One of Swansea Bay’s best-loved traditions turns 40 this month — and its organisers are promising the biggest edition yet.
The Mumbles RNLI Raft Race takes place from 12pm on Sunday 19 July at Knab Rock, with a fleet of homemade rafts racing in aid of the RNLI as crowds line the promenade and shoreline.
The race returned for its 40th-anniversary year this spring, with teams from across south Wales invited to build and paddle their own craft.
Four decades on from the first race, the event has become a fixture of the local summer — attracting generations of competitors and raising funds for the charity’s lifesaving work.
New for the anniversary year is an entertainment hub at Southend Gardens, run with EPM Marketing & Events, with live music, food vendors and entertainment through the day.
Swansea drinks brand AU Vodka is bringing its gold Lamborghini to the seafront, along with ice cream and samples of its alcohol-free range, while Tesco is setting up a free family fun village.
Cllr Will Thomas, chair of Mumbles Community Council — one of the event’s supporters alongside Swansea Council and a run of local businesses — said the anniversary promised “a fantastic day of entertainment for the whole community”.
“The Raft Race strengthens our community, brings visitors into Mumbles and supports our local businesses,” he said, “while raising vital funds for the RNLI, whose volunteers do such an incredible job keeping people safe around our coastline.”
Dai Thomas, chair of the Mumbles Lifeboat Crew Association and deputy coxswain of the Mumbles lifeboat, said this year’s race would have “more entertainment, more activities than ever before”.
“It’s fantastic to see so many local businesses, organisations and volunteers coming together to make the Raft Race possible,” he said. “We look forward to welcoming everyone to Mumbles for a great day, all while raising vital funds for the RNLI.”
The race is organised by the crew association, with the Mumbles lifeboat among the busiest in Wales — its volunteers launching hundreds of times in recent years, including a 1,000th career launch for one deputy coxswain last autumn.
Spectators lined the seafront in their thousands for previous races, with the promenade and the recently completed sea defence works giving a grandstand view over the course.
Race updates and team announcements are being posted on the Mumbles Lifeboat social media channels in the run-up to the day.
The event is free to watch, with the entertainment hub and Tesco village also free of charge.
The Mumbles RNLI Raft Race takes place from 12pm on Sunday 19 July at Knab Rock.
Discover more from Swansea Bay News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
