This just in from Isla Reynolds in the RNLI press team – Ed.
As Cowes Week charity of the year, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) will be part of the action both on and off the water during this year’s regatta.
There’ll be all sorts of opportunities for visitors and competitors to find out more about the RNLI’s volunteer crews, take part in events and support the charity that saves lives at sea.
Last year the volunteer RNLI crew at Cowes were kept busy during the regatta when around 900 yachts and 8,000 people took part in the week of races. Their inshore lifeboat launched six times to help competitors during the event, while other RNLI lifeboats around the Solent launched 10 times.
While RNLI lifeboat crews around the Isle of Wight are ready to go to the aid of competitors and spectators on the water, those watching the action on shore can also get involved with the charity.
Monday is charity day and, to celebrate, the volunteers from Cowes and Calshot RNLI lifeboat stations will be putting on a display of their life saving skills. Their demonstration will take place on the water just off The Green at 6.30pm.
After the demonstration, grab your friends and take part in beach-themed team games at Shepards Wharf in aid of the charity on Monday night. Have a bash at boules, limber up for limbo or rustle up some luck on the raffle and raise money for the RNLI – it’s free to enter and the games kick off at 7pm.
If you miss the fun and games at Shepards Wharf, there’s another opportunity to support the charity at the Cowes Week Crew Ball on Thursday night. It’ll be held at the Events Centre in the Yacht Haven. A donation of £1 from every ticket goes to the RNLI and there will be some great prizes up for grabs in the raffle.
Celebrities, including Harry Potter actors Oliver and James Phelps and GMTV’s Emma Crosby, will be racing for glory – and the RNLI – in the Artemis Challenge on Tuesday. The celebrities, teamed up with professional skipper Steve White, will compete with other Open 60 racing yachts to win a £10,000 charity prize fund.
RNLI Cowes Week Ambassadors, Olympic gold-medallist Shirley Robertson and trans-Atlantic sailor Hannah White, will be on hand throughout the week to promote the charity and talk about their own exploits on the water.
Elsewhere, look out for the RNLI’s ‘get your kit on’ challenge around Cowes and find out what it’s like to stand in the shoes (or yellow wellies) of the charity’s volunteer crews. See if you can get changed into crew kit in record time.
Throughout the week visitors can also do some life saving shopping at the RNLI shop on the High Street, or talk to the charity’s fundraisers and find out how to make regular donations to the charity that saves lives at sea.
