RNLI Port Erin lifeboat day raises £4,000

A double victory was the order of the day in the NK Joinery Raft Races on Port Erin beach for the “Blood & Thunder” team of six lads from Port Erin.

They cruised to victory in the Enterprise Race for self - built rafts after beating last year’s winners, “Row Now Like Idiots” team from the RNLI who came second. Third went to the imaginary built raft of the title sponsors, the NK Joinery team, as five out of the six entrants finished the gruelling course into a head wind on a sunny afternoon of fun at the Port Erin Lifeboat Day.

In the Blue Ribbon race of supplied rafts built by the Lifeboat Crew, half of the “Blood & Thunder” team went on to beat “Suki Love” in second, third place went to the “Southern Nomads” and Kevin Ford lead the 3FM team home into fourth place out of eleven rafts entered. A free well deserved drink awaited all competitors at The Bay thanks to Martin Brunnschweiler.

The Manx Dancers performed on the Quarterdeck and DJ Mark Cowin supplied the music and commentary on the beach.

Chris Angold (Fund Raising Chairman) said that just under £4000.00 was raised over the afternoon with all donations going towards the “Train one, save many” campaign by the RNLI.

The ladies guild took over £940.00 on the day plus another £425.00 collecting at Shoprite on the Friday, a fantastic weekend for them. Dorothy Quayle took over £400.00 in the Lifeboat Shop which saw footfall down this year compared to last year but the Model Boat Club had a great display on show and took over £250.00 allowing children to have fun steering the boats on the temporary pool on the green, which also had stalls, bouncy castles, bikes and cars on display, as well as the usual favourite Cake stall, refreshments and Davisons Ice Cream. Everybody was entertained by the DJ Willie Quirk and visitors had a chance to look at the History of Port Erin Lifeboat on display in the Boathouse.

A great afternoon was had by all and Chris Angold would like to thank everybody who made the afternoon the success it was and the public for there generosity with donations, and to 3FM for their excellent promotion of the event.