Fowey hosts popular RNLI ex lifeboat rally for the 21st year

The free event on Saturday 3 September attracts former lifeboats from all around the region that are now privately owned, and gives the public the rare opportunity to hop onboard and have a look around the former lifesaving vessels for themselves. The public also get the chance to meet the owners who lovingly restore the lifeboats to their former glory.

This is the 21st year the popular annual event has been held in Fowey and it’s hoped ex lifeboat crews will be arriving from as far afield as Portishead and Salcombe. Also taking part (weather permitting) will be the former Looe rowing lifeboat Ryder; and the Michael Stevens which was involved in the Dunkirk evacuations.

The lifeboats will be open to the public from 11am to 4pm on Saturday at Berrill’s Yard pontoon, opposite the lifeboat station.

Bob Harris, RNLI crew volunteer and one of the event’s organisers, hopes the weather continues to stay fine as the event is hugely dependent on the weather: ‘The lifeboats will be travelling from afar, so just like every year, the number of lifeboats attending relies heavily upon the weather conditions on the day. In the past we have had to postpone the event due to the challenging conditions. But with the recent sunshine we’re hoping the weather is set to stay, which means many lifeboats will hopefully be able to reach Fowey safely.

‘The rally is a great day out for all ages and provides the rare opportunity to get a closer look at the fantastic range of old lifeboats at the event and celebrate their heritage. The day also gives people a chance to reminisce about all the many lifesaving rescues the vessels have been involved with over the decades.
           
‘Our thanks to everybody who continues to help us to run this event year after year, including Fowey Harbour Commissioners and Mitchell & Webber who have kindly donated 9,000 litres of fuel for the event.’

As part of the day there will also be a barbecue, sea safety demonstrations and a procession of the former lifeboats down the river at 4.30pm. The National Coastwatch Institution and HM Coastguard will also be present.

Entry is free but donations are welcome to help towards the continuing work of the RNLI, the charity that saves lives at sea.

Notes to editors
Please see attached a picture taken at a previous ex lifeboat rally of RNLI lifeboats old and new alongside the pontoon in Fowey. Please credit RNLI/Paul Richards.

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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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