THE nation has a long tradition of going down to the sea in ships.
However, the concept of touring the ocean in water-borne blocks of flats is, in historical terms, a relatively modern concept.
A few thousand years ago, we got about on rafts.
They were a wee bit unreliable and weren't exactly known for their seakeeping abilities, but the advantage was that when they sank our ancestors discovered the art of swimming.
This ancient tradition has been a highlight in Withernsea in recent years, and the Raft Race is a hotly contested feature of the Blue Light Weekend.
This year's event will feature ten rafts, all sponsored by local businesses.
A new innovation is that for the first time they will all feature a standard design. This will ensure a level playing field which will automatically exclude afts with design advantages such as steam turbines or diesel engines.
All rafts will rely for propulsion on paddle power only. While the vessels – for want of a better word- are allegedly unsinkable (perhaps a boast that might tempt fate) there is no guarantee that the crews will remain on board, and it's probable that the drama of the contest will be further heightened by the likelihood of rescues at sea which will add to the excitement of the contest
The participant are Withernsea RNLI, sponsored by Melbourne Butchers, Withernsea Rugby Club(The Willows Holiday Park) Withernsea Fire Service (Hair Taylor) Patrington Fire Service (Chris Dee Joiner) Raiders Team (Medcalf Builders) Withersea MKM (MKM)Withernsea Harriers (Kilnsea Caravan Park) Withernsea Carnival (Golden Sands Holiday Park) Premier Modular Buildngs (Premier Modular Buiildings) and Withernsea AFC (Captain Williams).
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