THE Durgan Regatta committee celebrated Christmas by donating £4,000 to the RNLI and other charitable causes.

The funds were raised at the August regatta and distributed earlier this month to local organisations including Helford River Children’s Sailing Trust, Gyllyngvase Surf Life Saving Club, Cornwall Air Ambulance, Flicka Foundation Donkey Sanctuary, Invictus Trust, St Petroc’s Society, Coast Medic and Penhaligon’s Friends.

Other local groups that benefited included Helford River Beavers, Helford Sea Scouts, Mawnan Brownies, Guides and Rainbows, Mawnan School PTA and the RNLI.

“We picked one of the few bad weather days of the summer and postponed the regatta by two hours because of heavy rain but that didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the competitors or their supporters.

"Prizes were awarded by the patron of the 2018 Durgan Regatta, James Fox, and despite the weather we were delighted that the regatta raised just over £4,000 for local charities,” Phil Badger, Durgan Regatta Committee.