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Great community support enjoyed for Lifeboat Day at RNLI Tighnabruaich

Lifeboats News Release

The RNLI’s annual Lifeboat Day and Raft Race event drew an impressive crowd on Saturday 20 July despite the poor summer weather with the stalls, food and the race enjoyed by all.

Junior raft race winners with their craft, and the PS Waverley in the background

RNLI/Jane Boyd

Junior raft race winners with the PS Waverley
Confirming funds raised totalling £4280 for the day, local fundraising chair Janet Lange expressed “a very big thank you to crew, volunteers and supporters who came along to make the event a special community-based occasion”.

Six amazing rafts entered the kid’s race and the winners, Murray and Struan in their lifeboat-inspired craft were greeted at the village pier by the commentator Ian Quinn on board the paddle steamer Waverley as it docked and the piper playing Flower of Scotland. In second place were Callum and Coire, and Archie and Tykhon came third. The adult race was won by Matt and Ben on the RNLI’s raft entry with Sam, Ji and Jack representing the local Fire and Rescue Service runners up. Volunteers from both the lifeboat and Kames Coastguard were able to enjoy the day without any need for their rescue support skills, although very few escaped a soaking by the end of the event.

A successful event all round and, as Janet confirmed “all input and contributions are much appreciated” as the charity depends on donations to carry out it’s lifesaving work.

RNLI raft race crew and the fundraising mascot Stormy Stan

RNLI/Jane Boyd

RNLI raft crew

Key facts about the RNLI

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.