Falmouth’s Dragon Boat weekend raises £1,016 for the RNLI

Paddles slapping the water, drums keeping time, and a waterfront packed with pints and cheering crowds. That was Falmouth harbour on the last weekend of July, and by Sunday evening The Greenbank’s Dragon Boat weekend had turned into a four figure gift for the crews who keep the town’s sailors safe.

Two days of racing on the water

The Greenbank‘s annual Dragon Boat Race returned to the Falmouth waterfront on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th July, and for the first time the event ran across two full days rather than one, giving spectators and competing teams even more chances to catch the action from the water’s edge.

Teams of up to 20 people took to the water in colourful, canoe-like dragon boats, racing from The Greenbank’s pontoons while spectators gathered outside The Working Boat pub to cheer them on with a bite to eat and a pint in hand.

Ten per cent for the RNLI

As part of this year’s event, The Greenbank partnered with the RNLI, donating 10% of food and drink proceeds from The Working Boat across the whole weekend. By the time the last boat was in, that initiative had raised a total of £1,016 for the charity, which provides a lifeboat service around the UK and Ireland as well as seasonal lifeguarding on beaches.

The RNLI holds particular significance in Falmouth, a town with a long-standing connection to the sea and a community that relies on the dedication and bravery of its volunteer lifeboat crews.

Matt Garland, General Manager at The Greenbank, said: “We’re incredibly proud to have hosted the Dragon Boat Race again this year and to have been able to support such an important organisation as the RNLI. Living and working in a town like Falmouth, we see every day just how important the sea is to our community, but also the risks that come with it. The work of the RNLI and its volunteers is absolutely vital, and we’re delighted that our Dragon Boat weekend has helped raise over £1,000 towards the incredible work they do.”

Dave Nicoll, Fundraising and Partnership lead for the RNLI, said: “The Falmouth RNLI really appreciate the efforts of the Greenbank Hotel, Dragon Boat Events, and the teams that took part in making this such an amazing event and raising over £1k to support our lifesaving work around the coast. We are looking forward to taking part again next year.”

A tradition that keeps growing

The weekend continued The Greenbank’s commitment to supporting local and charitable causes. Last year’s Dragon Boat Race raised £955 for Mylor Sailability, an organisation dedicated to making sailing accessible to people with disabilities.

With its mix of competitive racing, waterfront food and drink, and fundraising for an important local cause, the 2026 Dragon Boat Race proved to be another popular addition to Falmouth’s summer calendar. The hotel is already looking forward to hosting it again in 2027.