Beaumaris

Menai boat run sets new record

Now in its 10th year, East Cheshire Sub-Aqua Club’s Menai Boat Run had a record turnout in March for its weekend of diving and fun – with 278 divers and 35 boats attending. Clubs from as far afield as Cornwall put their dive boats through their paces for the start of the new season. Highlights included dives at Puffin Island (with seals for company) and the wreck of the Royal Charter (which claimed an estimated
450 lives during a storm in 1859), a barbecue, and a picnic by Beaumaris Lifeboat Station. The club has been using the Boat Run to fundraise for the RNLI for the last 3 years, with donations rising from £250 to £1,600 in that time. Tim Bailey, Deputy Launching Authority at Beaumaris, says: ’As a charity, the RNLI relies on donations just like this generous one from the East Cheshire Sub-Aqua Club and the other donors. Everyone at the station is hugely appreciative of this gesture.’

MISSIONS WITH MEANING

Two fundraisers have taken on the challenge of travelling the coast of Wales to raise money for the RNLI – one by foot and the other by paddle! Zoe Penfold crossed the border into Wales from Chester on 3 April and will be walking the 870-mile Welsh Coastal Path on a budget of £1 per day, with a bivvy to bed down in. She’s raising money and awareness for the RNLI and Shelter, and highlighting the growing issue of poverty in the UK. Zoe expects to arrive at the finish line in Chepstow in 60 days, which means she’ll be clocking up 14½ miles a day. Sian Sykes is taking a slightly different route, and circumnavigating the whole of Wales by stand-up paddleboard. This is the first time it's been done solo and unsupported. Travelling in the opposite direction to Zoe, Sian left Connah's Quay on the Dee Estuary, working her way to South Wales through canal and river systems before heading out along the rugged coast.
Sian’s mission is to raise money for North Wales Wildlife Trust, Surfers Against Sewage and the RNLI.
At the time of writing, Zoe and Sian were passing each other on the Llŷn Peninsula, and they both
expect to be finished by the time you read this.

Tenby

PAN-FLIPPING-TASTIC

Tenby volunteers brought hilarity to the high street in February, when they put on their eighth annual pancake race to help raise lifesaving funds. Tudor Square filled up with people as flippers of all ages took up the challenge – with crew competing in their all-weather lifeboat kit! The festivities were rounded off with a delicious pancake lunch in the Baytree restaurant.

Barmouth

AN EGGCELLENT EVENT

Barmouth Lifeboat Station threw open its doors and welcomed beachgoers for their Easter tombola event. An amazing £480.39 was raised through the tombola and a bake sale, with the grand prize in the tombola – a giant Easter egg – won by Sharon Cooney. The station’s lifeboat Moira Barrie sat proudly on display on the beach. Also on hand were community safety volunteers, with a stall offering advice.

WHAT’S ON
Summer is the season for lifeboat open days so be sure to check with your nearest station to find out when theirs is.
HOLYHEAD FESTIVAL
26–29 July
Holyhead, Anglesey
The Holyhead Maritime Leisure and Heritage Festival is back, featuring a carnival parade, maritime demonstrations, Ariana Grande and Beach Boy tribute bands, as well as a wrestling show and an artisans’ marquee. Visit holyheadfestival.com.
CASTLEMARTIN RANGE WALK
19 August, 10am
Newton Tower, St Govan’s Castlemartin Range opens to the public for one day only. Join the Pembroke Ladies' Branch in a walk for the RNLI.
YEAR OF THE SEA EXHIBITION
Until 9 March 2019
National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth
An exhibition of photographer Jack Lowe’s powerful wet plate collodion images of lifeboat stations and the brave volunteers who serve in them. More information at www.library.wales.
THE MUMBLES RAFT RACE
5 August, 12.30pm
Norton, Swansea
Hundreds of rafts battle it out from Norton to Knab Rock in this annual fundraiser. All welcome to spectate. For raft enquiries, contact [email protected].

Send details of your events for the autumn issue (mid-October onwards) to [email protected].