Drawing a bath

Nanaimo Harbour in British Colombia held the first official bath tub race in 1967. The city celebrated its centennial that year and close to 200 tubbers contested the 58 kilometre course to Vancouver's Fisherman's Cove.

Mind you, about three-quarters of them failed to finish but that hasn't affected the enthusiasm for the event which has continued ever since. Indeed, there's the Great International World Championship Bathtub race at Nanaimo this coming July and around 700 'tubbers' are expected to enter.

Before that, in May, the Far North is hosting its inaugural bathtub event in the Bay of Islands as a southern hemisphere challenge to Canada's domination of the maritime racing code. The idea came from the former business manager for Emirates Team New Zealand and now Far North resident and Chairman of Far North Holdings Limited, Ross Blackman.

"I was watching a travel programme one night on television and there was a story of a guy who entered this event. It was unbelievable and I thought we've got to get this going here."

And so we have. Even at this stage there are around 20 entrants with some of the country's glitterati included. Sam Wallace, TVOne's weatherman, is on record as saying he'll compete and challenged his cohosts on Breakfast to do the same. He may be the dark horse entrant. He has a Bachelor of Science degree and was trained at the MetService but whether (pardon the verbal pun) he can read the waves from a bathtub remains to be seen.

Noel Brown, director marketing and events, Far North Holdings Limited, says with dedicated bathtub racing clubs from Whitianga and Bowentown set to enter, that number will rise considerably. On paper they'll provide the in-form, experienced, tubbers although word around Paihia is that some tubs are being secretly built in back yard sheds and locals do not intend to take the competition lying down as if they're soaking in bubbles.

There is applied terminology too. Tubbers is an official definition along with 'tubbing' (the art of racing) 'tub' (the original bathtub) and 'exposure' (part of the base of the original bathtub) and not, as one might think, what competitors might suffer from if they 'tipatub'.

There's a prize worth getting soaked for. The winner of the Bay of Islands Bathtub Racing Classic will be flown by Air New Zealand to Vancouver to watch the world championship event in July.

The event is open to everyone over 16 years of age. Classes include the Open Tubber which has weight restriction of 130kg and which, on contemplation, wouldn't allow for much freeboard and would disqualify Kim Dotcom. There's the She Tubber (clearly for women) and the Little Tubber for those between 16 and 18 years of age and up to 100kg which, if you think about it, at that weight they could hardly be called little.

The boats (using the term charitably) must be built around your normal household bath although modifications and additions are allowed with strict rules to make it enjoyable and affordable.

How to enter and guidelines for bathtub construction go to:

www.bayofislandsbathtubbing.com