The RNLI Eastbourne Lifeboat Regatta 2008

Here we go again!

Crews of 5 are invited to take part in the Rowing Boat Race sponsored by Kier Construction; the Eastbourne Coastguards will be back to defend the crown that they stole from the Eastbourne ILB crew!  There are also dinghies and kayaks to try out in the Outer Harbour, a Children’s Tender Race sponsored by the Sovereign Harbour Berth Holders Association and the power boats will be taking part in the Predictive Log event. 

Each day there is also the spectacular sight of the big boats racing out on the water in Eastbourne Bay; from the regular racers to those more used to the sedate pace of cruising.  Guest racers will be provided with free berthing at Sovereign Harbour, thanks to Premier Marina who are the Regatta’s host and are our major sponsor. 

 Sunday lunchtime sees one of the highlights of the Regatta with the Eastbourne fishing fleet’s Family Boat Race sponsored by Southern Head Fishing Co Ltd!  Each boat and their crew are dressed up and it’s a brilliant spectacle to watch them in locks and then to see them race! Be warned – it’s every man, woman and child for themselves with the Lifeboats getting involved in the action too! 

Our Lifeboats will take to the water on Monday afternoon to show off the skills we practice every week with an exercise in the Outer Harbour.

For those of you who are less interested in traditional Regatta activities there are stalls to peruse, souvenirs to buy, food & drinks available throughout the day while wandering round enjoying the antics. 

Each evening we crank the party up a notch with live entertainment, hot food (including the ever popular pig roast!) and a licensed bar serving traditional ales.

Even though the Regatta takes a lot of time and effort from everyone involved in organising it, it’s well worth every minute for the fun we have and for every penny we raise to help our Lifeboats save lives around Eastbourne.  And… it’s a damn good excuse for a party!

Mark Robinson

2nd Coxswain.

Our crew

A lifeboat crew can come from all walks of life; and Eastbourne is no different.  Within the RNLI only 10% of crews have a maritime background.  Our crew has plumbers, builders, students, tree surgeons, office workers,

a policeman, a paramedic, a fishmonger, a catering manager, a harbour master, an aircraft engineer,

a rigger, a sheet metal worker, a mechanic and that’s not all of them!

But when the pagers go off in the middle of the night they have one thing in common, we’re all part of the Eastbourne Lifeboat.  We respond at a moment's notice, no matter where we are or what we are doing when the pager goes off.  Even on Christmas Day!  In 2007 the pagers woke up the crew from their post Christmas Lunch snooze when 2 walkers became trapped at the foot of Beachy Head.  This was the first time in the history of both Eastbourne Lifeboats that the boats had been launched on Christmas Day.  Last year the pagers rang out at 10.30am but the launch was (thankfully!) cancelled.

We spend nearly 4000 hours every year training to make sure both lifeboats can respond

effectively when the pager goes off the next time.  Both the ILB and the ALB crews train

every week in all weathers and we also do regular night exercises.   We work closely with the emergency services and the Coastguard.  So if you see the lifeboats in Eastbourne Bay with a helicopter hovering above it’s a joint exercise… hopefully!

 

What’s happening

Wanted brave and fearless people to race their rowing boat and have fun together. 

INVITATION TO RACE IN THE ROWING BOAT CHALLENGE 2008

AT THE EASTBOURNE RNLI REGATTA

SATURDAY 23rd AUGUST

 Come and build team spirit with 4 of your friends, work colleagues or club members for just  £30 per person minimum sponsorship.

 Rowing boat racing will be held in the outer harbour at Sovereign Harbour.

Maximum 32 Teams (5 persons per team) participating

Entry Fee-£150 (minimum) sponsorship per team 

All sponsorship or fundraising effort for the Lifeboats

(To qualify for entry Crew Manager must sign the declaration pledging to raise this sum by 30th July  ’07) 

All races to take place on Saturday.

We have had a lot of enquires for the event already. It’s important we hear from you soon, if you wish to be part of this exciting, colourful and great fun event.

Please complete the attached   Application Form. Rowing Race.

Please complete the attached   Acknowledgement of risk Form.

Sailing Boat Races

Please complete the attached  Application Form. Sailing boat races

Fishing boat race and battle at sea

Please complete the attached  Application Form Fishing boat Race.

Power Boat Race

Please complete the attached  Application Form Power Boat Race.

Tender Olympics

Please complete the attached  Application Form Tender Olympics

(keep a copy for your own records) and send together with your signed declaration form  (to guarantee that the sum of at least  £150.00 per team will be raised) as soon as possible to the address on the form.  

There are many prizes including the winner’s trophy and second and third place trophies, also there is a prize for the crew who raise the most sponsorship handed in on the day.

 Please remember the organizers have insisted that all teams refrain from drinking alcohol until after the racing has finished.

We’d just like to thank…

The Crew and their families & friends of both Eastbourne Lifeboats

Our sponsors for their generous support

Derek Allison for his hard work organising sponsorship

The Berth Holders and SHYC members who have helped out

Chris, Sandra & Leanne Hillman

The staff and management of the Sovereign Harbour; without their support none of this would be possible

The competitors for taking part

The Race Management team

Eastbourne College for providing the food

The Fundraising & Sea Safety teams

Everyone who has provided any photos used

To all those local businesses that have provided raffle prizes

The MVS, Police Cadets & Sea Cadets for their help over the Regatta weekend

If we’ve missed anyone please don’t be offended, there’s so many.

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