Monmouth Raft Race, organised by Monmouth Rotary Club, is into its 48th year.

Set for Sunday 1st September, the charitable race starts at Monmouth Rowing Club at noon and finishes at Whitebrook.

For the first year ever, the Beacon is sporting a team, the Buoyant Beaconettes.

Teams need to build a raft and navigate the (admittedly easy) six-and-a-half mile stretch of river, dodging other rafts and avoiding sinking.

Reporter Victoria Hallifax said: "We are all thoroughly looking forward to the day and taking part in an event that we normally only write about, though I'm slightly concerned that we have no idea how to build a raft."

In fact, the all-girl team is generally clueless about how to make a floatable raft and is appealing to members of the public to send ideas and hints in to the Beacon office.

"I'm also a bit worried about having things thrown at me," said sales manager Suzy Mills.

Although it is strictly prohibited for participants to throw things at other competitors, it has become customary for people to throw anything from flour and eggs to potatoes at the rafts from Redbrook bridge.

"I think we should all wear hard hats," said Suzy.

"Normally crews start to train at the beginning of summer for the race.

"We have devised a comprehensive training plan: Tammy-Lee Sidall is doing a lot of rowing at the gym. The rest of us are relying on her to row us.

"No-one knows quite how to steer, but that doesn't seem important since we haven't even got a raft yet," said Sarah Fraser, reporter.

Although the aim is to complete the course as fast as possible, the Beacon team feel that it will be an achievement for them simply to navigate the course without sinking.

"The entry fee is donated automatically to St David's Hospice and other Rotary chosen charities but the Beacon would like to support Severn Area Rescue too," said editor Phill Wilkinson-Jones.

"SARA do a fantastic job in our area, and it's always prudent to keep on the right side of the people who will probably be rescuing the girls."

If you would like to support the Buoyant Beaconettes, please donate to our chosen cause SARA at www.justgiving.com/BeaconNewspapers