Without a doubt, Bude Lifeboat Day is the single best day of the year in Bude for activity, buzz and a feel-good factor. The luck of the RNLI also blesses us with good weather nine times out of ten.
The RNLI organise a host of activities and attractions – too many to list – but they mainly occur around the picturesque Wharf area and the adjacent Castle Grounds where a marquee is erected for various concerts, bands, children’s discos etc, and a competitively priced bar. Various water events are in continuous action all day on the canal: from rowing boat races, to kayak polo and even duck races! Bude Classic Car Club are always out in force displaying their beautiful old cars on the Wharf; there are musicians playing and, of course, the popular pasty competition with its coveted best pasty trophy!
The highlight of Bude Lifeboat Day is the rescue demonstration performed by the RNLI. The beach lifeguards on their Rescue Water Craft (jet-ski) team up with the volunteer lifeboat crew in their Inshore Lifeboat to demonstrate various techniques in extracting exercise casualties from the sea. The Downs, beach, harbour and Compass Point areas are all thronging with spectators enjoying both the sunshine and the spectacle. The demonstration then steps up a level when the rescue helicopter makes its appearance. Until recently the helicopter was the familiar yellow RAF Sea King from Chivenor in north Devon, 2016, these aircraft were retired and the Search and Rescue Service was privatised. The new service is provided by HM Coastguard with brand new Sikorsky S92 helicopters operating from Newquay.
Back to the Wharf and the Castle; the smells of the various food stalls and barbecues waft around appealingly and The Brendon Arm’s and Falcon Inn’s beer gardens are overflowing with jovial folk enjoying a festival-like atmosphere.
The climax to the day is the Grand Firework Finale at 9.30pm where the town is packed, from every possible viewpoint, with locals and tourists alike, to enjoy the town’s best firework display of the year.
If you like the look of this and would like to stay at The Beach Haven, jump in quickly! August always books up early. Click here for full availability.
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- Crowds gather to watch the demonstration on Bude Lifeboat Day
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- Bude Motor Club displaying on The Wharf on Bude Lifeboat Day 2016.
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- Street artists painting the narrow-boat ‘Orbis’ on Bude Lifeboat Day
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- The Merset-class all-weather lifeboat open to the public on Bude Wharf on Lifeboat Day
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- Busy scenes on The Wharf on Bude Lifeboat Day.
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- Busy scenes on The Wharf on Bude Lifeboat Day.
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- Bude Motor Club displaying on The Wharf on Bude Lifeboat Day 2016.
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- The canal and Summerleaze beach on August Bank Holiday 2016.
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- The Lifeboat Marquee on the Castle Grounds on August Bank Holiday
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- The Lifeboat Marquee on the Castle Grounds on August Bank Holiday
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- The Lifeboat Marquee on the Castle Grounds on August Bank Holiday
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- Horse and carriage rides around Bude.
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- The Bude Light and Castle Grounds The Lifeboat Marquee on the Castle Grounds on August Bank Holiday
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- The Castle and tennis courts from Shalder Hill on The Lifeboat Marquee on the Castle Grounds on Bude Lifeboat Day.
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- Summerleaze Beach on Bude Lifeboat Day.
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- Summerleaze beach on Bude Lifeboat Day.
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- Enjoying the view over Summerleaze beach from Life’s A Beach cafe.
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- Bude Lifeboat Day flags on Summerleaze Downs
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- Bude Lifeboat Day flags on Summerleaze Down
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- Bude Sea Pool
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- Enjoying the view over Summerleaze
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- On Summerlaze Downs looking towards Crooklets beach
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- The Lifeboat exercises with the Lifeguards’ jetski on Bude Lifeboat Day
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- ‘Rescue 924’ maneuvering on Bude Lifeboat Day 2016.
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- Bude lifeboat exercising with the Coastguard Rescue helicopterThe Coastguard Rescue helicopter displaying to the crowds on Bude Lifeboat Day..
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- The Coastguard Rescue helicopter displaying to the crowds on Bude Lifeboat Day.
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- The Coastguard Rescue helicopter displaying to the crowds on Bude Lifeboat Day.
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- The Sikorsky S92 rescue helicopter The Coastguard Rescue helicopter displaying to the crowds on Bude Lifeboat Day 2016.
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- The Sikorsky S92 rescue helicopter The Coastguard Rescue helicopter displaying to the crowds on Bude Lifeboat Day 2016.
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- The Sikorsky S92 rescue helicopter The Coastguard Rescue helicopter displaying to the crowds on Bude Lifeboat Day 2016.
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- The sun sets on another beautiful August day in Bude harbour.
