2006 Nanaimo Bathtub Race

The Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society & Related Resources

Bathtub Racing and the Marine Festival

Nanaimo harbor was the scene of a bathtub race extravaganza at the first race in 1967. As the City of Nanaimo's "Centennial Event" that year, close to 200 tubbers (in every type of craft imaginable) entered the fun competition and amazingly, 47 completed the 36 mile course to Vancouver's Fisherman's Cove across the straits of Georgia. Now the "Great RACE" finishes at Departure Bay in Nanaimo covering a very grueling course that leaves Nanaimo harbor circles Entrance Island and then up to and around Winchelsea Island and then back to Departure Bay in Nanaimo. In the early days it was indeed a challenge to just get past the starting line in the choppy confusion caused by an extra 785 small and large observation and escort boat in Nanaimo harbor. From the confusion of a first time bathtub race 39 years ago, the Nanaimo to Nanaimo "Great" INTERNATIONAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BATHTUB RACE & 4 day Nanaimo Marine Festival has evolved. Where once a select band of tubers were the highlight they now share the spotlight with many other land and water events which are interesting and often spectacular to watch.

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Tourism Nanaimo

The city's name is derived from the Coast Salish people who had several villages in the area.

They called themselves the "Snuneymuxw" which translates as "a great and mighty people."

While the small commuity was first called Colvile Town, it was soon changed to Nanaimo, an adaptation of Snuneymuxw.