Sea Shanty Festival stalwart and mascot of one of the main sponsors Skinner’s Brewery, Betty Stogs has announced that she will attempt to raise the staggering sum of £10,000 in her bucket during the festival weekend of June 22-24.
Buoyed up by her success last year, when she raised £6, 000, her new target, which will all go to Falmouth RNLI,is on the understanding that if she fails to reach it she will be thrown into the harbour! 
Festival organisers run a competition each year inviting shanty groups to “Beat Betty” in raising money for the lifeboats.This has traditionally been won by the Pirates of St Piran who have been seen “holding up” other groups at musket point and demanding doubloons. To counter this monopoly a further category has been introduced where a prize is awarded to fundraising groups based on the amount raised per member.The competition last year boosted Betty’s total by another £5,000.
Festival organiser John Warren said: “We are proud of the fact that this event is totally free for all to enjoy so making it unique, probably in the world.
“However we face annual running costs approaching £40,000 and it is a challenge to stage such a prestigious festival whilst at the same time raising funds for Falmouth RNLI.
“To this end we ask people to be generous whenever they see one of our collecting buckets and help us continue this wonderful event.” 
Volunteers will be at Asda during Saturday, June 16 selling festival programs supported by five shanty groups and, with Betty Stogs in attendance, shoppers can be sure of some fun.
To celebrate the joy of the festival we have the perfect soundtrack to a weekend of shanty singing: The Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival 2018 album to give away. A two CD compilation with 49 shanties and sea songs from artists appearing at the festival. To win one of two copies available simply answer the following question: How man songs and sea shanties appear on the CD? E-mail your answer to editorial@packetseries.co.uk by midnight June 22 with the subject line Sea Shanty CD competition. Please include your name and a contact number. Usual Newsquest competition rules apply. They can be found at thepacket.co.uk