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Newlyn
Fish Festival is to host a unique gig event that will
celebrate the world's first lifeboat race in 1867. Then six lifeboat
crews from West Cornwall battled it out, with the honours going
to Sennen Cove.
This time, gig crews will race against each other, but in support
of crew training at their local RNLI lifeboat stations.
The event, which will take place at the fish festival on Monday,
August 29, is unique in that two charities are joining forces to
present the race as a mark of respect for the RNLI.
The Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen and the Cornish
Pilot Gig Association hope that the rowing crews will raise sponsorship
for their own RNLI stations. Rowers will compete for the Trafalgar
Trophy, a model of a rowing lifeboat cast in Newlyn copper, made
by local artist Mike Johnston.
The spectacular award that is valued at about £1,000 is being
provided by Penwith Council to commemorate the opening of St John's
Hall on the lifeboat race day in 1867.
The winning gig will hold the trophy for a year. The prize will
be presented by the Lord Mayor of London, Michael Berry Savory,
who is opening this year's fish festival.
Eric Kemp, Lifeboat Secretary at St Ives from 1972 to 1983, said:
"As well as this wonderful trophy, BalticPine, who are based
on the Longrock Industrial Estate near Penzance, are donating £800
worth of prize money to the top three gigs. We hope the clubs will
then pass their winnings on to their local RNLI stations. With this
year being National Maritime Year and the 200th anniversary of the
Battle of Trafalgar, it's an ideal occasion to reflect on the work
of the RNLI volunteers around our coast."
Sponsorship forms and race details are available. Copies are being
sent to gig clubs from as far apart as Swanage in Dorset to St Mary's
on the Isles of Scilly. Details are available from the RNLI Divisional
Base on 01752 850680.
article copyright © THE CORNISHMAN
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