Charlotte powers into boat title race

Charlotte Gilbert, of Newlands Lane, Heath Hayes, near Cannock, has set her sights on winning a national championship title after coming fourth last year.

In the first round of the Royal Yachting Association National Championships, held at Carmill Dam, St Helens, last week, the 12-year-old finished third overall, keeping her chances of taking the overall title well and truly alive.

Coming in third was an achievement after Charlotte's special 250cc 15-horse power Yamaha engine powered boat almost took off and catapulted into the water after a gust of wind. But Charlotte, whose brother Alex, aged 15, also races power boats, skillfully handled the drama and was able to pilot it back on to the water and carry on.

Asked about the near miss she said: "I just held my breath just in case I fell into the water."

She has a special motivation to win the championship after her brother took the title last year.

She was racing in a specially-built boat which was constructed in Germany last year and brought to the UK in February especially for the 2009 season. At full throttle on the water the speed boat can reach speeds of up to 45mph.

Charlotte is now in the same position as her brother Alex was last year when he went on to win.

They# regularly race power boats race at Kingsbury Waterpark, in Tamworth, and as hobbies go it is quite expensive, with each boat costing around £1,500.

Proud father Mark Gilbert said: "When the boat went in the air her mum squealed and everybody on the pontoon held their breath.

"Our hearts were in our mouths at that point but when Charlotte came back she just got on with what she was doing."