Findhorn profits as Jamie cruises to win

FORRES Academy schoolboy Jamie Paterson has been crowned British powerboating champion for a third time – and won his Findhorn club another boat.

Jamie (14) triumphed in the UK finals of the Honda Youth RIB (Rigid Inatable Boat) Championships for the first time as a senior (aged 13–16), having twice won the junior title in the past.

Last month’s championships were held at the Southampton Boat Show where each of the young RIB drivers had to skillfully manoeuvre around a tricky and testing course which included a slalom, stop exercise and 360 reverse around a mark, before a final blast to the finish line.

The competition takes the form of a time trial around a set of marks – the fastest time wins. The slalom buoys are set 12.5m apart so that skill and control, and not necessarily speed, are the most important factors. Each competitor has two runs, one as a practice and one as a ‘hot lap’ and both are timed with the fastest time put forward.

Findhorn Marina star Jamie won through local and national heats of a competition to gain the honour to sail for Scotland in the UK finals. He did his country proud in his age group and claimed the winners’ crown in a blistering time of 0.57.75.

The youngster said: "It feels great, I’m pleased and happy to win. All my training has paid off and there’s still some room for improvement but I love racing, it’s loads of fun."

Jamie’s victory earned his club a Highfeld OM460 RIB with a Honda BF50 engine – worth over £4,000. It is the third occasion he has won a boat for Findhorn after his two previous UK junior successes.

He first won the UK RIB title at the age of ten, winning Scotland’s first-ever success at the championships.

The vessel will be used by young members of Findhorn’s watersports training school, where Jamie’s dad Simon is centre principal. Jamie also won a Honda goody bag and £100 of Jack Wills vouchers for himself.

Jamie narrowly missed out on a second triumph in the Champion of Clubs head-to-head with last year’s champion Tom Rogers (Royal Lymington).

The Moray youngster shaved over four seconds off his championship-winning time but his rival set the fastest-ever time in the history of the championship to claim a thrilling victory in the end.

Andrew Norton, Royal Yachting Association powerboat projects manager and championship event director said: "Every year we see improvements in the skill and therefore the times being set in the championship.

"It’s always great to see the youngsters having a great time and doing so well under the pressure of a national final."