Helford Passage Regatta, which starts at noon on Saturday, August 12, on the beach at Helford Passage, is the perfect way to help raise funds for Falmouth RNLI as it celebrates its 150th anniversary this year.

As time and tide wait for no man, and the water will recede rapidly until low water in the middle of the afternoon, the swimming races will be the first events of the day, starting around noon. The kids’ fancy dress competition will follow for ages ten and under, and the theme this year is the seaside. During the afternoon, there will be races to suit all ages: rowing, land and sea, kayak and paddleboarding, not forgetting the always hotly contested egg and spoon and three legged races on the beach.

Sandcastle competitions, a tug of war, and hopefully an RNLI display are all part of the day's action too, and a barbecue and beach bar will be available throughout the day, with a tombola, cake and craft stalls, and a raffle with fantastic prizes to be won.

The day will be rounded off with music from Totally Funked Up at 9pm on the Ferryboat Inn terrace.

Regatta committee member Jenny Purdy said: “The whole family can be as lazy or as competitive as they like, whilst still being able to support the wonderful work of the RNLI.”