The World Tin Bath Championships in the harbour
When: 15th July 2017
Where: Middle Harbour, Castletown, Isle of Man
£: Free to watch
What is it?
The 46th World Tin Bath Championships will take place on Saturday 15th July at the Middle Harbour in Castletown, Isle of Man.
The championship is an annual event that raises money for charity. The race first took place in 1971, and since then it has grown into a popular event with a whole day of entertainment.
The quirky race usually attracts around 100 competitors, as well as many spectators. The championship often sees competitors travel from as far away as New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and the USA to take part.
But what are the World Tin Bath Championships? The championships, as you might have guessed, involve intrepid competitors paddling in tin baths around Castletown’s harbour. Some participants don fancy dress and customise their tin baths, and past events have seen pirates, captains, ducks, gorillas, Vikings, and even nuns take to the water.
Each competitor must paddle in a tin bath, which is allowed one wooden outrigger and two buoyancy aids attached to it. The winner is the first to finish the course, or the one who manages to cover the greatest distance.
There is plenty of space around the harbour for spectators to watch the action. And if that isn’t enough crazy action for you, there will also be a Snake Race taking place in the harbour. This challenge sees teams of six people racing against one another, whilst sitting backwards on an inflated tube.
The World Tin Bath Championships is organised by the Castletown Ale Drinkers Society (which might explain a few things).
Castletown is a fishing town in the south of the Isle of Man. The town was the island’s capital until 1869, it has a rich heritage, and can trace its roots back as far as 1090.
More info: www.visitiom.co.uk