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 Fishing  Filey has supported a fishing station for over 800 years, which reached its peak around 1870 with no less than 100 vessels employing 400 men. After 1870 the number of men employed fell to about 250 and stayed at that figure up to the First World War but by 1959 the figure had dropped to 58.Today the industry in Filey just manages to hang on with only a single figure count of cobles.Many visitors to Filey for the first time, and perhaps aware of Filey's fishing history, are surprised to find that there is no harbour and are fascinated to see the launching and recovering of the present day cobles by the tractor. Before the introduction of the tractors in 1940 horses did this work. The recently formed "The Filey Coble Preservation Society" has arranged the preservation of a Filey coble, the "Margaret"(SH232), which has been renovated at Scarborough Marine. "Margaret" was built in 1973 at Whitby, first registered in March 1974, and was in service until 1994. For a few weeks towards the end of that year the coble was a sore sight at the top of Coble Landing when it had been stripped and looked to be heading for the scrap heap. It was later repaired and brought back into service in 1995 as the "Eglantine" with a fresh wheelhouse and did service for a further few years. "Margaret" returned, after the completion of the renovation work, to the Coble Landing on 2nd June 2002.  SailingThe sheltered Filey Bay is an ideal place for dingy sailing.Since the formation of the Filey Sailing Club in 1951 there has been a continuing growth in the use of the bay for sailing. The club's popular annual regatta is held in July The premises of the club on cliff face north of Arndale Ravine have experienced continual storm damage and cliff slippage in the past, which led recently to a large new purposeful clubhouse being built towards the bottom of the same ravine.Further information can be obtained from the Society's web page. (see Links) Filey Lifeboat   There has been a lifeboat station since 1804, the RNLI taking over the running of the station in 1853. The lifeboat house built in 1889 was demolished and rebuilt in 1991 to form the present building to house the new and present lifeboat the Mersey Class "The Keep Fit Association". The new lifeboat arrived at Filey on the 21st May 1991 and took up duty on the 2nd June 1991 The first launch was on the 5th June 1991 to go to the assistance of a Filey coble, the "Ocean Reward B" which had developed engine failure, some 3 miles east of Filey Brigg. The Keep Fit Association and a local "lifeboat appeal", together with other gifts and legacies, had raised the cost of the boat, £455,000. There is also based a D class inflatable Inshore Lifeboat,"Rotary District 1120".click here to see photos of the Filey Lifeboat Sea Angling  Filey is a popular spot for sea angling both from the Brigg and from boats in the bay. The Filey Brigg Angling Society runs its popular annual Fishing Festival during the first week in September, which attracts anglers from afar.Further information can be obtained from the Society's web page. (see Links) Bird Watching 
 Filey is a popular bird watching spot. At migration times it never fails to turn up some rarity. The local group fresh from its success in creating the Dams Nature Reserve has turned its attention to creating further suitable habitats for both breeding and wintering birds at Parish Wood, the Old Tip and lately the Totem Pole Field. All of which should prove attractive to migrants.
Filey Floods After continuous heavy rain during the early hours of Saturday 10th August 2002, Filey woke up to find severe flooding in several parts of the town. Public and private properties were damaged. Many residents had to leave their flooded homes and were not able to return for many months. All this occurred because of the failure of the antiquated drainage/sewerage system to cope. Our contributors to our then "Soapbox" covered this subject continuous over the succeeding months. Their first article can be seen here.. The article was pertinent then and was still relevant five years later, on Wednesday 18th July 2007, when Filey again suffered heavy flooding.
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