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22 rafts racing in Looe river, raise vital funds for Looe RNLI Lifeboat Station

Lifeboats News Release

The 2024 Looe raft race raises £1,576.09 for Looe RNLI Lifeboat Station

Four Musketeers

RNLI/Ian Foster

Four Musketeers

Last Sunday. 16 June 2024, the sun shone as crowds lined the Banjo Pier and quaysides to watch the Looe Raft Race. To the delight of all participants and supporters, the town was packed to watch 22 rafts of all shapes and sizes negotiate the route from East Looe beach up to the bridge, turn and return to finish at the lifeboat station, with the juniors taking a shorter route.

Raising vital funds for Looe RNLI, the raft race was organised by Looe Boat Owners Association (LBOA) alongside Looe Lifeboat Station’s fundraising team. Over the years around £25,000 has been raised from proceeds of the raft races for Looe RNLI, and this year’s race raised £1,576.09 through entry fees, sponsorship and a bucket collection.

Here is the race report from Looe Boat Owners Association

“After a disappointing summer the sun broke through last Sunday to smile on the thousands lining the quays at Looe as they cheered on the 2024 edition of the Looe Raft Race. A bumper entry of 22 rafts carrying almost 150 rowers of all ages splashed their way over the course in what has become one of the highlights of the Looe summer.

Organised by LBOA ( Looe Boat Owners Association) under the auspices of RNLI, the Raft Race is the brainchild of Dave and Vicky Peat which, with the support of local businesses has been running for over twenty years, providing an important source of financial support for Looe Lifeboats. Dave and Vicky would like to thank all those who rowed, cheered and gave. See you next year! “

The volunteer crew and fundraising committee with RNLI Looe Lifeboat Station would like to thank Looe Boat Owners Association for all their hard work in organising the race and all the teams who entered their rafts and paddled furiously! along with Looe Sailing Club, RNLI Lifeguards South East Cornwall, Looe Harbour Commissioners, St Johns Ambulance, and others who kept everyone safe on the water.

The results are as follows:

Adult Elite

1st Party Pirates

2nd John Fowler

3rd Tencreek

Adult fun

1st Forlorn Hope 3

Junior

1st Four Musketeers

2nd Looe Sharks (U13’s) )

3rd 5 Bouys )

LBOA Special Award

Plymouth Hospital “Rum, Bum and Baccy” - for perseverance and £90 sponsorship

Fancy Dress

John Fowler – Yellow Submarine

Sponsorship Shield

Four Musketeers who raised £134.95

END

Notes to editors

Photos

· 7 photos of the winning rafts – ( team name is in the filename )
Photo credits RNLI / Ian Foster

Information

· Re-established as an inshore lifeboat station in 1992, Looe RNLI operate two inshore lifeboats
An Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II and a D Class Ollie Naismith

· For further information on Looe RNLI Lifeboats please visit our website www.looelifeboats.co.uk

· Looe RNLI Facebook page www.facebook.com/LooeRNLI

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone

IFor more information please telephone

Ian Foster, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Looe Lifeboat Station, on 07902 753228 or [email protected] or [email protected]

or Emma Haines, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, on 07866 668847 or [email protected]

or Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Communications Lead, on 07920 818807 or [email protected]

Alternatively you can contact the RNLI Duty Press Officer on 01202 336789
Looe Sharks and 5 Buoys

RNLI/Ian Foster

Looe Sharks and 5 Buoys
Party Pirates

RNLI/Ian Foster

Party Pirates
John Fowler

RNLI/Ian Foster

John Fowler
Tencreek

RNLI/Ian Foster

Tencreek
Yellow Submarine

RNLI/Ian Foster

Yellow Submarine

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.

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