RIBEX returns to Cowes this May for its 11th year and announce today that its official charity for the boat show will be the Independent Lifeboats of Great Britain.
This Suzuki are sponsoring the event at Cowes Yacht Haven which this year will also feature an open air concert on the Saturday night.
Organiser of the show, Hugo Montgomery-Swan said, “An agreement has been reached this week for RIBEX 2010 to be formally supporting the Independent Lifeboats of Great Britain. In recent years, RIBEX has supported the RNLI in terms of allowing them to fund raise, undertake demonstrations, have their craft on display without charge etc, but this year, we thought it fair to give the independent lifeboats of this country exclusive profile.
“The ‘independents’ carried almost twice the number of rescues within the Solent than their counterparts the RNLI in 2009 and we feel this deserves recognition. For our part, at this year’s show therefore, we shall be seeking to reward their extraordinary charitable service by affording them as much exposure as possible.
“To this end, independent lifeboat services from the region will be providing daily demonstrations and displays in the RIBEX show marina as well as allowing show visitors the chance to sit behind the wheel of a lifeboat and meet the crews on the special static display within the show’s tented village. The independent lifeboats will also be fundraising, not only at the powerboat show but also at RIBFEST, the complimentary one night waterside music concert headlined by Seth Lakeman on the Saturday of the RIBEX show. We are very excited about having these ‘un-sung heroes’ present at this year’s event.”
