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

Last Sunday. 21 June 2026, 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 with visitors eager to watch 24 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 £28,800 has been raised from proceeds of the raft races for Looe RNLI, and this year’s race raised over £2,600 through entry fees, sponsorship and a bucket collection.

Organised by Looe Boat Owners Association (LBOA) under the auspices of the 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 Lifeboat Station. Dave, Vicky and the LBOA would like to thank all those who rowed, cheered and gave.

Christine Magnowska, chair of the RNLI’s Looe and Liskeard fundraising team says “Thank you to all that came along and supported this year’s raft race organised by Looe Boat Owners Association and Looe RNLI. This is a great annual event and it would not be a success if we did not have all the amazing rafts taking part and the crowds cheering them on. Whilst the raft race was taking place, we had RNLI volunteers out collecting vital funds. The event has raised over £2,600. Special thanks to Looe Boat Owners Association for all their help in organising the event with the RNLI. Thank you to Peter Friend of Welcome to Looe and Mike Allsopp of Liskeard & Looe Radio for also being part of the planning team as well as the Harbour Master and team. Christine goes on to say I would also like to thank Looe Sea Safari, Trelay Holiday Park, Looe Walking Tours, The Portbyhan Hotel and The Beach Cafe for their financial sponsorship as well as The Mayflower Studio and The Warehouse. Finally, thank you to everyone that came to the event to support the raft race and for your donations, all of which enables our RNLI volunteer crews to continue Saving Lives At Sea”.

The results are as follows:

Adult Elite

1^st Starmageddon – Looe Old Farmers

2^nd Pizza of Eight – Dads for Father’s day

3^rd Tipsy Tanic – The Tipsy Cow

Adult fun

1^st Grog One – Grog and Ale House

2^nd The Kracken 2 - Group of friends

3^rd Team Dottys – Dotty’s Cafe

Junior

1^st No Clooe

2^nd 1^st Liskeard Scouts

3^rd Looe Football Club

LBOA Special Award - Aquatics Anonymous – a team from the NHS for perseverance

Fancy Dress - Looe Pioneers

Sponsorship Shield - Pizza of Eight

END

Notes to editors

Photos:

· Photos of the race and some 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

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.

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, TikTok 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.