RAFTING enthusiasts from the serious to the comic turned out to boost the funds of the RNLI last weekend.

West Somerset's biggest free annual event - the Blue Anchor to Minehead raft race - attracted huge crowds to vantage points along the five-mile course, despite having to be shifted from its usual bank holiday slot because of the tide times.

A total of 40 rafts took to the water in Blue Anchor to paddle the full course to Minehead harbour.

And with the usual dog-leg into the bay abandoned due to the low tide, an incredible winning time of just 36 minutes was recorded by the first raft home.

A dozen more fun rafts completed a shorter course from Warren Point across Minehead Bay.

First through the posts to claim the Stan Rawle Trophy were race veterans Patrick's Gulpers from Leominster in Herefordshire, with the Chevrons from Ross-on-Wye taking second place and the Ron Greenslade Trophy.

The Ladies Cup was won by Tring Ladies from Hertfordshire, while the Butlins Cup for the first local raft was won by Roadwater's Valiant Soldier Young Guns.

Another Ross-on-Wye team, the Destroyers, scooped the Minehead Glass Trophy for the first mixed team home, while a second team from the Valiant Soldier claimed the Louisa Trophy for the first pub to finish.

The Scuddy Memorial Trophy for the last raft to finish unaided was awarded to Exmoor Canoe Club, the Mike Arnold Trophy for the most original raft to Taunton Round Table and the Fancy Dress Cup jointly to Happy Campers and James Bosley.

And the prize for the best dressed support boat went to Clive Williams.

A 12-hour entertainment programme on the lifeboat stage at the harbour proved a major draw and an estimated 6,000 people lined the seafront to watch the traditional finale - a spectacular fireworks display.

Race organiser Derek Williams said the event had gone incredibly smoothly.

"Although we could have done with a slightly higher tide the weather was pretty much ideal," he said.

"We hit a spot of fine weather which didn't really challenge any of the crews and it was great to see nearly all of them making it home under their own steam.

"But it was just another demonstration of what a great event the raft race has become.

"There is just as much enthusiasm among the competitors as there is among the spectators - and we are already getting enquiries from new teams who want to take part next year."

Organisers have yet to come up with a final figure on the amount raised but all the proceeds from the 2010 race will go to the Toby Rundle Lifeboat Appeal.

It was set up in memory of the 21-year-old son of former Minehead lifeboatman Chris Rundle and his wife Debbie and aims to fund a new £165,000 Atlantic 85 lifeboat.