Tenby schoolboy Charles Stewart-Walvin will be representing Wales in the national finals of the Honda RYA Youth RIB powerboating championship, beating off the challenge of children up to four years older than him.
Stewart-Walvin, from Tenby Sailing Club, had never raced a RIB before but now he is getting ready to go to the South coast to compete in the national finals at the Southampton Boat Show in September.
The 12-year-old beat off some familiar competition in the Welsh regional finals of the Honda Rib event for 13-16 year-olds, aimed at encouraging Welsh youngsters to take up powerboating in a safe and supervised environment.
He will be aged 13 by the time of the finals in Southampton, which is why he was competing in the higher age group against competitors much older.
Tenby clubmate Conor Keohane, aged 16, was runner-up just half a second behind in a thrilling finish at the event held in Pwllheli.
Anna Williams, from the home club, used her local knowledge to follow up winning the younger age group last year by coming third in the older group this time round.
Stewart-Walvin has been involved in boating for three years, but this was the first time he had competed – finishing the tricky course in just over a minute.
“I do like sailing, but I wanted to go fast and have fun. I am happy and proud to have won, but I am also a bit nervous about going to Southampton for the finals,” he said.
He has been involved in supervised safety boat work at his club Tenby and also trained for the Honda RYA Youth RIB Challenge.
Holyhead’s Max Peters won the event for 8-12-year-olds and he will also be competing in the finals at Southampton.
Martin Moll, Head of Marketing for event sponsor Honda said: “We are very proud and pleased to be associated with the RYA Youth RIB Challenge for another year because if allows us to create links with the wider community – giving a younger generation access to our products and helping htem engage with interactive, team-based, social activities.
“Furthermore as a manufacturer which puts safety at the heart if everything we do, the RIB Challenge gives us a great opportunity to underline this commitment.”
Thanks to Championship sponsors Honda, Ribcraft, ICOM and Indespension Trailors.
For more information about the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship, details on how to get involved visit www.rya.org.uk .
Image credit: Andrew Green www.fotoboat.com