Contrary Life

Contrary Life is a website covering quirky events across the UK.

  • Home
  • About
  • Events by region
    • North East
    • North West
    • Yorkshire
    • East Midlands
    • West Midlands
    • East
    • London
    • South East
    • South West
    • Scotland
    • Northern Ireland
    • Wales
Home > Alternative Sport > Isle of Man’s bonkers bath race

Isle of Man’s bonkers bath race

By Caroline King - August 28, 2018Posted in : Alternative Sport

Tin Bath Championships 2016 - Isle of Man

The World Tin Bath Championships in the harbour

When: 1st September 2018

Where: Middle Harbour, Castletown, Isle of Man

£: Admission costs £3 for adults and £1 for children

What is it?

The 47th World Tin Bath Championships will take place on Saturday 1st September 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.  There will also be man-powered flying attempts and an aerial wire challenge.

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.visitisleofman.com and www.facebook.com/WorldTinBathsChampionships

Related Posts

  • Endurance pedal car racing in Surrey and Staffordshire
  • Slippery competition at the World Gravy Wrestling Championships

Tagged With: Family events, Isle of Man events, North West

Curiosity of the Week

Normanton Church, a waterside wonder
Normanton Church by Karen Cann

Welcome to a new year, and a new Curiosity of the Week! Our first curiosity of 2021 is a sunken church. It’s also one of the UK’s finest hidden gem tourist attractions…

Top Story

Drama from a toilet cubicle
Overflow, Bush Theatre steaming show

This month, UK audiences can enjoy a streamed performance of Overflow, a heart-wrenching show played out in a club toilet…

What are you looking for today?

  • Alternative Sport
  • Art
  • Cabaret and Circus
  • Cinema
  • Classes, Workshops & Talks
  • Club Night
  • Comedy
  • Dance
  • Exhibitions and Installations
  • Fairs and Markets
  • Festival
  • Food & Drink
  • Heritage and History
  • Interview
  • Literature
  • Museum
  • Music
  • Nature and Outdoors
  • Review
  • Science and Technology
  • Theatre
  • Walks and Tours

Sign up to our Newsletter

Copyright © 2021 · Contrary Life