Lots of events are taking place throughout the town and on the water for Swanage Lifeboat Week in Dorset, offering a wide range of fun activities while raising vital funds for the RNLI.
The annual event continues until Sunday 16th August 2026 with highlights including the charity duck race, outdoor theatre, the Lighthouse Loop 5K trail run, and the live music programme at the end of the week.
The all weather lifeboat 13-12 is a temporary replacement
Temporary replacement due to unfortunate incident
The week kicked off on Saturday 8th August 2026 with the boathouse open day which included the opportunity to see the temporary replacement for the Swanage all weather lifeboat 13-13, which is undergoing repairs in Falmouth in Cornwall, and Swanage’s smaller lifeboat, the D class.
Crowds gathered outside the boathouse on Peveril Point to watch the all weather lifeboat 13-12 launch from the slipway, with commentary provided by long-serving RNLI crew member Steve Williams.
After the successful launch, Steve Williams said:
“We’re hopeful to get the Swanage all weather lifeboat back soon. It’s having repairs to its hull after an unfortunate incident while re-housing the boat during rough weather.
“But when it gets back, it will be off to the RNLI headquarters in Poole to have all the names of the people added to the side of the lifeboat as part of the Launch a Memory fundraising appeal.
“All those who donated will have an opportunity to see all the names on the boat while it’s out of the water, but then it will be straight back into service in Swanage.”
Crowds gathered to watch the launch
Prince Albert Gardens transforms into a live music venue for the last weekend of lifeboat week
Live music in Prince Albert Gardens
The nine day lifeboat ‘week’ continues with the popular Rescue the Damsel Raft Race on Thursday, while on Friday evening at Prince Albert Gardens there will be live music from Kelp!, the Jazzknots, and the band Stone Cold Sober, along with a bar and barbecue.
The live music at Prince Albert Gardens continues on Saturday with bands Velcro Pom Pom,
Love Soul Choir, SunDrunk, and The Reptiles. There’s also the lifeboat fayre, refreshments, the Build a Boat competition and the raffle draw.
The week concludes on Sunday with a lifeboat church service on Swanage Pier at 5.30 pm.
Who gives a care? Sponsor a duck!
The duck race along the Swan Brook is always very popular
“We rely totally on charitable donations”
Steve added:
“Many decades ago, this event started out as just an open day, then it became a weekend, now it lasts nine days!
“Swanage Lifeboat Week must be one of the largest RNLI events organised by a station in the UK, and it’s all run by our fantastic extended lifeboat volunteers.
“It’s the focus of our fundraising year and the money is really important as we receive no government funding, so we rely totally on charitable donations.
“There’s more costs than most realise – it’s not just maintaining the boats but also the running costs of the buildings, the kit for the crew, and the specialist training which takes place in Poole and here in Swanage.
“So we’re very grateful for all the money donated this week which goes directly to running Swanage RNLI. We raised around £30,000 in 2025, so it would be really great to do that again!
The 5k Lighthouse Loop takes place on Wednesday 12th August 2026
Build a boat and see if it floats challenge is on Saturday 15th August 2026
Swanage Lifeboat Week August 2026
Sunday 9th
- 10 am to 4 pm: Charity duck race. Sponsor a duck for £2.50 each
- 4 pm to 4.30 pm: Duck race. Starts outside The Swanbrook (formerly the Con Club) and finishes at The Mowlem
Monday 10th
- 7 pm to 10.30 pm: Outdoor theatre – The Pickwick Papers at Prince Albert Gardens
- 8 pm to 11 pm: Darts Trophy at Swanage Royal British Legion (teams of four, register from 7 pm)
Tuesday 11th
- 10 am to 12 noon: Crabbing competition. Enter at Swanage Sea Fishing Hut on Lower High Street
- 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm: Swanage Sailing Club, fun sailing race, starting and finishing at The Mowlem
Wednesday 12th
- 7 pm: Lighthouse loop 5K trail run (6 pm sign in)
Thursday 13th
- 6.15 pm: Lifeboat launch at the boathouse
- 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm: Swanage Sailing Club, senior sailing race
- 6 pm to 9 pm: Gig race from Main Beach
- 8 pm to 11 pm: Fun quiz at Swanage Royal British Legion (teams of up to 6, £3 per person)
Friday 14th
- 9 am to 1 pm: Flag day street collection
- 6 pm to 7 pm: Rescue the damsel raft race from the Main Beach (sign in from 5.30 pm)
- 6 pm to 11 pm: Live music, bar and barbecue at Prince Albert Gardens
Saturday 15th
- 11 am to 4 pm: Lifeboat fayre and refreshments at Prince Albert Gardens
- 12 noon to 4 pm: Build a boat competition at Prince Albert Gardens
- 12 noon to 4 pm: Live music, bar and barbecue at Prince Albert Gardens
- 2 pm: Swanage Bay Fish lobster raffle draw at Prince Albert Gardens
- 3.30 pm: Swanage Lifeboat fayre raffle draw
- 4 pm: Build a boat race at The Stone Quay
- From 7 pm: Live music, bar and barbecue at Prince Albert Gardens
Sunday 16th
- 5.30 pm: Lifeboat church service on Swanage Pier (access from 5.15 pm)
