Photo credit: Rhys Pleming
Diving clubs from across the northwest of England and beyond brought their boats to take part in the 2025 Menai Boat Run on Sunday 23rd March.
This year the event included 24 boats from 17 different branches.
The ever-popular event raises much needed funds for the RNLI with all clubs donating £50 per boat for Beaumaris lifeboat. A total of £1,400 was raised this year.
The Menai Boat Run is a multi-club event started by East Cheshire a long time ago, before Dave Parry of Chester Sub-Aqua Club took over the running of it in 2019.
The 17 different sub-aqua clubs who took to the water this year were Chester, Hartford, Bradford, Southport, Shrewsbury, Roundhill, Sandwell, Vale Royal, Octopus Divers, Wrexham Seals, Buxton, Trafford, East Cheshire, Rhosneigr, Leicester Underwater Exploration Club, Merseyside and Potteries.
Approximately 130 members and guests attended for the spectacle. There was also a special guest in the form of the Blue Peter 1 RIB brought along by Adrian Bloor. This boat was originally bought by BBC viewers of the children’s programme for the RNLI in 1996, before it was eventually sold to a private owner.
After the traditional fish and chip lunch in Beaumaris participants gathered by the RNLI boatshed where the lifeboat had been moved out ready for Dave Parry to hand over a cheque to Pippa Thomas of Beaumaris RNLI Launch Authority and shore crew.
Stephen Dorricott, BSAC North West Regional Coach and participant said:
The Menai Boat Run is a great day out, in a beautiful part of the world supporting an amazing charity. Huge thanks to the organisers and the clubs who came along.
