We are pleased to announce that Crabfest’s principal charity for 2018 is Hope Cove Life Boat.

Hope Cove Life Boat is an independent life boat run by volunteers as a registered charity with no funding from the government or any other organisation. The charity’s mission is to ‘protect and save lives in Bigbury Bay and the surrounding coastline’ and the crew are on call 24/7, 365 days a year.

The life boat’s entire funding is raised by events or from donations. Money raised at this year’s Crabfest – which takes place on Sunday 6th May 2018 – will help fund a new launch trolley for the life boat to make launching and recovery safer.

As in previous years, money raised at Crabfest 2018 will also be used to support a number of other small local charities with match-funding.

A History of the Hope Cove Life Boat

• There has been a lifeboat in Hope Cove since 1878. The original one was presented to the village by the Masons along with the original boathouse.  Between 1878 and 1930 it was used in numerous rescues, saving many lives.
• Since 1960 the rescue boat has been managed by the Maritime Coastguard Authority.
• During the last 50 years there has been a significant increase in the number of recreational craft enjoying the delights of Bigbury Bay including yachts, dinghies, power boats, kayaks, windsurf and paddle boards.
• The rescue boat has played a huge role in helping to protect all these users from the dangers of the sea.
• Over the last few years before 2010 there was considerable uncertainty about the future of the boat.
• In the late summer and early autumn of 2010, there were negotiations between local people, MPs, representatives of the M.C.A and government ministers.
• It was agreed that there was a definite need for a rescue service based at Hope Cove. The M.C.A. would fully support, help and work with an independently operated concern.
• A public meeting in October 2010 resulted in unanimous support for the formation of an independently operated lifeboat service based in Hope Cove, similar to 63 others dotted around the coast line of Great Britain.
• Following this meeting, directors/trustees and officers of the new company were elected. A proposal of how it would operate was sent to the M.C.A, and governing documents sent to Companies House for approval.
• On 1^st December 2010 “Hope Cove Life Boat” was registered as a limited company number 7456004.
• January 2011 it was granted registered charity status, number 1140126.

The service became fully operational as a Designated Facility on the 21st May 2011 having completed all its testing and meeting every requirement of the MCA to be recognised as part of the Search and Rescue services for this region.

For more information, visit the Hope Cove Life Boat website.