge
- Timekeeper
- Instructor/Competent adult for each boat
- Narshalls/Instructors to ensure running order is adhered to
- Safety boat with competent personnel (if only one boat is being used for competition)
Each should have sufficient equipment for their role: e.g. white/black board, stopwatch, and safety equipment. If you have any further queries contact the RYA.
The boats
Boats for club heats should be RIBs or Dories, or any other vessel capable of planing.
Safety
Safety is paramount. An Instructor/Cpmpetent adult must be in the boat at all times attached to the safety lanyard. If at any point during a run the adult considers the competitor is driving in a dangerous or unsafe manner, the run should be aborted immediately either by asking the competitor to throttle back or by operating the safety lanyard. All competitors and the accompanying adult must wear lifejackets or buoayncy aids at all times on the water. Wherever possible an additional safety boat should be made available.
Club Heats
Clubs should run their own heats and put forward the winner of each class to the Regional Final. The 2010 East Midlands Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship Regional Final takes place on Saturday 12 June at Notts County Sailing Club, Nottinghamshire. Contact Mark Ryder, phone: 07973 304252, for further details. He is the person organmising the event for the day. It is up to the Club to decide if they want to put forward a competitor in each class. If the date of the club heat is after 12 June the club can still put forward a competitor who is acknowledged to be a skilled boat handler. The heat should still be run and the winner put forward as your club's 'reigning champion' for 2011.
Regional Finals
At the Regional Finals the RYA will provide, where possible:
- Two Ribcraft RIBs with 50hp Honda outboards
- Buoys and ground tackle for the course
- Stopwatches and shore equipment
- Medals/certificates for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each class
- At least one person to help and advise.
Entry Form/Disclaimer
The entry form containing a disclaimer and photographic consent information is avilable here.
Please read it carefully before using it for your event. Should you have any questions regarding the disclaimer please contact Lorraine Carter at the RYA on 023 8060 4233.The winner
The winner of the 8-12 age group will win a Honwave T40 RIB with a Honda BF20 engine for their club and the winner of the 13-16 age group will win a 5m Ribcraft RIB with a Honda BF60 engine for theirs.