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Another victory for New Brighton’s intergalactic RNLI team!
New Brighton RNLI won the Chester Raft Race for the second time in as many years, on Sunday 12 July 2026.
On a blistering hot July day, volunteer crew from New Brighton RNLI took to the water in a very different type of craft, as they competed in the 2026 Chester Raft Race.
The theme for this year’s event was ‘out of this world’, set by the organisers, and New Brighton’s entry was inspired by TIE Fighters of the Star Wars film franchise. Built, painted and tested over several weeks by volunteers, the raft arrived at the event with a team of stormtrooper crew, in costumes put together by New Brighton volunteers, and some extra ‘rocket booster’ surprises once out on the water.
This year’s race was raising funds for Space Cheshire and the Martin Gallier Project. The event itself is entirely volunteer run, by representatives from Rotary Chester and Chester Grosvenor Round Table.
The Chester Raft Race has been running for more than 50 years, and is one of the biggest events of its kind in the UK. On the day, awards are given in various categories; New Brighton RNLI finished as runners up in the ‘Best Dressed’ category, losing out to a splendid effort from The Harkers’ Arms.
New Brighton RNLI ultimately won the day, claiming the ‘Overall Winners’ prize for 2026. This marks the second consecutive year that New Brighton RNLI have won the Raft Race, after their 2025 effort on board the ‘best of British’-themed vessel, the Mersey Belle – Rescue II, a raft named in honour of the first ever lifeboat at New Brighton.
It wasn’t just success on the water for the New Brighton team. A pop-up fundraising shop for the station was set up on the day, with volunteers raising an amazing £358 in sales and donations.
James Siddell, Chief Raft Engineer, said:
‘The Chester Raft Race is an amazing event ran by wonderful people. You can see how much joy it brings to everyone who comes out to see the phenomenal efforts made to construct such different and innovative rafts each year. All of us at New Brighton RNLI had so much fun at the 2025 event that we were determined to compete again. It was a lovely surprise to find that we were able to retain our trophy this year as well!
All credit should go to the organisers and our fellow competitors, who do such an amazing job of making the event such a success, and a great day out for all involved. We'll be back next year to try and make it three in a row!’
Notes to Editors:
New Brighton RNLI was established in 1863 in the bustling seaside resort of New Brighton, on the northeast corner of the Wirral peninsula. They cover the River Mersey and out into the Irish Sea.
The station is home to a B-class Atlantic 85 lifeboat, one of the fastest in the RNLI fleet. The crews at New Brighton have been presented with a remarkable 48 awards for gallantry to date.
RNLI Media Contacts
For further information, please contact:
Conner Wray, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Wales & West, [email protected]
Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Wales, West of England and Isle of Man, 07977 728 315, [email protected]
Danielle Rush, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Wales, West of England and Isle of Man, 07786 668829, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.
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