HUNDREDS of people fancied their luck as the next Bear Grylls as they took to the water in homemade rafts.

Dennis Hunt, a member of The Argus Camera Club, was on hand to shoot some great pictures of the event.

The Up The Creek raft competition saw community groups and friends show off their adventurous side, entering a series of races at Shoreham Yacht Club on the River Adur to test their DIY crafts to the limit.

Spectators and participants alike enjoyed beautiful weather – though a handful of rafts were not lucky enough to make it back out of the water.

Competitors took to the water in brightly coloured and quirky costumes, doing their best to stay afloat while the crowd cheered from the water’s edge.

Challengers must build their craft to a strict set of guidelines to ensure it is seaworthy, and are closely watched by the RNLI and Brighton Surf Life Saving club, who were on hand to pluck any people from the water.

The annual event also included a paddleboard sprint and kayak race.

It has become an integral part of Shoreham Yacht Club’s calendar – with groups spending many weeks and months preparing their crafts.

The yacht club itself has been a key part of Shoreham’s community for more than one hundred years since its foundation in 1892.