NANAIMO — Following a two year layoff, bathtubs are once again revved up and ready to race in Nanaimo’s signature event.
The 53rd annual World Championship Bathtub Race has 25 contestants registered in two class divisions on a little more than 60 kilometer course.
Participants embark in front of Swy-a-Lana Lagoon for the race around the Winchelsea Islands and back into Nanaimo’s harbour, with participants ringing the bell at the Frank Ney statue.
The race starts at 11 a.m.
“I’ll tell ya, we’ve had numerous years where we’re still bringing tubs into the harbour after three-and-a-half hours with how rough it is out there,” Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society commodore Greg Peacock said.
Racers have a four hour time limit to complete the course, which can be a daunting task for operators of small, single-person sized boats getting beaten up by waves.
The bathtub race course is a little more than 60 kilometrs long (Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society)On a calm year, it takes the fastest racers about an hour and a half to complete the course, however multiple participants don’t finish annually regardless of conditions.
Peacock said while the annual Nanaimo bathtub race had to be cancelled the previous two years participants have been honing their skills.
“Most of these guys have been practicing, they’ve been working on these vessels all through the off-season and they’re ready to do the whole race and we hope they do.”
Premium viewing locations for the race besides Maffeo Sutton Park to get an up-close look at the start and finish include Stephenson Point, Neck Point Park, Pipers Lagoon Park and Sebastian Beach in Lantzville.
Entertainment, food trucks, vendors and kids activities are set up at Maffeo Sutton Park through Sunday evening to cap of the Nanaimo Marine Festival.
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