Teen wins UK championship in boat racing contest

A Moray teenager has won his third powerboat after clinching first place in a national boat racing competition.

Jamie Paterson from Findhorn received another Honda Highfield rigidinflatable boat (RIB) after winning the UK Honda Royal Yachting Association Youth Championships.

It is the third time the 15-year-old, who was tasked with manoeuvring a vessel around a pre-set course in the quickest time, has won the youth championship.

Competing in the 1316 age category, Jamie represented Scotland and claimed the winner’s crown with a time of 0.57.75, despite receiving a time penalty for allowing a few drops of water in the stern during the reversing manoeuvre.

Jamie was thrilled to become UK champion once again. He said: “It feels great, I’m pleased and happy to win again. All my training has paid off but there is always some room for improvement.

“I love racing as the actual competition is loads of fun. I’m just looking forward to getting this afloat and trying it out for the first time.”

Currently in his fourth year at Elgin Academy, Jamie started out boating at an early age as he was encouraged by his father Simon who is an advanced powerboat instructor at Findhorn Marina.

By the age of 10 and in his first competition, he won the Scottish heat in 2014 and went on to win his first UK title in 2014.

The following year he could not compete for a RIB, only within the head-to-head competition, so he returned in 2016 to Southampton where he once again regained the UK title.